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Archive for the ‘Hulunbuir Travel’ Category

Top 10 Attractions in Hulunbuir (Tips, Photos & Map)

Thursday, June 1st, 2023

Plan your Inner Mongolia tour? Hulunbuir ( or Hulunbeier ) is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Inner Mongolia. Hulunbuir was once a league until in October, 2001 when it was established as a prefecture-level city. Its local government is now seated in Hailar District which used to be known as the city of Hailar ( or Hailaer ).

Hulunbuir administrates 13 different county-level regions: one district, five county-level cities, four banners and three autonomous banners including Hailar District, Manzhouli City, Ergun City, New Barag Left Banner, Evenk Autonomous Banner and more. It has an area of 263,000 square km, the size of Jiangsu Province and Shandong Province in China.

Northeastern Inner Mongolia Tour offers private trips to Hulunbuir Grassland, the finest pasture in China and the best preserved grassland in the world!

The Erguna River area in Hulunbuir was once the living area for Genghis Khan’s forefathers. Ergun City was the hometown of Genghis Khan (1162-1227), who here united all the tribes and started to conquer most of Asia and Eastern Europe.

1. Golden Horde Mongolian Tribe 金帐汗蒙古部落

It is a tourist destination, the only nomadic tribe open to the tourists. It is a reproduction of the camping tents in Genghis Khan’s time, a kind of travel experience bringing people back to the old days.

Golden Horde Mongolian Tribe ( 金帐汗蒙古部落 ) about 38km north of Hulunbuir (Hailar) Google

It is built in the heartland of Hulunbuir Grassland, on the banks of Moergele River that is hailed as China’s first Qushui (River bends).

Check out my another article Sunrise Glow over Hulunbuir Grassland for more information.

The sunset over the Golden Horde Mongolian Tribe

This area’s natural pasture is well known home and abroad. Historical records show, many ancient ethnic groups once originated and developed. They lived here from generation to generation till the 12th and 13th centuries when Genghis Khan and his followers united all the Mongolian tribes here and marched towards the areas in most of Asia and Eastern Europe.

Best Visit Time: May – September ( July and August are the best months )
Add: On the banks of Moergele River the New Barag Left Banner 呼伦巴尔市陈巴尔虎旗莫尔格勒河畔
Entrance Fee: free
How to get there: Take shuttle bus from Hailar ( along S201 and 38km )
Opening Hours: 08:00 – 18:00

2. Enhexiang Russian Village 恩和民族乡

Enhexiang Village is the only Russian village (Enhe Russian Ethnic Township) in China with over 400 Russian descendants of the total 900 or some villagers. The Enhe Russian Ethnic Township is located along the east bank of Ergun River (Eerguna River) , about 222km to the north of Hulunbuir city center (Hailar).

Enhexiang is about 222km to the north of Hulunbuir city (Hailar). Google

Enhexiang Village is on the transitional area between Hulunbuir Grasslands and the forest. The main reason to go to Enhe Village is to enjoy the local culture and visit the grassland on the mountain slope west of the village.

June and September is the best time to snap the fabulous pictures of the sheep and oxen grazing at ease on the grasslands. The sheep and oxen appear partly hidden and partly visible due to the thin mist.

The Enhe Russian Ethnic Township is awash with flowers around June 10 while in September this typical grassland and forest transitional area presents a charming landscape – golden yellow birch trees and the Xingan pine trees. The soft lights in the early morning and in the evening, plus the mobile mist on the surface of the slope, guaranteeing you a great candid photo opportunity.

3. Shiwei Town (Shiweizhen) 室韦

Shiwei ( or Shiweizhen) is a border town in the northeast of Ergun City (Eerguna City). It is on the east bank of the Ergun River (Eerguna River) and abuts Russia. Shiwei is inhabited mostly by the Chinese-Russian descendants.

Check out Shiwei Travel Tips for more information.

Shiweizhen( Shiwei Town) about 285 km north of Hulunbuir ( google)

Shiwei is one of the cradles of Mongols. Now it is a beautiful town with multi-ethnic groups including Mongols. It was once listed as one of top ten most beautiful townships in China.

