Explore the Winter Beauty: A Self-Drive Tour of the Ulan Butong Grasslands, a Cool Self-Drive Experience and Guide Through the Snow

Number of days：3 days
Average cost: 1,000 yuan
With whom: and friends
Tour kinds: Photography, Self-driving
The author went to these places: Ulan Butong Beijing Toad Dam
Updated: 2020.12.21

We're off on a snowy road trip to Ulan Butong! We're about to experience our first snowfall of the winter! Winter has quietly crept into the Northern Hemisphere, and before we've even had time to fully embrace this fairytale world stained white by heavy snow, we're shivering in the sudden drop in temperature.

We'll don our heaviest down jackets, build the most bizarre snowmen in the snow, and have those much-hated snowball fights with our friends. Winter is a season we love and hate. Even the coldest nights can't stop us from wanting to go out and see the first snowfall, and even the chilly wind can't stop us from heading off to the next city to explore the secrets of winter.

Let's share some beautiful views of our snowy and icy self-drive tour in Ulan Butong. It's winter now, and those who enjoy self-driving can't wait to explore the snowy terrain! I'll take a trip there first to show you the route. Having just enjoyed a refreshing summer in Sanya, the southernmost region of China, I can't wait to head north to discover the secrets of winter. I've experienced the northern frontier's summer and autumn, but I never imagined its winter would be so captivating. During the days we drove from Beijing to the Ulan Butong grassland, we seemed to be singing a high-pitched and melodious "Winter Sonata". It takes 7 hours to drive from Beijing to Ulan Butong on the first day. Be sure to prepare some dry food before the trip. When you drive to the snowy grassland, there is an endless highway in front of you. Both sides of the road are tightly covered with snow. You can’t see any other scenery at all. It’s like you have entered a magical "white ocean". Along the way, we passed through forests and crossed snowy plains, surrounded by vast, white mountains. As we drove cautiously, our wheels constantly carved ruts of varying depths, outlining the majestic beauty of the snowy grasslands. By the time we arrived at the Ulan Butong grassland, the snow had already reached our calves. For ten miles, blanketed in white snow, all we saw were local nomadic people and scattered cattle and sheep. It felt like entering a dreamlike world of ice and snow.

Many friends saw our photos and asked me for tips and what to bring. Before this trip, our team was well prepared. I've always mentioned thermoses, heat packs, hats, gloves, and snow boots, but this time, I absolutely must mention: You absolutely must install winter tires on your car. The snowy scenery in Ulan Butong is breathtaking, and trekking through the ice and snow is exciting and fun, but be mindful of safety. Along the way, I saw several passing teams get stuck or slide downhill. I quickly consulted a fellow automotive journalist: If you're planning a snowy road trip, whether your car has two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive isn't crucial; the most important thing is to install snow tires. Otherwise, driving on these roads is like skating. It's like walking on snow in non-slip boots—you'll basically slip constantly. Experienced drivers know that snow tires are essential for driving on pure ice and snow, especially when crossing grasslands or climbing mountains. This time, our fleet switched to Goodyear's new Wrangler IP/N winter tires, specifically designed for SUVs. Our fleet includes Audis, Land Rovers, and Wranglers, and we've all tried these latest Goodyear snow tires. Goodyear has upgraded the tread pattern, carcass structure, and tread compound, making them a great choice for the price-performance ratio. The most unique feature of Hamaba is its topography: a high slope surrounded by a patchwork of gullies and lowlands. The rolling mountain scenery changes with the seasons. At this time, it has been surrounded by heavy snow. The jade trees and branches around it are scattered in an orderly manner. Small mushroom houses are evenly distributed in the forest. The smoke from cooking interacts with the snow. The birch forest and herds of cattle and sheep depend on each other. The quaint village appears particularly quiet, leisurely, and peaceful in this season. It stays there quietly, like a ready-made ink-splashed landscape painting. Our team drove across the snow-covered grasslands, carving a path where none existed. This is part of the fun of snowy driving. We climbed a gentle hill, then a steep one—a feat that requires considerable skill. Some cars became stuck mid-slope, forcing us to backtrack and start over. This is when the true nature of snow tires shines through. The soft outer layer provides superior grip and anti-skid performance in low-temperature environments, while the firm base layer enhances handling. I spoke with a knowledgeable friend about this and learned that tread pattern is a crucial factor in determining winter tire performance. The Wrangler IP/N's unique hybrid tread pattern effectively traps snow within the tread crevices or corrugated grooves, creating a shearing effect that delivers powerful traction, often described as "snow chewing." Its tiny, serrated sipes maintain tread rigidity while providing powerful grip and "snow chewing," while the unique corrugated grooves ensure efficient traction. The immediate feeling from sitting in the car is that it grips the ground without slipping, which is truly reassuring and ensures a safe ride. It also makes those who enjoy self-driving a delight. In winter, the Xiaohetou River flows peacefully, its water plants capped with snow, forming charming "snow mushrooms" of various shapes floating in the river. Watching the sunrise and sunset here, walking upstream along the current, the ice is shrouded in mist, reflecting the silhouette of a solitary tree. Its branches are covered in rime, and the ground is covered with pure white ice crystals, creating a clear and picturesque scene reminiscent of a paradise. It's said that every season in Ulan Butong is like a chapter meticulously written by God. In summer, it's filled with blooming wolfsbane, rapeseed, and nasturtiums; it's the freedom of galloping horses; it's filled with herds of cattle, sheep, and yurts scattered across the vast grasslands. In autumn, it's filled with crimson leaves covering the mountains, golden birch leaves lining the meadows, and geraniums swaying in the wind.

In winter, the vast grasslands of Ulan Butong are devoid of vibrant blossoms and lush vegetation. Instead, there are scattered yellow leaves blown down by the howling cold wind, a real-life version of "Frozen." It's no exaggeration to call Ulan Butong the closest "Snow World" to Beijing. Off-season, it's completely free, and so few people visit that it's like renting it out, with a three-day round-trip drive. Transportation and accommodation to and from Beijing are also very affordable. If you want the most value for your money, now's the time to visit!