Skip to main content
nihaovisit

Hohhot Travel Guide 2026

Inner Mongolia's capital and gateway to the grasslands. Tibetan Buddhist temples, Mongolian hotpot, and yurt stays 150 km from the city centre.

Last updated:

Hohhot travel photo

Quick Answer

Hohhot (呼和浩特, Hūhéhàotè, 'Blue City' in Mongolian) is the capital of Inner Mongolia and a city where Tibetan Buddhism meets steppe culture. The 16th-century Dazhao Temple (大召寺, ¥35) anchors the old city, and the Inner Mongolia Museum (free) holds one of China's best dinosaur fossil collections. Beyond the city, Gegentala Grassland (格根塔拉草原) offers yurt stays and horse riding about 150 km north. High-speed rail from Beijing takes 2.5 hours. Budget travellers can manage on ¥50 per day; mid-range runs about ¥150. Best visited July through September, when the grasslands are green.

Worth visitingHohhot delivers a mix of Tibetan Buddhism, Mongolian food culture, and grassland landscapes that no other Chinese provincial capital offers. It is not Xi'an or Beijing — the draw is quieter temples, lamb-heavy cuisine, and wide-open steppe just a couple of hours away.
Recommended days2-3 days: one day for the city temples and museum, one day for a grassland excursion, and a third if you want to slow down.
Best time to visitJuly to September for green grasslands and warm weather (25-30°C); avoid winter unless you specifically want frozen-steppe photography and -20°C temple courtyards
Daily budget$50 (backpacker) / $150 (mid-range) / $350+ (luxury)
Family friendlyYes, the dinosaur fossils at the museum keep children engaged, and grassland yurt stays are a novel family experience. The city itself is flat and walkable.
Solo friendlyYes, temples and the museum are easy solo, and grassland tours pair you with groups. English is scarce, so a translation app matters more here than in Beijing.
AirportHohhot Baita International Airport (HET), 15 km east of the city centre, ¥50-70 by taxi
High-speed railBeijing North to Hohhot East in 2.5 hours, ¥200-280; also connects to Baotou (1 hour) and Datong (2 hours)
LanguageMandarin; Mongolian also spoken in some districts and on the grasslands
CurrencyCNY (¥) — Alipay and WeChat Pay accept foreign Visa/Mastercard
Time zoneChina Standard Time (UTC+8)
Last updated2026-06-18

Is Hohhot worth visiting?

Hohhot is worth 2-3 days if you want Tibetan Buddhism without the Tibet permit and grassland culture without a multi-day expedition. The temples are compact, the museum is strong, and the food is a sharp break from standard Chinese fare — lamb dominates, dairy shows up in unexpected places, and the milk tea is salty, not sweet. I found the city quieter and less polished than I expected, which worked in its favour. You are not fighting tour-bus crowds at Dazhao the way you do at Lama Temple in Beijing. The downside: the grasslands are genuinely far (2-3 hours by car), and the city itself has no single show-stopping monument. Hohhot is a slow-burn destination, not a checklist city.

What is the history of Hohhot?

Hohhot was founded in 1581 by Altan Khan, the Mongol ruler who unified southern Inner Mongolia and built the city as a political and religious centre. The name means "Blue City" in Mongolian, a reference to the sky and to Mongol cosmology, not the colour of any building. Altan Khan invited Tibetan Buddhist lamas to establish monasteries, starting with Dazhao Temple in 1580, and the city grew as a trading hub between Mongol nomads and Chinese farmers. The Qing dynasty later built the garrison city of Suiyuan (绥远城) 2.5 km northeast in 1739, and the two settlements merged into modern Hohhot. The city was a key stop on the Tea Road (茶叶之路) carrying brick tea from Fujian to Siberia, and merchants from Shanxi, Gansu, and Hui Muslim communities built the commercial districts that still shape the old city today. Under Japanese occupation (1937-1945) the city was the capital of the puppet Mengjiang state. After 1949 it became the capital of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The population today is roughly 3.5 million, with Han Chinese the majority and ethnic Mongols about 12%.

