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A 3-Day Inner Mongolia Nomad, Desert & Halal Food Escape

This source-faithful plan follows the creator's three-day local tour from Hohhot through grassland, desert, volcanoes, windmills and a halal-friendly food street. The tour was described as SGD290 per person, including f…

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3 Days INNER MONGOLIA Vlog 🇨🇳 Camel, Horse Riding 🐫 Best Halal Food 😋 China Travel Vlog Watch on YouTube

Plan notes

Useful context before you go

This source-faithful plan follows the creator's three-day local tour from Hohhot through grassland, desert, volcanoes, windmills and a halal-friendly food street. The tour was described as SGD290 per person, including four nights of accommodation and some meals. Pack warm layers even in May: temperatures at the yurt stay fell below 10°C, the accommodation had no working water heater, and disposable toiletries including toilet paper were not provided. Bring a cap or hoodie, face covering, closed shoes, and shoe covers for the desert. Use helmets and face protection for horse riding, and expect sand and strong wind. Chinese apps and payments, including Didi, worked in Hohhot. For Muslim travelers, most restaurants at Kuan Xiang Zi Mei Shi Jie were described as halal. The creator specifically noted beef, mutton and lamb as regional staples, but the traveler in the source did not eat lamb or mutton. Respect local customs around ovoos and ask before photographing or filming riders, performances and animals.

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Itinerary highlights

What is in this plan

Day 1 — Hohhot to Xilamuren Grassland

Begin with the organized local tour from Hohhot. This is a cold, windy grassland day with shared meals and several cultural and animal experiences. Keep a warm outer layer accessible rather than packed away, and carry a face covering for dust.

  1. HohhotHohhot, Inner Mongolia, China

    Depart from Hohhot with the organized local tour. The three-day tour was booked through Ctrip and cost SGD290 per person including four nights of accommodation and some meals.

  2. Xilamuren GrasslandXilamuren Grassland, Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China

    Arrive at Xilamuren Grassland for wide-open scenery, strong wind and a beef skewer snack. The grassland is a good place to slow down after leaving the city.

  3. Xilamuren GrasslandXilamuren Grassland, Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China

    Watch the horse riding performance, which centers on Mongolian heritage and nomadic roots rather than stunt riding. Ask before filming performers.

  4. Mongolian Ovoo, Xilamuren GrasslandMongolian Ovoo, Xilamuren Grassland, Inner Mongolia, China

    Walk around the Mongolian Ovoo display and follow the clockwise custom described by the guide. The creator noted that this particular Ovoo appeared to be a mockup, so treat it as a cultural display rather than assuming it is an active sacred site.

  5. Xilamuren GrasslandXilamuren Grassland, Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China

    Have the included lunch at the yurt accommodation. Shared tables may use communal dishes, so request communal serving utensils if that is important to you.

  6. Xilamuren GrasslandXilamuren Grassland, Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China

    Try the first-time horse riding experience with a helmet and face covering. Filming while riding was discouraged, and the guide stopped the creator from continuing to film.

  7. Xilamuren GrasslandXilamuren Grassland, Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China

    Add the Happy Farm visit for Mongolian horses, a camel, goats, milk-tea sampling, carting and traditional costume photographs. Touch the entrance rock only briefly as instructed, and observe rather than crowding the goats during milking.

  8. Xilamuren GrasslandXilamuren Grassland, Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China

    Stay in the yurt room, which had beds, a toilet and air conditioning but no working water heater. Bring your own toiletries and toilet paper, and prepare for a cold night with multiple layers.

  9. Xilamuren GrasslandXilamuren Grassland, Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China

    Attend the Mongolian banquet dinner in the main hall, with plated service, beef and mutton dishes, live performances and a whole-sheep hospitality ritual. The source traveler did not eat lamb or mutton, so confirm suitable dishes before accepting a serving.

Day 2 — Xiangshawan Desert Recreation

Spend the second day inside the Xiangshawan theme park and resort area. The sand is soft and tiring to walk through, queues can be long during the May 1 holiday, and the central food court becomes crowded around performances. Wear shoe covers, protect your eyes and camera equipment from blowing sand, and bring a cap or hoodie.

  1. Xiangshawan Theme Park and ResortXiangshawan Theme Park and Resort, Dalad Banner, Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China

    Enter Xiangshawan theme park and resort and take the shuttle from the drop-off area to the recreation zone. The site is large enough that walking directly from the drop-off point is impractical.