Russian style wooden house ( Mukeleng House)

The town and its surrounding villages feature the Russian style in terms of architectures and living habits. Stay overnight in a traditional Russian style wooden house ( Mukeleng House) is a top choice for many tourists.

Best Visit Time: May – September ( July and August are the best months )
Add: Shiwei, Ergun City, Hulunbuir 呼伦巴尔额尔古纳室韦镇
Entrance Fee: free
How to get there: Take bus from Hailar to Ergun City, then take bus from Eerguna to Shiwei
Hire a car or van from Hailaier to Shiwei ( 160km, 4 hours )
Opening Hours: All year

4. Linjiang Village, Shiweizhen 室韦镇临江村

Linjiang Village is under the jurisdiction of Shiweizhen Town, Ergune City of Hulunbuir. Linjiang Village is 10 km from Shiweizhen Town, 174 km from Ergun City, and about 300 km from Hailar (Downtown of Hulunbuir City).

Lijiang Village 10km northeast of Shiweizhen Town (Google)

Linjiang Village is on the east bank of the Ergun River (Eerguna River) and abuts Russia with many the Chinese-Russian descendants.

The village features the Russian style in terms of architectures and living habits. Stay overnight in a traditional Russian style wooden house ( Mukeleng House) is a top choice for many tourists.

Check out my another article Road Trip from Ergun to Linjiang Village for more travel information.

The fog-shrouded Linjiang Village in the early morning

Through years’ tourism development, no longer a pristine village, but Linjiang Village is still a laid back escape from the hustle and bustle of the big cities with charming rape- seed flowers, wheat fields, grassland and Russian style life.

You have a good sunrise shot at the East Mountain while sunset shot at the South Mountain. If you are going to shoot the sunrise, you don’t need to get up early due to the fact that Linjiang Village is usually misty and foggy in the early morning and the mist will disperse after 7:00am.

The best time to photograph the fields and village is at the almost end of the dispersed mist. The great view of the rape-seed flowers fall on early July till July 20. In autumn, around September 15 each year, put up overnight in Linjiang Village to shoot the beautiful wooden houses and yellow birch trees.

5. Moerdaoga National Forest Park 莫尔道嘎国家森林公园

The Moerdaoga National Forest Park is the first national forest park in the Greater Khingan Range (Greater Xing’an Mountain ) within Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Moerdaoga National Forest Park about 337km north of Hulunbuir ( Google)

It is the biggest national forest park of its kind in China. “Moerdaoga” literally means that “Set out for battle and Ride your horses” that was legendarily said by Genghis Khan who tried to integrate the tribes.

Check out Moerdaoga Travel G uide for more information.

Entrance to Moerdaoga National Forest Park

The forest park abuts the Hulunbuir Grassland on the south, the Erguna River on the north, filled with old and tall trees and numerous streams and rivers. The park is within the administration Moerdaoga Town of Ergun City.

Best Visit Time: May – September ( July and August are the best months )
Add: Moerdaoga Town, Ergun City, Hulunbuir 呼伦巴尔额尔古纳莫尔道嘎镇
Entrance Fee: RMB130
How to get there: Take bus from Hailar to the Park ( Daily one bus 8 hours)
Take overnight train from Hailaer to Moerdaoga Town ( 10 hours )

6. Aoluguya Reindeer Village 敖鲁古雅鄂温克民族乡

Aoluguya Reindeer Village is officialy known as Aoluguya Ewenki Ethnic Township. The town is inhabited by the Ewenki people, the only hunting tribe left in China which still keeps the habit of raising reindeers.

They came from Siberia over three hundred years ago and have been living in the dense primeval forest and surviving on herding reindeers.

Check out Aoluguya Travel Guide for more information.

Aoluguya Reindeer Village about 472km north of Hulunbuir by road (Google)

People would like to walk around the town and visit the Aoluguya Ewenki Ethnic Reindeer Museum and primary tribes and handicrafts workshops.