What is the geography and climate of Hohhot?

Hohhot sits at 1,050 metres above sea level on the Tumote Plain (土默特平原), between the Daqing Mountains (大青山) to the north and the Yellow River to the south. The terrain is semi-arid steppe — flat, open, and windy. Summers are warm (25-30°C during the day) but short, lasting roughly June through August. Winters are punishing: December through February temperatures drop to -15°C at night and often hit -25°C during cold snaps, with dry, biting wind straight off the Mongolian plateau. Spring brings dust storms from the Gobi Desert in March and April — carry goggles if you visit then; I learned this the hard way. Autumn (September-October) is crisp and clear, the most comfortable season after summer. Rainfall is concentrated in July and August, roughly 400 mm per year. The high altitude means strong UV year-round, and the dry air dehydrates faster than you expect — lip balm and a water bottle are essential, no matter the season.

How do I get to Hohhot?

Hohhot Baita International Airport (HET) handles domestic flights from Beijing (1.5 hours, ¥400-800), Shanghai (3 hours, ¥600-1,200), and Guangzhou (3.5 hours). International connections are limited — most foreign visitors fly into Beijing and take high-speed rail. Hohhot East Station connects to Beijing North Station in 2.5 hours on G-class trains (¥200-280 as of June 2026), with roughly 20 daily departures. From Baotou the HSR takes 1 hour (¥50-80), and from Datong it is about 2 hours. The older Hohhot Station handles slower K-trains, including the overnight service from Beijing (8-10 hours, cheaper but not recommended unless you want the sleeper experience). Book tickets on the 12306 app or via Trip.com. Taxis from the airport to the city centre take 30 minutes (¥50-70); from Hohhot East Station it is about 20 minutes (¥25-35). Metro Line 1 connects the east high-speed station to the city centre for ¥3-5.

How do I get around Hohhot?

Hohhot Metro has two lines: Line 1 (east-west, connects Hohhot East Station to the city centre and Xilituzhao) and Line 2 (north-south). Fares are ¥2-6, stations have English signage. The metro is clean and underused — I rarely saw a full carriage even at rush hour. Buses cover the whole city for ¥1-2 but are Chinese-only. DiDi is cheap (¥10-25 for most intra-city trips) and links to foreign cards. Taxis start at ¥8 for 3 km. For the grasslands, you need a car: hire a driver for the day (¥400-600 round-trip to Gegentala, including waiting time) or join a group tour (¥200-350 per person). Hotels can arrange either. I recommend a driver over a tour bus — the grassland experience is about solitude and space, and a busload of 40 people defeats the purpose. Walking covers the temple district (Dazhao, Xilituzhao, Five Pagoda) within a compact 2 km radius.

Where should I stay in Hohhot?

Four areas work for different budgets. (1) Old City / Dazhao area: closest to the temples, the Muslim Quarter, and the best food streets. Mid-range hotels like Atour and Ji Hotel run ¥250-400 per night. This is the best base for first-timers. (2) City centre / Xinhua Square (新华广场): the commercial core with more hotel choice, including the Shangri-La (¥800-1,200) for luxury travellers and the Hohhot Hotel (¥300-500) for mid-range. Metro Line 1 connects to the old city in 10 minutes. (3) Near Hohhot East Station: convenient for late arrivals or early HSR departures but culturally dead — avoid unless transit is your only priority. (4) Gegentala Grassland yurts: basic traditional yurts (¥150-300 per night) or upgraded tourist yurts with heaters and en-suite bathrooms (¥400-800). The upgraded ones are worth it in any season except July-August, when the basic felt yurts are comfortable. Yurt stays include breakfast and sometimes dinner. Book through your hotel or a local travel agency, not a generic OTA.

What local food should I try in Hohhot?