  2. Xiangshawan Theme Park and ResortXiangshawan Theme Park and Resort, Dalad Banner, Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China

    Explore Xian Sha Dao, the activity-packed desert recreation zone. The fine sand makes walking strenuous, so keep water, sun protection and a face covering close at hand.

  3. Xiangshawan Theme Park and ResortXiangshawan Theme Park and Resort, Dalad Banner, Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China

    Queue for the controlled camel ride. The camels kneel for mounting and the ride is gentle and mechanically managed, but holiday waits can reach about half an hour.

  4. Xiangshawan Theme Park and ResortXiangshawan Theme Park and Resort, Dalad Banner, Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China

    Consider the helicopter tour only if it fits your activity budget; it was presented as an additional-cost option.

  5. Xiangshawan Theme Park and ResortXiangshawan Theme Park and Resort, Dalad Banner, Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China

    Try the sand-dune sledding option for an all-day desert activity. It was listed among the park's additional recreation choices.

  6. Xiangshawan Theme Park and ResortXiangshawan Theme Park and Resort, Dalad Banner, Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China

    Take the staff-driven ATV ride across the dunes. The source described an approximately one-hour queue and explained that staff drive because the terrain is difficult for amateurs; the ride includes steep dune descents.

  7. Xiangshawan Theme Park and ResortXiangshawan Theme Park and Resort, Dalad Banner, Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China

    Use the central Xiangshawan food court for a late lunch. The main challenge may be finding a vacant table, especially when a performance is using the seating in front of the stage.

  8. Xiangshawan Theme Park and ResortXiangshawan Theme Park and Resort, Dalad Banner, Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China

    Order the beef fried rice for an uncomplicated meal after the desert activities. The creator chose it after looking around the food court and finding many options.

Day 3 — Volcanoes, Windmills and Hohhot Food Street

The final tour day combines Ulanhada's volcanic landscapes and Huitengxile's windmills before returning to Hohhot. Finish independently with Didi and a street-food crawl at Kuan Xiang Zi Mei Shi Jie, where the source found many halal restaurants and several regional specialties.

  1. Ulanhada Volcano GeoparkUlanhada Volcano Geopark, Chayouhouqi, Inner Mongolia, China

    Explore Ulanhada Volcano Geopark, known for inactive volcanic cones that resemble Mars. Spacesuit photo shoots are available as an optional visual theme, but the source traveler chose not to wear one.

  2. Ulanhada Volcano GeoparkUlanhada Volcano Geopark, Chayouhouqi, Inner Mongolia, China

    Use the proper boardwalks to stroll closer to the volcanoes. The less popular cones were described as cooler, quieter and free from the eye-stinging colored smoke flares found near busier areas.

  3. Huitengxile WindmillsHuitengxile Grassland Wind Farm, Chayouzhongqi, Inner Mongolia, China

    Stop at the Huitengxile windmills on the return route to Hohhot. Expect intense wind; the source described the landscape as especially striking in person.

  4. HohhotHohhot, Inner Mongolia, China

    Return to Hohhot and use Didi for the independent evening outing. Chinese apps and payment methods were described as working normally in Inner Mongolia.

  5. Kuan Xiang Zi Mei Shi JieKuan Xiang Zi Mei Shi Jie, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China

    Start the evening crawl at Kuan Xiang Zi Mei Shi Jie, a wide food street with a large selection of restaurants and street-food stalls. The source found almost all restaurants there halal-friendly.

  6. Kuan Xiang Zi Mei Shi JieKuan Xiang Zi Mei Shi Jie, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China

    Try grilled milk skin with Tang Hulu. The toasted outside was described as nearly caramelized while the inside remained chewy and subtly sweet; the source also noted that milk skin had become expensive.

  7. Yang Lao Da BakeryYang Lao Da Bakery, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China

    Visit Yang Lao Da bakery for freshly baked pastries and its famous Niu She Bing. The creator found the salted pastry relatively bland and wondered whether it was intended to be eaten with soup.

  8. Kuan Xiang Zi Mei Shi JieKuan Xiang Zi Mei Shi Jie, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China

    Follow the queue to the beef pie stall and eat the pie hot from the frying pan. The filling was well marinated, while the inner crust was described as slightly doughy.

  9. Kuan Xiang Zi Mei Shi JieKuan Xiang Zi Mei Shi Jie, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China

    Finish with skewers and Mongolian yoghurt. The source reported lamb skewers at 3 RMB each, beef skewers at four for 10 RMB, and yoghurt as a refreshing way to cut through the fried food.