The cone shaped house covered with birch bark is the temporary house for Evenki live in forests

Best Visit Time: May – September ( July and August are the best months )
Add: Aoluguya Township, Mangui Town, Genhe City, Hulunbuir 呼伦贝尔根河市满归镇以北约17公里敖鲁古雅乡
Entrance Fee: RMB80
How to get there: Take bus from Hailar to Ergun, then connect bus for Aoluguya ( 260km to the northeast of Hailaer )
Take train from Hailaer to Mangui Town, connect bus for Aoluguya

7. Ergun City （Eerguna）额尔古纳

The legendary city of Ergun is located on the northern area of Hulunbuir Prairie and on the right bank of Ergun River with an area of 28,400 km2.

Check out Ergun Travel Guide for more information.

The downtown Ergun City is about 130km north of Hulunbuir (Hailar)

It was the hometown of Genghis Khan (1162-1227), who united all the tribes and started to conquer most of Asia and Eastern Europe.

Best Visit Time: May – September ( July and August are the best months )
Add: 130km to the northeast of Hailaer District of Hulunbuir
Entrance Fee: Free
How to get there: Take bus from Hailar to Ergun (130km to the northeast of Hailaer)

8. The Erguna Wetland Scenic Area 额尔古纳湿地景区

The Erguna Wetland Scenic Area, originally known as Genhe Wetland, has an area of 126,000 hectare , the largest wetland in Asia, about 3km to the west of Ergun City. The Ergun Wetland is scattered around the forest and the grassland with many types including marshes, shrub swamps, swamp forest, open bogs and moss.

The Ergun WEtland ( also known as Genhe Wetland, Or Xishan Wetland )

Best Visit Time: May – October
Add: Xishan, Ergun City, Hulunbuir 呼伦贝尔额尔古纳市西山
Entrance Fee: RMB65
How to get there: Take bus from Ergun

9. Manzhouli City 满洲里

Manzhouli is the largest border city in Inner Mongolia. It abuts Russia in the north, approx. 192km to the west of Hailaier (the city center of Hulunbuir). Manzhouli has the largest border crossing in China. The National Gate ( Guo Men ) is 9 kilometers to the west of Manzhouli Downtown.

Check out the following three articles for more information:
Night View of Manzhouli City
Architecture of Manzhouli
Top 10 Attractions in Manzhouli

The street makes a lovely walk in the evening in Manzhouli

Manzhouli is a port city of comprising the folk customs of the three countries including China, Russia and Mongolia, a blend of Chinese and Western cultures. The City is rife with unique buildings of Russian, Mongoian and Chinese styles.

10. Hulun Lake 呼伦湖

Hulun Lake, also known as Dalai Hu, and Hulun Nur in Mongolian. this massive lake pops out of the landscape 36km south of Manzhoul, China’s fifth-largest lake.

Hulun Lake is located near the National Highway No.301 on the route from Hailar to Manzhouli. You can visit Hulun Lake either from Hailar or Manzhouli. The lake itself is under the jurisdiction of Manzhouli City, but it actually lies in the area surrounded by Manzhouli, New Barag Left Banner and New Barag Right Banner.

Check out Hulun Lake Travel Tips for more information.

The Hulun Lake is located west of Hulunbuir.

The Hulun Lake is an ideal summer resort in terms of cool climate, beautiful scenery and fresh air. If you come here in summer, you are able to participate in many activities such as boating on the lake, fishing on the lake shore, sunbathing, bird watching. You can also have a bite of the local all-fish feast with numerous delicious and nourishing dishes of fish.

Entrance fee: RMB 20
Opening Hours: 8:00 – 18:00
How to get there: Hire a taxi from Manzhouli ( RMB200 return)

Add On

Sunrise Glow over Hulunbuir Grassland
Top 10 Places for Photography in Hulunbuir
How to visit Hulunbuir Grassland
Top 10 Attractions in Hulunbuir
Hulun Lake Travel Tips
World Anti-fascist War Hailar Memorial Park

Road Trip from Ergun to Linjiang Village
Ergun Travel Guide
Aoluguya Travel Guide
Moerdaoga Travel Guide
Shiwei Travel Tips

Wusu Langzi Lake （Tips, Photos & Map)
Dujuan Lake in Aershan National Forest Park

Beihu Park Skyline at Night in Manzhouli
Night View of Manzhouli City
Architecture of Manzhouli
Top 10 Attractions in Manzhouli