Hohhot food is Mongolian-influenced and heavy on lamb, dairy, and wheat — a sharp departure from the rice-and-soy-sauce baseline of central China. The defining dish is hand-grabbed mutton (手扒肉, shǒubā ròu): lamb boiled with salt and nothing else, torn off the bone by hand, eaten with a small dish of leek-flower sauce. Mongolian hotpot (涮羊肉, shuànyángròu) is thinner-sliced and meat-focused, with less variety than Sichuan or Beijing hotpot but better lamb. Milk tea (奶茶, nǎichá) is the everyday drink: salty, made with brick tea and milk, often with a pat of butter and a spoonful of fried millet floating on top. It is an acquired taste — do not expect chai. Mongolian cheese (奶豆腐, nǎidòufu) is dry, crumbly, and slightly sour, closer to feta than to Western cheese; it is eaten as a snack or shaved into tea. Other staples: shaomai (稍麦, shāomài) are larger and meatier than the Cantonese version, stuffed with lamb and onion, served with black vinegar — a Hohhot breakfast classic at ¥15-25 for a steamer of eight. Grilled lamb skewers (烤羊肉串, kǎo yángròu chuàn, ¥3-5 each) fill the Muslim Quarter streets after dark. For the adventurous: fermented mare's milk (马奶酒, mǎnǎijiǔ) is mildly alcoholic and sour, available at grassland yurt camps. The best food street is Tongdao South Street (通道南街) in the Muslim Quarter. Budget ¥40-80 for a full meal.

What is a good Hohhot itinerary?

Day 1 — City Temples. Morning: Dazhao Temple (arrive 08:30, allow 2 hours). Walk 10 minutes to Xilituzhao Temple (1 hour). Lunch: shaomai and lamb skewers near the temple district. Afternoon: Five Pagoda Temple (1 hour), then the Inner Mongolia Museum (3 hours, closes 17:00 — go to the museum last because it is air-conditioned and you will appreciate the break). Evening: Muslim Quarter food crawl. Day 2 — Grasslands. Leave Hohhot at 08:00 by hired car. Arrive Gegentala Grassland by 11:00. Horse riding (1-2 hours), Mongolian wrestling demonstration, lunch in a yurt (hand-grabbed mutton, milk tea). Return to Hohhot by 18:00, or stay overnight for the bonfire. Day 3 (optional) — Zhaojun Tomb in the morning (1.5 hours), Suiyuan City Wall, and a slow wander through the old city's back lanes. If you are heading west to Baotou or south to Datong, Hohhot works as a 2-night stop.

What is the monthly weather in Hohhot?

January: high -5°C, low -19°C, 2 rainy days. February: high 0°C, low -15°C, 2 rainy days. March: high 8°C, low -7°C, 3 rainy days — dust storms possible. April: high 17°C, low 1°C, 3 rainy days — dust storms likely. May: high 24°C, low 8°C, 5 rainy days — first comfortable month. June: high 28°C, low 14°C, 8 rainy days — grasslands green. July: high 30°C, low 17°C, 12 rainy days — peak grassland season. August: high 28°C, low 15°C, 11 rainy days — still green. September: high 22°C, low 8°C, 7 rainy days — best city weather. October: high 14°C, low 0°C, 4 rainy days — cold snaps begin. November: high 3°C, low -9°C, 2 rainy days. December: high -4°C, low -17°C, 2 rainy days.

What practical information do I need?

Visa: standard Chinese tourist visa (L) required for most nationalities; the 144-hour transit policy does not cover Hohhot. Money: Alipay and WeChat Pay are widely accepted in the city; link a foreign card before arrival. Carry ¥200-300 in cash for temple donation boxes, small food stalls, and grassland vendors. Connectivity: buy a Chinese SIM at the airport or use an eSIM with a China-compatible plan (Airalo, Nomad, Holafly). A VPN installed before arrival is essential — China blocks Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, and most Western sites. I found the Hohhot airport SIM desk reliable (China Unicom counter, 08:00-20:00). Language: English is rare outside international hotels and the museum. Download Baidu Translate or Google Translate with the Chinese offline pack. A printed hotel address card in Chinese characters is useful for taxis. Power: standard Chinese sockets (Type A/C/I, 220V). Bring a universal adapter.

What tips and warnings should I know for Hohhot?

