Autumn Exclusive Travel Guide to Hulunbuir and Arxan

Hulunbuir and Arxan in autumn are like a spilled palette of nature, with breathtakingly beautiful scenery everywhere! Here's a super detailed guide for you👇

📅 Best Travel Time
Mid-September to early October is the best time to visit. During this period, the grasslands turn golden, and the Greater Khingan Range is painted in vibrant autumn colors. However, autumn is short, so make sure to check the weather and foliage conditions in advance and adjust your itinerary flexibly.

🎒 Travel Essentials
👚 Tops: Thermal underwear + sweater/fleece + thick windbreaker/light down jacket. You can wear just a sweater during the warm midday, but you'll need a jacket in the mornings and evenings!
👖 Bottoms: Thermal pants/long johns + thick outer pants (jeans, hiking pants).
👟 Shoes and Socks: High-top waterproof outdoor shoes are ideal for dealing with dew and occasional rain or snow on the grasslands.
🧣 Accessories: Gloves, scarves, and hats are essential as the grassland winds can make it feel much colder.
💊 Medications: Bring common medicines like cold medicine, stomach medicine, and motion sickness pills.
Other: Don't forget power banks, sunscreen, moisturizing spray, sunglasses, and rain gear.

📅 6-Day, 5-Night Itinerary
👉 Day 1: Hailar → Morigele River → Explore the Grasslands → Erguna Wetland → Birch Forest → Enhe
👉 Day 2: Enhe → Charming Town of Shiwei → Kaxian Road → Ulan Mountain Scenic Area → Wuka → Heishantou
👉 Day 3: Heishantou → Border Highway → 186 Ribbon River → Visit a Herdsman’s Home → National Gate/Matryoshka Square → Manzhouli
👉 Day 4: Manzhouli → Hulun Lake → Rose Peak → Dongyang Railway Station → Bailang Peak → Arxan
👉 Day 5: Arxan → Arxan National Forest Park (Heavenly Lake/Stone Forest/Dujuan Lake/Santan Gorge, etc.)
👉 Day 6: Arxan National Forest Park → Scotch Pine Scenic Avenue → Qixian Lake Grassland → Hailar

🚗 Transportation Guide
✈️ Flights: You can fly directly to Hailar Dongshan Airport or Arxan Yiershi Airport. Some cities may require a transfer. Alternatively, fly to Shenyang and take the Shenyang-Arxan train, which offers stunning views along the way.
🚙 Local Transportation: Attractions are scattered, so it's highly recommended to hire a car or a local guide! They know the roads and the best viewpoints and can help you discover hidden gems. Plus, some grassland areas have poor signal, making self-driving risky.

🏠 Accommodation Recommendations
⭐ Hailar: Plenty of hotel options with convenient access to transportation, shopping, and dining, making it a great starting and ending point for your trip.
⭐ Enhe Russian Ethnic Village: Stay in a traditional wooden house to experience Russian culture and enjoy stunning starry skies at night.
⭐ Heishantou: Opt for a Mongolian yurt to experience unique grassland accommodations and watch the sunset over the grasslands.
⭐ Scenic Area Wooden Cabins: Wake up to birdsong and forest views. The experience is fantastic, though prices are relatively high.
⭐ Arxan City: More hotel options, including star-rated hotels and camping sites, with better facilities.

🍱 Food Recommendations
🥘 Iron Pot Stew: A local specialty with a hearty, flavorful stew that’s incredibly satisfying.
🍲 Ice-Boiled Lamb Hotpot: Fresh lamb cooked with ice, resulting in tender, juicy meat and a delicious broth.
🍖 Grilled Lamb Ribs: Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and bursting with flavor.
🥟 Wild Vegetable Dumplings: Filled with fresh wild vegetables, offering a taste of nature.
🥛 Mongolian Milk Tea: Rich and savory, perfect for warming up and filling your stomach.
Other must-tries include beef jerky, dairy products, and wild mushroom feasts.

❗ Important Tips
1. Book flights and accommodations in advance. Although it’s not the summer peak season, it’s still a busy time, so avoid last-minute hassles.
2. The temperature difference between day and night in Arxan and Hulunbuir is significant, so dress in layers.
3. Wear comfortable shoes as you’ll be walking a lot in the scenic areas.
4. Some attractions have poor signal, so download offline maps in advance.
5. Respect local ethnic customs and practice responsible tourism.
6. Autumn is fire prevention season, so smoking is prohibited in outdoor and public areas.
7. Confirm meal prices in advance to avoid unnecessary disputes.

Pack your bags and embark on this autumn feast🍁 Don’t forget to like and save this guide!