7 Days 6 Nights Exploring Inner Mongolia

🌾 Autumn Inner Mongolia 7 Days 6 Nights Essential Travel Guide｜Deep Experience of Desert, Grassland, and Autumn Colors with a 5000 RMB Budget 🗓 Itinerary Overview (7 Days 6 Nights) Day Itinerary ------ ---------- Day 1 Beijing → Hailar (Flight) + City Adaptation + Overnight in Hailar Day 2 Hailar → Erguna Wetland → Birch Forest Scenic Area → Enhe Russian Ethnic Village (Stay in Enhe Wooden House) Day 3 Enhe → Shiwei Border Town → Linjiangtun → Moerdaoga National Forest Park (Stay in Moerdaoga Town) Day 4 Moerdaoga Forest Park Hiking / Small Train Autumn Viewing + Return to Heishantou (Horse Riding to Watch Sunset) Day 5 Heishantou → Border Road G331 Cycling → Asia’s Largest Wetland · Erguna Wetland Viewing Platform → Stay in Manzhouli Day 6 Manzhouli One-Day Tour (Matryoshka Square, National Gate, Night View) → Overnight in Manzhouli Day 7 Manzhouli → Return to Hailar (Flight back to Beijing) ✈️ Total Budget: About 4800–5200 RMB/person 💡 Recommended Travel Time: September 20 – October 10 (Peak Autumn Colors) 💰 Cost Breakdown (Per Person) Item Estimated Cost ------ --------- Round-trip Airfare (Beijing↔Hailar) ¥1600 (Advance booking can be as low as ¥1200) Local Car Rental for 7 Days (Including Driver Accommodation) ¥2800 (Shared by 4 people, ¥700/person) Accommodation (6 Nights Economy Homestay/Standard Room) ¥1200 (Average ¥200/night) Meals (About ¥100/day) ¥700 Tickets + Activities (Including Horse Riding, Small Train, etc.) ¥500 Other Miscellaneous (Snacks, Souvenirs, etc.) ¥300 Total About ¥4800–5200 📌 Tips: Choosing a 4-person group greatly reduces the cost per person, offering excellent value! 📍 Daily Itinerary Details Day 1: Arrive at the Gateway to the Grasslands · Hailar ✈️ Fly from Beijing Capital Airport to Hailar Dongshan Airport (about 2 hours) 🚗 Picked up by the car rental driver upon arrival, head to the city to check into the hotel 🍲 Recommended Dinner: Hasar Hotpot City or Tieshan Cold Drink Hall, try authentic hand-held mutton, milk tea, Buryat buns 🏨 Accommodation: Hailar Home Inn / Jinjiang Inn chain hotels (about ¥200) ✅ Tips: Avoid strenuous activities on the first day to adapt to altitude and dry climate; drink plenty of water! Day 2: Step into a Painted World · Birch Forest & Enhe Wooden House 🚗 Depart Hailar → Erguna National Wetland Park (One of Asia’s largest wetlands) Climb high to overlook winding rivers and golden reeds, an excellent spot for morning mist photography 🌲 Continue north → Birch Forest Scenic Area Autumn sunlight shines between white trunks and golden leaves, like a fairy tale forest Reindeer interaction available (extra cost, about ¥30) 🛖 Arrive in the afternoon at Enhe Russian Ethnic Village Stay in traditional Russian-style “log cabin” houses, hospitable hosts provide breakfast Dinner can be arranged by hosts with Russian dishes (pickled cucumbers, borscht, rye bread), about ¥60 per person 📸 Recommended Photo Spots: Birch Forest morning backlight, wetland boardwalk reflections, wooden house smoke Day 3: Border Secret Journey · Shiwei & Linjiangtun 🚗 Enhe → Shiwei Port Town (by the China-Russia border river) View Russian villages across the river, check in at the border marker Have a coffee by the river, feel the quiet border atmosphere 🚶‍♂️ Walk or bike to Linjiangtun A more primitive village, almost no commercialization Autumn mornings often shrouded in mist, cattle and sheep roam forest paths 🌲 Afternoon enter Moerdaoga National Forest Park China’s last cold temperate primeval forest Drive or take the forest small train through the woods (train ¥90 round trip) 🏨 Accommodation: Moerdaoga Town guesthouse (clean and tidy, private bathroom) 🍂 Best Viewing: Larch trees turning yellow, strong contrast with green Korean pines, layered scenery Day 4: Deep into the Primeval Forest · Hiking & Horse Riding in Heishantou 🚗 Morning continue exploring Moerdaoga forest area, light hiking 2–3 hours (recommended “Hunter’s Trail”) 🚐 Afternoon depart south → Heishantou Town (about 4 hours drive) 🐎 Evening horse riding experience (about 1 hour, ¥100–150) Gallop across vast meadows, overlook the Genhe River’s winding course Sunset silhouette shots are stunning 🌌 Overnight at a herder’s family courtyard in Heishantou, some offer Mongolian yurt experience (optional) ⚠️ Note: Follow