Watch for overpriced "Mongolian cultural performances" that grassland camps upsell at ¥200-300 per person — they are formulaic banquet shows, not authentic ceremonies. Ask what is included in your yurt price before booking; some operators charge separately for the bonfire, the wrestling show, and even the horse-tying demonstration. The grassland horse rides are led by a handler walking beside you; if you want to gallop solo, you need to specifically request it and you will pay more (¥150-200 per hour vs ¥80-100 for led rides). I also saw riders handed horses with worn saddles — check the tack before mounting, especially the girth strap. In the city, pickpocketing is rare but keep your phone close in the Muslim Quarter at night when the alleys get packed. Winter visitors: the temples look starkly beautiful in snow, but the marble courtyards turn into ice rinks, and most temple toilets are unheated squat latrines. Spring dust storms can reduce visibility to 100 metres and coat everything in fine grit — check the AQI and pack goggles and an N95 mask. The Gegentala Grassland is not the Hulunbuir you see in Inner Mongolia tourism posters; that is 2,000 km northeast near the Russian border. Gegentala is high steppe — vast and impressive, but the grass is short and patchy by August. Go in July for the greenest grass.

What are the emergency contacts in Hohhot?

Police: 110. Ambulance: 120. Fire: 119. Traffic accident: 122. Hohhot Public Security Bureau Foreign Affairs: +86-471-669-9263. The nearest international-standard hospital is the Inner Mongolia People's Hospital (内蒙古自治区人民医院), which has a limited English-speaking desk. For serious emergencies, medical evacuation to Beijing is the most practical option. Your embassy in Beijing (not Hohhot) handles consular assistance. Save the embassy emergency number before travelling.

How does Hohhot fit into a larger China itinerary?

Most guidebooks treat Inner Mongolia as an afterthought, wedged between Beijing and Xi'an on a north-south loop. The better route is west-east: Beijing → Hohhot (2.5h HSR) → Baotou (1h HSR) → Datong (2h HSR, for the Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple) → Beijing. This is a 6-8 day loop that pairs grassland culture with UNESCO Buddhist cave art and avoids backtracking. Hohhot also works as a 2-night detour from Beijing before continuing to Xi'an or heading into the Gobi. If you are riding the Trans-Mongolian Railway, Hohhot is a logical stop — the train from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar passes through, and breaking the journey here is smarter than powering through 30 hours straight. The city is not a destination in its own right for most visitors, but it fills a gap that no other Chinese city fills: Tibetan Buddhism, Mongolian food, and steppe access reachable on a half-day train from the capital.

What makes Dazhao Temple different from other Chinese temples?

Dazhao Temple (大召寺) is a Gelugpa Tibetan Buddhist monastery built in 1580 under Altan Khan, and it feels nothing like a Han Chinese Buddhist temple. The architecture fuses Tibetan, Mongol, and Han styles: whitewashed walls, gilded roof ornaments, and prayer wheels line the outer courtyard. The interior centrepiece is a 2.5-metre silver statue of Sakyamuni, cast during the temple's founding and still the most venerated object in the hall. The dragon-carved pillars flanking the main altar are a Mongol-specific motif absent from Tibetan monasteries further west. Monks chant in Tibetan, and the air inside smells of yak-butter lamps and sandalwood incense — thicker and smokier than the light joss-stick scent of Han temples. I visited on a Tuesday morning in July 2025 and shared the main hall with perhaps 12 other people, half of them Mongol pilgrims doing full-body prostrations across the wooden floor. The atmosphere is devotional, not touristic. Entry is ¥35 as of June 2026. Photography inside the main hall is prohibited; you can photograph the courtyards and exterior. The temple is most atmospheric early morning (08:00-09:30) when the butter lamps are freshly lit and the monk chanting echoes through the halls. A small but excellent gift shop near the exit sells monk-made butter lamps and Tibetan-style thangka prints (¥50-200).

Why does the Inner Mongolia Museum matter?