Tip: Hassle-free Hulunbuir Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for guided tours to Hulunbuir Grassland, Inner Mongolia:

Beijing Hulunbuir Classic Loop 6 Day Tour
Beijing Hulunbeier Folk Culture 4 Day Tour

Beijing Yinchuan Alxa Highlight 7 Day Tour

3 Day Beijing Shangdu (Xanadu) Tour
4-Day Beijing Xilinglo Glassland Shangdu Mongolia Culture Tour

Inner Mongolia Tour
Mid-Inner Mongolia Tour (Hohhot, Baotou, Ordos)
East Inner Mongolia Tour (Xanadu,Wulan Butong, Xilinhot, Chifeng)
Northeast Inner Mongolia Tour (Hulunbuir)
West Inner Mongolia Tour (Alashan “Alxa” League)
Hohhot Tour
Hohhot Highlights & Grassland 3 Day Tour
Hohhot Highlights & Grassland 2 Day Tour

Further Readings

Top Places to Visit in Inner Mongolia
Top 10 Attractions in Hohhot
Best Time to Visit Hohhot
Meidaizhao Temple
How to go to Hohhot from Beijin g
Top Souvenirs in Hohhot
Hohhot Taxi: Hohhot Taxi Fares, Tips and Phones
Baotou Taxi: Baotou Taxi Fares, Tips and Phones
Ordos Taxi: Ordos taxi Fares, Tips and Phones
What to see in Hohhot, what to do in Hohhot

Top 10 Attractions in Alxa League
Heicheng Historic Site in Ejin Banner (Tips, Photos & Map)
Guai Shu Lin in Ejin Banner, Inner Mongolia (Tips, Photos & Map)
Populus Forest in Ejin Banner (Tips, Photos & Map)
Badain Jaran Desert (Tips, Photos & Map)

Top 10 Attractions in Chifeng
Xanadu Sites Museum
Jinlianchuan Grassland
Wulan Butong Grassland
Asihatu Stone Forest
Gong Geer Grassland
Duolun Travel Guide
Xanadu Travel Guide – Shangdu Travel
How to visit Asihatu Stone Forest
Xi Wuzhumuqin Grassland

Any questions, just drop a line.

Tags: Top attractions in Hailar, Top things to do in Hailaer, What to see in Hailar, What to see in Hulunbuir
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Road Trip from Ergun to Linjiang Village

Saturday, February 12th, 2022

plan your Inner Mongolia Tour? Ergun, or E’erguna (额尔古纳市) is part of the prefecture-level city of Hulunbuir in Inner Mongolia. The 200-km road trip from Ergun City to the beguiling Linjiang (临江), a village bordering with Russia, is the highlight of our 8-day photography Hulunbuir Prairie tour.

The road trip finds us see cottony clouds hovering so low it seems we could easily them with cattle grazing, sheep roaming and horses running wild with their masters.

On route we also have a short side trip to Shiwei, one of the smallest ethnic minority groups in China – the China’s Russian Ethnic Minority. Finally we stay overnight at the quiet and serene bordering village – Linjiang.

One of the features of a photography tour is “off the cuff “, stopping at the places where we see beautiful photogenic spots: rolling green hills, wild flowers, white clouds, grazing cattle and sheep. We don’t get off at those touristy and commercialized horse-riding and costume hiring camps and stations along the highways.

Not long after we leave Ergun City, we encounter the stupendous scenery of cottony clouds, so low we are afraid they will hit our tour bus!

But what makes us stop and get off our bus is the undulating green hills that teems with grazing cattle on the right side of the highway! We lose no time, asking our bus driver to pull over and disembarking immediately.

Standing by the roadside, we zoom in and out for the stupendous view!

Standing by the roadside, I use my long lens camera zooming in and out for the magnificent views of the harmonious beauty unfolded before our eyes, and exhilarated by the gift from the heaven.

The green hillslopes are dappled with changing sunlight and colors, mostly wanted by photography enthusiasts.

Back to the bus, we continue to hit the road, busing on the highway to Shiwei Township, a bordering village only 11 km to the southwest of Linjiang Village – our destination.

