Hohhot

Hohhot (Chinese: 呼和浩特 Hūhéhàotè; Mongolian: Kökeqota ) is the capital of Inner Mongolia, and part of a metropolitan area with a population of around 2.5 million.

Although Hohhot has only been the capital of Inner Mongolia since 1947, it has taken on the role with ease and with a rapidly growing population (around 1.6 million) it has begun to challenge Baotou as the region's industrial and economic powerhouse. Although only around 11% of the city's population are indigenous Mongols, Mongolian Buddhism (an offshoot of Tibetan Buddhism) continues to thrive and Mongolian culture is actively preserved. As a new capital, the city lacks an abundance of historical and tourist sites. However, it is still definitely worth visiting if in the area. The city is at its greenest and most pleasant in Spring and early Summer.

Because of the large Hui Muslim population, restaurants with a green or yellow sign are generally Halal and will not serve pork. Mentioning pork to the owner is considered a grave insult and should be avoided. Take the opportunity to sample the mutton dishes instead.

• Da Zhao Temple. The oldest Buddhist monastery in the city constructed in 1579. A 2.5-meter silver statue of Sakyamuni Buddha is among the temples most precious treasures. ¥30.
• Inner Mongolia Museum. Exhibitions of the flora and fauna and history of (Inner) Mongolia from the stone age until modern times, as well as on minerals and mining, space exploration, and dinosaurs. Although not all captions are in English there is still a lot of information available and it's not difficult to understand the exhibitions. Free.
• Temple of the Five Pagodas. An Indian style temple constructed in 1732. Famous for its frescos of 1,500 carved figures of Buddha, the inscription of the Diamond Sutra and an engraved Mongolian star chart. ¥35.
• The Great Mosque. The oldest and largest mosque in the city built in 1693 in Chinese style. Free.
• Tomb of Princess Zhaojun. The resting place of Han princess who voluntarily married a nomad Hun chief to secure peace. She is attributed with the ability to perform miracles. Also contains a small but interesting museum about the Huns including English captions.Tomb of Princess Zhaojun ¥65.
• Xilitu Zhao, 112 Danan Street, Yuquan District (Opposite Da Zhao. The largest Buddhist temple in the city and main seat of Buddhism in Inner Mongolia. ¥30.

Da Zhao Temple. The oldest Buddhist monastery in the city constructed in 1579. A 2.5-meter silver statue of Sakyamuni Buddha is among the temples most precious treasures. ¥30.

Inner Mongolia Museum. Exhibitions of the flora and fauna and history of (Inner) Mongolia from the stone age until modern times, as well as on minerals and mining, space exploration, and dinosaurs. Although not all captions are in English there is still a lot of information available and it's not difficult to understand the exhibitions. Free.

Temple of the Five Pagodas. An Indian style temple constructed in 1732. Famous for its frescos of 1,500 carved figures of Buddha, the inscription of the Diamond Sutra and an engraved Mongolian star chart. ¥35.

The Great Mosque. The oldest and largest mosque in the city built in 1693 in Chinese style. Free.

Tomb of Princess Zhaojun. The resting place of Han princess who voluntarily married a nomad Hun chief to secure peace. She is attributed with the ability to perform miracles. Also contains a small but interesting museum about the Huns including English captions. ¥65.

Xilitu Zhao, 112 Danan Street, Yuquan District (Opposite Da Zhao. The largest Buddhist temple in the city and main seat of Buddhism in Inner Mongolia. ¥30.

• Dazhao Temple Festivals. Songjing Da Fahui (8th-15th of the 1st and 6th lunar months), Songbalin (14th day of the 1st and 6th lunar months), Liang Dafo (15th day of the 1st and 6th lunar months), and Mani Hui (14th-17th day of eighth lunar month).
• Get to the mountains.
• Great Wall.
• Wind Turbines.
• People's park, Zhongshan west road. You can drive a pedal boat (50 ¥/60 ¥ for 2/4 people) on one of the lakes, ride a giant wheel or just walk around in this very nice park. Parts are like an amusement park, other parts just like a normal park. No entrance fee for the park.

Dazhao Temple Festivals. Songjing Da Fahui (8th-15th of the 1st and 6th lunar months), Songbalin (14th day of the 1st and 6th lunar months), Liang Dafo (15th day of the 1st and 6th lunar months), and Mani Hui (14th-17th day of eighth lunar month).

Get to the mountains.

Great Wall.

Wind Turbines.

People's park, Zhongshan west road. You can drive a pedal boat (50 ¥/60 ¥ for 2/4 people) on one of the lakes, ride a giant wheel or just walk around in this very nice park. Parts are like an amusement park, other parts just like a normal park. No entrance fee for the park.