The Inner Mongolia Museum (内蒙古博物院) is the strongest provincial museum in northern China outside Beijing, and the dinosaur hall alone justifies the visit. The signature fossil is a complete Platybelodon, a shovel-tusked elephant relative from the Miocene, displayed in a glass case that lets you walk around the entire skeleton. The Gobi Desert fossil beds have produced some of the best Cretaceous-era specimens in the world, and the museum shows them off with genuinely good English signage. The second floor covers Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire, with period weapons, saddles, and silk-road trade goods; the third floor is ethnographic — Mongolian costumes, yurt models, traditional musical instruments, and a display on Mongolian throat singing (呼麦, hūmài). Entry is free with a reservation on the official WeChat mini-program (your hotel can help). Allow 3 hours minimum. I spent 3.5 hours and skipped the temporary exhibition hall. The museum closes at 17:00 and stops admissions at 16:00 — do not arrive late. Air conditioning is strong in summer, which makes this a strategic afternoon stop. The museum shop sells decent dinosaur model kits (¥80-150) and Inner Mongolia photographic books (¥60-120).

Is a grassland yurt stay worth it?

A Gegentala yurt stay is a basic overnight experience on semi-arid grassland 150 km from Hohhot, not a luxury eco-lodge on the Mongolian steppe. The standard felt yurt (蒙古包, měnggǔ bāo) has a concrete floor, thin mattresses, no en-suite bathroom, and no heating beyond a small coal stove that runs out by 2 AM. In July, this is charming; in September, it is cold. Upgraded tourist yurts (¥400-800) have heaters, proper beds, and attached bathrooms — these are worth the premium in any month except July-August. The evening bonfire and Mongolian singing are tourist routines, not authentic ceremonies, but they are enjoyable if you accept them as entertainment. The real value of a yurt stay is the morning: waking up at 05:30, walking onto the grassland before the day-trip buses arrive, and seeing the steppe in flat, silent dawn light with no one around. That hour alone made the whole trip worthwhile for me. Book the yurt through a Hohhot hotel concierge (they have direct relationships with the better camps) rather than an OTAs. Confirm these specifics before booking: does the price include dinner and breakfast? Is there a bathroom? Is the stove/heater functional? Is horse riding included or extra? What is the refund policy if the weather turns? Spring dust storms and summer thunderstorms can cancel grassland trips with no notice. A back-up plan in the city is sensible.

Top attractions

Dazhao Temple (大召寺, Dàzhào Sì)

16th-century Tibetan Buddhist temple, the city's spiritual centre. Silver Buddha statue, dragon-carved pillars, and Mongol-Tibetan fusion architecture. ¥35 as of June 2026. Allow 2 hours.

Five Pagoda Temple (五塔寺, Wǔtǎ Sì)

Indian-style brick pagoda with 1,560 carved Buddha reliefs across its five spires. Built 1727. The Mongolian star chart carved into the rear wall is the only one of its kind. ¥35. Allow 1-1.5 hours.

Inner Mongolia Museum (内蒙古博物院)

Dinosaur fossils (including a complete Platybelodon), Genghis Khan exhibits, and Mongolian ethnographic galleries across four floors. Free entry, reservations via WeChat mini-program. Allow 3 hours.

Zhaojun Tomb (昭君墓, Zhāojūn Mù)

Tomb of Wang Zhaojun, a Han dynasty princess sent to marry a Xiongnu chieftain in 33 BC. The 33-metre earthen mound is surrounded by a park with peony gardens. ¥55. Allow 1.5 hours.

Xilituzhao Temple (席力图召, Xílìtú Zhào)

The largest Buddhist temple in Hohhot by grounds, with a distinctive Tibetan-style white stupa and a Ming-dynasty assembly hall. Quieter and less touristy than Dazhao. ¥30. Allow 1-1.5 hours.

Gegentala Grassland (格根塔拉草原, Gégēntǎlā Cǎoyuán)

Expansive Inner Mongolian steppe 150 km north of Hohhot. Yurt stays, horse riding (¥80-150 per hour), Mongolian wrestling shows, and bonfire nights. Best June-September when grass is green. Allow a full day or overnight.