instructor guidance for horse riding, beginners should not ride alone Day 5: Along the Border Line · G331 Highway Scenery 🚗 Heishantou → Drive west along G331 National Highway A little-known but stunning border road Pass large pastures, wetlands, border river watchtowers 📸 Stop midway at the border road viewpoint and near Wuka and Qika border posts See the China-Russia border river quietly flowing, contrasting landscapes on both sides 🌊 Afternoon arrive at Erguna Wetland’s highest viewing platform Climb to overlook the entire wetland’s autumn colors, rivers like ribbons weaving through the forest 🚘 Continue driving to Manzhouli City (about 3 hours) 🏨 Accommodation: Economy hotel in downtown Manzhouli (such as Hanting, Super 8, including breakfast) Day 6: Exotic City · Manzhouli Carnival Day 🌆 Morning visit National Gate Scenic Area (ticket ¥80) Learn about China-Soviet history, photo at the fifth-generation national gate Buy Russian imported goods (chocolate, vodka, matryoshka dolls) 🎪 Afternoon visit Matryoshka Square (world’s largest matryoshka-themed park, ticket ¥148) Though somewhat commercialized, it is colorful and visually striking Inside there are a carousel, Ferris wheel, Russian theater performances 🌃 At night, stroll along Sino-Soviet Golden Street or Wedding Palace light show The whole city feels like a fairy tale kingdom, brilliantly lit 🍷 Recommended dinner: Lubri Western Restaurant, try Russian stewed beef and kvass drink 💡 Tip: You can find Russian girls on the street to exchange a small amount of rubles as a souvenir Day 7: Farewell to the Grasslands · Return to Hailar & Departure 🚘 Manzhouli → Hailar (about 2.5 hours drive) 🕰 Flexible arrangements based on flight time: Visit Hulun Lake on the way (free, windy in autumn, dress warmly) Or shop for specialties: cheese snacks, beef jerky, blueberry jam, etc. ✈️ Fly from Hailar Airport back to Beijing, ending a wonderful journey 🍁 Special Tips for Autumn Travel Large temperature changes: daytime about 10–18°C, nighttime can drop below 0°C, be sure to bring a windbreaker, fleece, thermal underwear Unstable signal: some areas have no 4G, recommend downloading offline maps (Gaode supports Inner Mongolia offline package) Fuel reminder: few gas stations along the way, fill up whenever you see one Respect customs: do not step on the threshold entering yurts, do not touch sacred objects casually Eco-friendly travel: do not litter, especially no smoking or fire in forest areas 🍽 Must-Try Food List Name Features Recommended Place ------ ------ ---------- Hand-held Mutton Tender boiled lamb, dipped in chive flower Hailar Night Market Buryat Buns Thin skin, rich filling, milky flavor Enhe Farmhouse Brick Tea Milk Tea Salty hot drink, warming herder homes Rye Bread Russian-style large bread, crispy outside, chewy inside Shiwei Small Shops Beef Jerky Air-dried, very chewy Manzhouli Specialty Stores 📸 Photography Enthusiast Exclusive Suggestions 📅 Best Shooting Times: Early morning 6:00–8:00 and evening 17:30–19:00 🎯 Recommended Spots: Birch Forest backlit golden leaves Erguna Wetland high-altitude viewing platform panorama G331 highway winding into the distance Heishantou sunset horse riding silhouette Manzhouli night view drone shots (observe no-fly zones) 📷 Equipment Suggestions: Wide-angle lens + Polarizer (reduce glare) + Tripod (for star trails) ❤️ Conclusion: A Journey for the Soul This 7-day autumn trip to Inner Mongolia is not only a feast for the eyes but also a cleansing of the soul. When you stand on the vast grassland, hear the wind rustling the grass tips, and see smoke rising from distant yurts, you will understand—some places must be visited at least once in a lifetime. It is not noisy, yet profoundly moving; it is far away, yet worth the journey. 📌 Deepseek’s Thoughtful Summary: ✅ Suitable for: Those who love natural scenery, photography, slow travel, and light adventure ✅ Best Season: Late September to early October (miss it and wait a year) ✅ Money-saving Tip: 4-person car rental is most cost-effective, booking flights early saves ¥300+ ✅ Safety Rating: ★★★★☆ (Good road conditions, drivers familiar with terrain) 📩 If you want a customized “Inner Mongolia secret route” just for you, feel free to leave a message with your interests and schedule, and I will tailor a unique itinerary for you.