• Bei Guo Zhi Chun (The Garden Restaurant). A greenhouse/warehouse turned into a massive eatery where plants are abundant as well as water features, indoor yurts, and private space. Great for parties or intimate dinners. The menu is very comprehensive. Tea is not free but is delicious. Wait staff is friendly and places orders via wireless PDAs so it may seem they are pushy. High.
• Zang Can Bar (Tibet Food Bar). A small Tibetan restaurant. Great food, atmosphere & jewelry. Private room can sit a dozen people. High.
• Xi Bei, Chengjisihan Dajie, Xincheng District (At the new stadium to the northwest of the city. A northwestern Chinese cuisine chain, which started in Inner Mongolia; one of the four stores in Hohhot. The menu is very comprehensive. Tea is not free. The menu is in Chinese and English and meals are delivered via roller skate. Maybe someday they'll re-label the noodle appetizer called "Panda-crusted noodles." Plenty of private rooms available. Wait staff is friendly and places orders via wireless PDAs so it may seem they are pushy. High.
• Mongolian Food @ the Race Track. Meals served in traditional Mongolian style in your own private yurt. High.
• Fengwei Huoguo. Seafood hotpot. Busy every night, for good reason. Medium.
• Shiao Hotel. Buffet closes at 21:00 doors close at 21:30. Buffet overlooking all of Hohhot that rotates so you get the whole 360. Come early. The buffet is ¥50/person.

Bei Guo Zhi Chun (The Garden Restaurant). A greenhouse/warehouse turned into a massive eatery where plants are abundant as well as water features, indoor yurts, and private space. Great for parties or intimate dinners. The menu is very comprehensive. Tea is not free but is delicious. Wait staff is friendly and places orders via wireless PDAs so it may seem they are pushy. High.

Zang Can Bar (Tibet Food Bar). A small Tibetan restaurant. Great food, atmosphere & jewelry. Private room can sit a dozen people. High.

Xi Bei, Chengjisihan Dajie, Xincheng District (At the new stadium to the northwest of the city. A northwestern Chinese cuisine chain, which started in Inner Mongolia; one of the four stores in Hohhot. The menu is very comprehensive. Tea is not free. The menu is in Chinese and English and meals are delivered via roller skate. Maybe someday they'll re-label the noodle appetizer called "Panda-crusted noodles." Plenty of private rooms available. Wait staff is friendly and places orders via wireless PDAs so it may seem they are pushy. High.

Mongolian Food @ the Race Track. Meals served in traditional Mongolian style in your own private yurt. High.

Fengwei Huoguo. Seafood hotpot. Busy every night, for good reason. Medium.

Shiao Hotel. Buffet closes at 21:00 doors close at 21:30. Buffet overlooking all of Hohhot that rotates so you get the whole 360. Come early. The buffet is ¥50/person.

• Vienna Pub, Hulunbeier Nan Road (呼伦贝尔南路) (Near Dizhiju Nan Jie. Club with live bands playing Mongolian music all night long. Frequented by many ethnic Mongolians.

Vienna Pub, Hulunbeier Nan Road (呼伦贝尔南路) (Near Dizhiju Nan Jie. Club with live bands playing Mongolian music all night long. Frequented by many ethnic Mongolians.

• The Grasslands. Mongolia's history is linked to its grasslands. Recommended places near Hohhot are: Xilamuren (80 km north), Huitengxile (120 km west) and Gegentela (150 km north).

For Gegentela take a bus from Hohhot to Wu4lan2hua1 （乌兰花, 2 hours approx). You can take the bus (¥30) from the long distance bus station which is very close to the central train station in Hohhot. From here you can take a minibus (¥10 per person) or a taxi (¥60) to Gegentela (30 minutes). The place where you will arrive in Gegentala is the Inner Mongolian equivalent of a holiday park (targeting Chinese tourists). At the park, there are 3 classes of yurt available to stay in. The highest two classes (around ¥700 and ¥600 per night) are concrete structures containing a double bed, table and chairs and a shower (shared toilets are available in a separate building). The lowest class of yurt cost ¥380 per night and are more traditional fabric structures with bedding for at least four people to sleep on the floor and a small table but no showers. Cheaper sleeping options are offered by families living near to the park. Most of these families live in brick built houses but have traditional fabric yurts available to rent. These yurts are almost identical to the cheapest option at the park but are available from around ¥80 per night. Most of these small clusters of yurts can be seen from the main road between Wulanhua and Gegentela, some are located a little further along this road.

Horse riding and Mongolian martial art shows (25 minutes, ¥20 per person) and traditional Mongolian singing and dancing performances (1 hour, ¥30 per person) are available at the holiday park. Horse riding is offered at the holiday park and at many of the nearby families offering accommodation. Reasonably priced food (though more expensive than in Wulanhua itself) is available at the park's restaurants and is also offered by the neighbouring families.

The Grasslands. Mongolia's history is linked to its grasslands. Recommended places near Hohhot are: [[Xilamuren]] (80 km north), Huitengxile (120 km west) and Gegentela (150 km north).