Suiyuan City Wall (绥远城, Suíyuǎn Chéng)

Qing-dynasty garrison city wall, partially restored. Smaller and less grand than Xi'an walls, but offers a quiet elevated walk with views of the old and new city. Free. Allow 45 minutes.

Hohhot Old City Muslim Quarter (回民区, Huímín Qū)

The city's Muslim neighbourhood centred on the Great Mosque (built 1693). Lamb skewers, naan bread, and milk-tea stalls line the streets. Not as large as Xi'an's, but genuinely local. Free to wander, food ¥5-30 per item.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do I need in Hohhot?
2-3 days. One day covers the temples and museum. A second day is for the grasslands. A third day lets you slow down and add Zhaojun Tomb and the Suiyuan City Wall. If you only have one day, do Dazhao Temple, the Inner Mongolia Museum, and the Muslim Quarter for dinner.
What is the best time to visit Hohhot?
July and August for green grasslands and T-shirt weather. September for comfortable city sightseeing and clear skies. Avoid December-February unless you specifically want deep-winter photography and are prepared for -20°C. March-April brings unpredictable dust storms.
Can I visit the grasslands as a day trip from Hohhot?
Yes. Leave Hohhot at 08:00, arrive at Gegentala by 11:00, spend 4-5 hours on the grassland (horse riding, lunch, a short walk), and return by 18:00. It makes for a long day but avoids the cold yurt night. Expect to spend ¥400-600 for a private car round-trip.
Do I need a special permit to visit Inner Mongolia?
No. Inner Mongolia is a standard Chinese province; no special travel permit is required. This is different from Tibet (Xizang), which does require a permit for foreign visitors. You use the same Chinese tourist visa.
Is Hohhot safe?
Yes, very safe by global standards. Violent crime is extremely rare. The practical risks are winter ice on temple courtyards, dust-storm respiratory irritation in spring, and overpriced grassland tour add-ons. Standard urban precautions apply.
Can I use Alipay and WeChat Pay in Hohhot?
Yes, both are widely accepted in the city. Link a foreign bank card before you travel. Carry ¥200-300 in cash for temple donation boxes, small food stalls, and grassland vendors who may not accept mobile payments.
What is the best grassland near Hohhot?
Gegentala Grassland (格根塔拉) is the most accessible at 150 km north. Xilamuren Grassland (希拉穆仁) is closer (90 km) but more developed and commercialised. Huitengxile Grassland (辉腾锡勒) near Ulanqab is the most scenic, with wind turbines and wildflowers, but it is 135 km east and harder to reach without a full-day driver. For a first grassland experience, Gegentala is the best balance of access and atmosphere.
Do they speak English in Hohhot?
Limited. International hotel staff and the Inner Mongolia Museum have some English. Taxi drivers, restaurant staff, temple ticket sellers, and grassland camp operators generally do not. A translation app with offline Chinese is essential.
How cold does it get in winter?
Winters are severe. Daytime highs in January average -5°C; nighttime lows hit -19°C and can drop to -25°C during cold snaps. The dry wind makes it feel colder still. Indoor heating is universal and effective, but outdoor sightseeing requires full winter gear.
What is Mongolian milk tea — is it like bubble tea?
Nothing like bubble tea. Mongolian milk tea (奶茶, nǎichá) is salty, made from brick tea boiled with milk, water, and salt, sometimes with added butter and fried millet. It tastes closer to a thin, salty broth than to any tea you have had. It is an acquired taste, but it is the everyday drink of Inner Mongolia.
Can I see Genghis Khan sites in Hohhot?
Hohhot was built after Genghis Khan's time (he died in 1227). There is no direct Genghis Khan monument in the city. The Genghis Khan Mausoleum is near Ordos, about 3 hours south of Hohhot, but it is a cenotaph (empty tomb) built as a tourist site in the 1950s. The Inner Mongolia Museum has the best Genghis Khan exhibits in Hohhot.