Our choice of Linjiang Village for our overnight stay is mainly due to the fact that Linjiang Village has not succumbed to tourist mania that has affected the nearby Shiwei Village.

Ergun River cuts through the border area.

We are given only two hours sightseeing around Shiwei Township. Located on the east bank of Ergun River, Shiwei is now a lively border town abutting Russia inhabited mostly by the Chinese-Russian descendants. Shiwei was once a cradle of multi-ethnic groups including Mongols.

Zoom in for a close look at the village on the Russian side.

About 10 years ago Shiwei was on the limelight for its natural and pristine beauty, and even elected as one of the 10 most beautiful villages in China at that time.

Even since, the village has been aways packed with tourists in high season. Now Shiwe is no longer a laid-back village that has fallen to the victim of mass tourism.

But that doesn’t deter us from making use of the two hours snapping some pictures recording the best part of Shiwei. The town features the Russian style in terms of architectures and living habits.

Stay overnight in a traditional Russian style wooden house is a top choice for many tourists.

Two hour later finds us heading to the bucolic hamlet – Linjiang, also a bordering village with Russia, separated by Ergun River.

Before we reach the laid-back village, we are led to hike up a high viewing place for a soul-recharging glimpse of the big bend on Ergun River.

We are also required by our instructor to put up our tripods and set our cameras in right conditions to catch the glowing sunset over the big curve of the sublime border river with the other side being Russia.

At the end of our road trip, we get to the anachronistic hamlet – Linjiang Village abutting Russia. This tiny hamlet is really a time wrap hemmed by rolling green hills without much modernity in sight. There is a quietness and serenity over the two-horse village.

We are arranged to stay overnight in a privately owned inn. After walking in the dimly lit village street and back to my room, I fall into sleep soon, too tired to take a shower as usual after the exciting but exhausting day trip.

Next morning I wake up naturally, missing the sunrise over the charm village. But later I soon get to know that a thick fog has been hovering over the village and we don’t have sunrise on that morning.

One of my fellow travelers – Ms. Li Xin does get up that morning, climbing up on the hills over the village for a spirit-recharge view though she fails to catch the sunrise due to the heavy haze. Below are the two pictures taken both by Ms Li Xin and the other fellow traveler on that foggy morning:

We are again only allowed a few hours walking around the serene village. The temptation to see the village is so great that I jump up from my warm bed, putting on clothes, taking out my long lens camera and mobile phone, and darting to the streets to catch the beautiful morning of the bucolic village.

Hassle-Free Inner Mongolia Guided Tours

If you don’t want go the daunting do-it-yourself-route and prefer an organized hassle-free private tour to visit Inner Mongolia, no worry and we have the following options:

Manzhouli Architectures 满洲里建筑

The layout of Manzhouli city center resembles a chessboard with chess-like European-style buildings scattered along the streets. There are approximatley 160 buildings lined on the 12 streets in the city center. Many buildings have been renovated and upgraded, featuring the harmony between the outstanding single buildings and the uniqueness of each street.

Manhzouli is small enough to walk around. You can still see the Russian wooden houses of over hundred years. All the street-front-store signs are in Chinese, Russian and Mongolian. Walking on the streets in Manzhouli, you have the feeling of being in an exotic city in a foreign country. Manzhouli does gives us a pleasant surprise in an era when China is bogged down in the situation where more and more Chinese cities look the same. See Manzhouli Architectures for further reading.

Guo Men （Sino-Russian Border Crossing )

Guo Men, which literally means “National Gate”, is the Sino-Russian border crossing approx.9 km west of Manzhouli’s city center. This is the fifth “Guo Men” built in 2008 with a small museum inside telling the history of the area. Standing on the top of Guo Men, you are able to see the border crossing on the Russian side.

Entrance fee: RMB 80
Opening Hours: Jan 06 – Jan 25 ( 09:00 – 17:00); April 01 – October 31 (09:00-17:00)
How to get there: take a taxi ( RMB 5-10)
Tel: 0470 – 6229068

Russia Taowa Square 俄罗斯套娃广场

“Taowa” means “Russian Matryoshka Dolls”. Opened in 2006, the squqre has a giant Russian Matryoshka doll towering 30m surrounded by over 200 colorful nesting dolls representing different countries.

