Autumn in Hulunbuir and Arxan: A September Exclusive Oil Painting Guide

Mid-September to early October is the perfect time to visit Inner Mongolia! Golden grasslands, birch trees dressed in yellow, volcanic landscapes paired with colorful forests—this 20-day limited autumn scenery is worth planning for. Here's your complete guide to eating, staying, and exploring:

🎒 Essentials for Your Trip
👗 Clothing: With temperature differences of up to 15°C between morning and evening, bring a lightweight down jacket and a windbreaker. A thin sweatshirt is sufficient for midday. Light or bright-colored outfits are perfect for stunning photos.
🛒 Other items: Waterproof hiking shoes (a must for trekking), sunscreen, moisturizing skincare products (dry climate), power bank, common medications (cold medicine, stomach medicine), and all necessary IDs and discount cards.

🚗 Transportation Options
Major transportation: Fly to Hailar or Arxan Yiershi Airport. Flights to Arxan are limited, so book early. Alternatively, fly to Ulanhot.
Local travel: Opt for an SUV or off-road vehicle! Grassland roads and scenic routes can be complex. Groups of three or more can form independent tours for flexibility. Some sections of the border road have weak signals, so download offline maps in advance.

📅 Itinerary Plan
👉 Day 1: Hailar → Morigele River → Grassland exploration → Ergun Wetland → Birch Forest → Enhe
👉 Day 2: Enhe → Charming town of Shiwei → Borderline road → Ulan Mountain Scenic Area → Wuka → Heishantou
👉 Day 3: Heishantou → Border road → 186 Rainbow River → Visit a herder's home → National Gate/Matryoshka Square → Manzhouli
👉 Day 4: Manzhouli → Hulun Lake → Rose Peak → Dongyang Railway Station → White Wolf Peak → Arxan
👉 Day 5: Arxan → Arxan National Forest Park (Heavenly Lake/Stone Forest/Dujuan Lake/Santan Gorge, etc.)
👉 Day 6: Arxan National Forest Park → Zhangzi Pine Scenic Avenue → Qixian Lake Grassland → Hailar

🍱 Must-Try Foods
🍖 Grassland specialties: Whole roasted lamb with crispy skin and juicy meat, paired with savory milk tea to balance the flavors. End your meal with roasted lamb ribs—satisfying and hearty. Milk tea with fried rice and milk tofu is both warming and filling.
🧆 Wild flavors: Stir-fried or soup-based wild vegetables from Arxan, wild mushrooms, and wood ear mushrooms are incredibly fresh. Try Russian-style bread and Western cuisine as well.

🏨 Accommodation Recommendations
✅ Enhe/Shiwei: Stay in wooden cabins to experience Russian-style charm. Enjoy stargazing at night.
✅ Heishantou: Choose high-end yurts for a starry view right outside your door. Watch the grassland sunset and join a bonfire party.
✅ Arxan: City hotels offer great value and are close to the train station and hot springs. For morning mist photography, stay near the scenic area. Yiershi town has more affordable options.

⚠️ Important Tips
1. Arxan scenic area is vast, so start early and bring enough water and snacks. The climb to Tianshan Lake requires stamina, so plan your energy wisely.
2. Border roads are closed from 6 PM to 6 AM, so schedule your travel accordingly and adhere to speed limits.
3. Respect local customs: Remove shoes before entering yurts, avoid touching animals casually, and refrain from damaging vegetation or littering.
4. Accommodation is tight around National Day; book popular places in advance. For less-known guesthouses, inspect the rooms on-site before booking.

Immerse yourself in grasslands, border rivers, and volcanic wonders! This autumn, embark on a golden journey to the grasslands!