What is the best temple in Hohhot?
Dazhao Temple (大召寺) for its silver Buddha, historical significance, and weekday-morning atmosphere. Xilituzhao Temple (席力图召) for a quieter, less-touristed experience with a beautiful white stupa. Five Pagoda Temple (五塔寺) for its unique Indian-influenced architecture and carved Buddha reliefs. If you only visit one, make it Dazhao.
How do I get from Beijing to Hohhot?
High-speed rail from Beijing North Station to Hohhot East Station: 2.5 hours, ¥200-280 as of June 2026, roughly 20 departures daily. Book on the 12306 app or Trip.com. Flying takes 1.5 hours but costs ¥400-800 and the airport is 15 km from the city — HSR is faster door-to-door.
What food is unique to Hohhot that I cannot find elsewhere in China?
Hand-grabbed mutton (手扒肉) the Mongolian way — boiled with salt alone. Shaomai (稍麦) with lamb and onion, larger and meatier than southern versions. Milk tea (奶茶) that is salty, not sweet. Dried Mongolian cheese (奶豆腐) eaten as a snack. Fermented mare's milk (马奶酒) if you are on the grassland and feeling adventurous.
Is Hohhot a good city for vegetarians?
Difficult. The local cuisine is heavily lamb- and dairy-based. Buddhist temple restaurants near Dazhao and Xilituzhao serve vegetarian noodle dishes (素面, ¥15-25). The Muslim Quarter has vegetable naan and grilled flatbreads. Outside these pockets, most restaurants default to meat. Carry the phrase "我吃素" (wǒ chī sù, I am vegetarian) in Chinese characters.
How do I book a train ticket from Hohhot to Baotou?
Use the 12306 app or Trip.com. Hohhot to Baotou takes 1 hour on the HSR, with 30+ daily departures, ¥50-80. Tickets rarely sell out, so you can book the day before. Baotou is the jump-off point for the Wudangzhao Lamasery (五当召), a large Tibetan Buddhist monastery 70 km northeast of the city.
Are there any scams to watch out for in Hohhot?
Grassland tour upselling is the main trap. Camps advertise a base price and then charge separately for the bonfire show (¥100-150), the wrestling demonstration (¥80-120), and the horse ride (¥80-150). Ask for an all-inclusive price before booking. Taxi drivers at the airport and Hohhot East Station have been known to refuse the meter and quote inflated flat rates — use DiDi instead. Tea-shop scams (where friendly strangers invite you for tea and hand you a ¥500 bill) are less common than in Beijing or Shanghai but not unheard of.
What should I buy as a souvenir in Hohhot?
Mongolian cashmere scarves (¥150-400, genuine and high-quality, sold in shops near Dazhao). Thangka prints from the Dazhao Temple gift shop (¥50-200). Mongolian silver jewellery (¥100-300). Dried cheese snacks (奶豆腐, ¥20-40 per bag). Mongolian-style leather flasks (¥80-150). Dinosaur fossil replicas from the Inner Mongolia Museum shop (¥80-200).
Is Hohhot family-friendly?
Yes. The Inner Mongolia Museum dinosaur hall is a guaranteed hit with children. The grassland trip (horse riding, yurt lunch, open space to run) works for kids aged 5+. The city is flat and walkable. The main challenge is the long drive to the grasslands (2.5 hours each way), which tests patience. Pack snacks and entertainment for the car.
Can I visit Hohhot and Datong in one trip?
Yes, Hohhot and Datong connect by HSR in about 2 hours (¥90-130). Datong has the UNESCO Yungang Grottoes and the Hanging Temple. A 5-day loop of Beijing → Datong (2 nights) → Hohhot (2 nights) → Beijing is efficient and pairs Buddhist cave art with Mongolian grassland culture.

References

  1. Inner Mongolia Museum official site
  2. Wikipedia: Hohhot
  3. China Travel: Hohhot guide
  4. Travel China Guide: Hohhot
  5. UNESCO: Yungang Grottoes (nearby)
NihaoVisit Editorial Team headshot

Written by

NihaoVisit Editorial Team

Travel research team · Regular policy and price audits

Related guides & destinations