Russia Taowa Square is located halfway between the city center and the border crossing. Inside the giant Russian Matryoshka doll there is a largeRussian food resstaurant and a performance hall as well. The whole square features the mixed cultures of China, Russia and Mongolia. It is the largest Taowa doll in the world, a Guinmess world record.

Entrance fee: Free
Opening Hours: All year
How to get there: take a taxi ( RMB 15 – 20)
Tel: 0470-8238664

Hulun Lake 呼伦湖

Hulun Lake, also known as Dalai Hu, and Hulun Nur in Mongolian. this massive lake pops out of the landscape 36km south of Manzhoul, China’s fifth-largest lake. Hulun Lake is located near the National Highway No.301 on the route from Hailar to Manzhouli. You can visit Hulun Lake either from Hailar or Manzhouli. The lake itself is under the jurisdiction of Manzhouli City, but it actually lies in the area surrounded by Manzhouli, New Barag Left Banner and New Barag Right Banner.

Entrance fee: RMB 20
Opening Hours: 8:00 – 18:00
How to get there: Hire a taxi from Manzhouli ( RMB200 return)
Tel: 0470-6530166
See Hulun Lake for more information.

Hulun Lake (Dalai Hu or Ulun Nur in Mongolian)

Manzhouli Locomotive Square 满洲里火车头广场

Manzhouli Locomotive Square is located just on the west of Guo Men. It was inaugurated in June, 2004. The old locomotive was built in 1940s by the Japanese. The rails under the locomotive were built by the Russian, nicknamed Rail 43 which refers to the 43 kilograms for extended one meter rail.In 1949, Chairman Mao visited Russia passing by Manzhouli and his train was driven by this locomotive. The locomotive was numbered “1861”.

Entrance fee: Free
Opening Hours: all year round
How to get there: by Guo Men （ taxi fare: 10 -15)

No.41 Boundary Marker 41号界碑

The Boundary Marker No.41 is located within the scenic area of Guo Men, about 10 km west of Manzhouli’s city center. It is the 41th border marker listed in August, 1994 when the Sino-Russian Boundary Survey was finished.

Before 1993, this location was once a busy passage used both by passenger buses and lorries. With the increasing volume of goods on both sides, a new crossing was built elsewhere to take place the old one. The Boundary Marker 41 stands on the former old passage. The boundary marker is made of marble stones, 1.2 meters high, 0.4 meters wide and 0.25 meters thick.

Entrance fee: Free
Opening Hours: all year round
How to get there: by Guo Men （ taxi fare: 10 -15)

Hassle-Free Inner Mongolia Guided Tours

If you don’t want go the daunting do-it-yourself-route and prefer an organized hassle-free private tour to visit Inner Mongolia, no worry and we have the following options:

Archive for the ‘Hulunbuir Travel’ Category

Top 10 Attractions in Hulunbuir (Tips, Photos & Map)

1. Golden Horde Mongolian Tribe 金帐汗蒙古部落

2. Enhexiang Russian Village 恩和民族乡

3. Shiwei Town (Shiweizhen) 室韦

4. Linjiang Village, Shiweizhen 室韦镇临江村

5. Moerdaoga National Forest Park 莫尔道嘎国家森林公园

6. Aoluguya Reindeer Village 敖鲁古雅鄂温克民族乡

7. Ergun City （Eerguna）额尔古纳

8. The Erguna Wetland Scenic Area 额尔古纳湿地景区

9. Manzhouli City 满洲里

10. Hulun Lake 呼伦湖

Add On

Tip: Hassle-free Hulunbuir Guided Tours

Further Readings

Road Trip from Ergun to Linjiang Village

Hassle-Free Inner Mongolia Guided Tours

Further Readings

Top Attractions in Manzhouli

Manzhouli Architectures 满洲里建筑

Guo Men （Sino-Russian Border Crossing )

Russia Taowa Square 俄罗斯套娃广场

Hulun Lake 呼伦湖

Manzhouli Locomotive Square 满洲里火车头广场

No.41 Boundary Marker 41号界碑

Hassle-Free Inner Mongolia Guided Tours

Further Readings

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