7-Day Counterclockwise Grand Loop in Hulunbuir | Seven Travel Companions, Moving Life into the Grasslands

From the moment we landed, the wind greeted us on behalf of the grasslands—cool and refreshing, wrapped in endless green. Even the sunset at 8 or 9 PM lingered reluctantly, the first gift the grasslands gave us. Day 1: Love at First Sight Before we could even take it all in, our gaze was captured by the grasslands stretching to the horizon. The wind flowed freely, the clouds drifted lazily, and time itself seemed to slow down. Turns out, "vastness" really can heal everything. Day 2: Rain and Sunshine at the Morigele River For just 20 yuan, we entered the Morigele River scenic area, where colorful wildflowers dotted the green meadows. We ran, laughed, and snuggled with docile sheep. A sudden rainstorm blurred our vision but froze a breathtaking view atop the mountain—when the skies cleared, the river coiled around the grasslands like a silver ribbon, leaving us speechless. Day 3: Wetlands, Forests, and a Reindeer Fairytale At the Ergun National Wetland Park, chasing squirrels made us feel like kids again. Only from above did we understand how vivid the "veins of the earth" truly were. The shallow streams along the way tempted us to stay forever—splashing, skipping stones, and pitching tents as if time belonged here. In the afternoon, we ventured into the Greater Khingan Mountains, where sun-facing trees stretched desperately toward the sky. In the uninhabited forest, silence was alive. The moment we stumbled upon a herd of reindeer, it felt like falling into a dream of the Aoluguya tribe. By the ancient "cuoluozi" tents, we finally touched the legendary "spirits of the forest." Day 4: The Ultimate Romance of the Border Highway The road from Genhe to Shiwei was long, but the beauty of the border highway filled every second—the right bank of the Ergun River wasn’t just a story from a book but a living scene of flowing water, endless grass, and clouds so close you could touch them. Wulan Mountain was a surprise along the way; standing at the summit, all seven of us gasped in unison. Missing the border town became a regret, leaving the Russian villages across the river to our imaginations. Day 5-6: Fireworks and Tricks at Heishantou This was the liveliest spot on the grasslands, lined with homestays, horse ranches, and border collie camps. Riding horses up Heishantou, the bustling foot of the mountain finally felt like "home." But hidden in the excitement were pitfalls—homestay front desks pushing private deals, profit-driven border collie visits—all so-called "bargains" turned out to be traps. Booking through Trip.com and choosing transparently priced services saved us the hassle. Day 7: The Exotic Finale in Manzhouli Our last stop plunged us into Manzhouli’s candy-colored world—pastel buildings and diverse faces along the Sino-Russian Gold Street shattered stereotypes of "Russian beauties." The Matryoshka Hotel’s grandeur surpassed expectations, its lights and carvings glowing at night. The fifth-generation national gate stood at the tri-border, where railroad tracks led to Russia and the highway ended in Mongolia—a moment that made us grasp the weight of "borders." Seven people, seven days and six nights—filled with compromise as much as laughter. Next time, we’d chase a forest sunset in Genhe, savor the Ergun River at Wulan Mountain, visit Hulun Lake (the "sea of the grasslands"), and watch the majestic Horse Dance. But this trip was enough—proof that places exist where the sky and grasslands meet in the distance, and we were just passing through this boundless tenderness.