About Hohhot
What to see and do in Hohhot
Weather in Hohhot
Airport in Hohhot
Visa
Hohhot (pinyin: Huhehaote), sometimes spelled Huhehot or Huhhot, is a city in North-central China and the capital of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, serving as the administrative, economic, and cultural centre.
The city was founded by Mongol ruler Altan Khan in the late 16th century. It was chosen as the region's administrative centre in 1952, replacing Ulanhot. A city with a rich cultural background, Hohhot is known for its historical sites and temples and is one of the major tourist destinations of Inner Mongolia. It is also nationally known as the home of China's dairy giants Mengniu and Yili, and was declared "Dairy Capital of China" by the national government in 2006.
The name of the city in Mongolian means "Blue City." The color blue in Mongolian culture is associated with the sky, eternity and purity. In Chinese, the name can be abbreviated to Hu Sh' or translated as Qing Ch'ng
Although Hohhot has only been the capital of Inner Mongolia since 1947, it has taken on the role with ease and with a rapidly growing population (currently at around 1.6 million) it has begun to challenge Baotou as the region's industrial and economic powerhouse. Despite the fact that only around 11% of the city's population are indigenous Mongols, Mongolian Buddhism (an offshoot of Tibetan Buddhism) continues to thrive and Mongolian culture is actively preserved. As a new capital, the city lacks an abundance of historical and tourist sites. However, it is still definitely worth visiting if in the area. The city is at its greenest and most pleasant in Spring and early Summer.
Da Zhao Temple. The oldest Buddhist monastery in the city - constructed in 1579. A 2.5 meter silver statue of Sakyamuni Buddha is among the temples most precious treasures.
Inner Mongolia Museum. Exhibitions of the flora and history of Inner Mongolian.
Temple of the Five Pagodas (Wutasi) An Indian style temple constructed in 1732. Famous for its frescos of 1,500 carved figures of Buddha.
The Great Mosque. The oldest and largest mosque in the city - built in 1693.
Tomb of Princess Zhaojun. The resting place of Han princess who voluntarily married a nomad chief to secure peace. She is attributed with the ability to perform miracles. Take bus No. 6 from the muslim quarter and switch to bus No. 44 that will take you there. Fare is RMB 1 each. Zhaojun Tomb is one of the eight major sights in Hohhot Zhaojun Tomb. It is located near Hei He River, 9km (5.59 miles) from Hohhot. Zhaojun was one of the four ancient belles. She was married to the King of Hun by the Han Emperor for political reasons. Zhaojun Tomb is also known as Green Tomb since story has it that every autumn the grass on the tomb remains lush while all the rest dies with the season. The scenery surrounding the tomb varies from morning to evening, adding a touch of mystery to its beauty.
For those interested in history, the Inner Mongolia Museum would be a good place to visit. Located at East Xinhua Street, this museum covers an area of 5, 000 square meters (53, 821 square feet). The collection here has distinctive ethnic and local features. Cultural relics of Hun, Donghu, Wuhuan, Xianbei, Turki, Qidan, Nvzhen, Dangxiang and Mongolian nationalities have a large share in the total collection. Rare treasures include crown decorations of Hun kings, headgear of Xianbei, etc.
Wanbu Huayanjing Pagoda , Five-Pagoda Temple known as Wuta Si or Jingang Zuo Sheli Baota and Xilituzhao Palace the largest Lama temple in Hohhot are also among the most popular Buddhism resorts in Hohhot.
Da Zhao Temple festivals - Songjing Da Fahui (8th-15th of the 1st and 6th lunar months), Songbalin (14th day of the 1st and 6th lunar months), Liang Dafo (15th day of the 1st and 6th lunar months), and Mani Hui (14th-17th day of eighth lunar month). Dazhao Temple is in the old city of Hohhot. This is the earliest temple in Hohhot with a history of over 400 years. The temple is entirely patterned after Chinese temples except for the main hall, which is patterned after a Tibetan Lama temple. In the middle of the Buddha hall sits a silver Buddha statute, which provides Dazhao Temple with its alternative name of Silver Buddha Temple.
Inner Mongolia Horse Race Course
There's a saying amongst Mongolians that "The nomad is born in the saddle," and if you
want to see how true that is, just go to the Inner Mongolia Horse Race Course,
it's the biggest of its kind in all of China. There you'll witness children as young as five,
all of them expert riders, racing their mounts around a track housed in two enormous Mongolian
yurts attached to each other to form an elongated stadium. Seeing its most frenzied use during Naadam
(the three manly games festival) the race course is also the venue for Mongolian wrestling competitions,
displays of horsemanship and even dancing. If you have any spare time during your stay in Hohhot,
this would be a good place to drop by, or you can enquire about scheduled events at a hotel or
travel agent. If you'd like to experience Naadam, which is an event that goes back thousands of years,
you'll want to come through between late July and early August.
How to get there
The race course is served by bus # 13 from the center of town.
Inner Mongolia Museum
Centrally located and just a few minutes' walk away from the Xincheng hotel, the Inner
Mongolia Museum is well worth an hour or so of your time, especially if you befriend the curator,
who's known to give visitors impromptu tours.
The downstairs exhibition holds a wealth of ethnic Mongolian items, with highlights including costumes, saddles, long leather coats and cummerbunds, as well as hunting and sporting implements, including some very European-looking hockey sticks and balls.
Surprisingly, there's also a rather impressive paleontology display, featuring a woolly rhino
fossils and yes, of course, dinosaur. Upstairs, you'll find maps and objects detailing the exploits
of local hero Genghis Khan and the colossal Mongol empire he established in the thirteenth century.
How to get there
On the corner of Xinhua Dajie and Hulumbei'er Lu, the museum can be reached by taking bus #3.
The Grasslands. Mongolia's history is linked to its grasslands. Recommended places near Hohhot are: Xilamuren (80 km north), Huitengxile (120 km west) and Gegentela (150 km north).
Inner Mongolian Grasslands
If the imposing facades of big-city buildings have you feeling a little claustrophobic, there's no
better remedy than a visit to Inner Mongolia's seemingly endless grasslands. From Hohhot,
three such areas are within reach, Xilamuren (beginning 80 km north of Hohhot), Huitengxile
(120 km west) and Gegentala (150 km north).
Xilamuren Grassland
Meaning "yellow river" in Mongolian, the Xilamuren grassland (Xilamuren Caoyuan in Mandarin)
gets its name from a lamasery built in 1769. Used as a summer residence by the sixth living Buddha,
the temple lies on the banks of the Xilamuren River. Activities in this area include horseback riding,
hunting, fishing, and if you're there in late July or early August, the Naadam Festival activities.
You can also stay in authentic Mongolian yurts and enjoy the gentle sawing sounds of traditional
music played on the matou qin (horse-head fiddle). Best visited during summer and fall, you'll find
Xilamuren warm, breezy and rather cool in the evenings, so dress appropriately.
Gegentala Grassland
You might spend a day on the Gegentala grasslands (Gegentala Caoyuan) taking in traditional
Mongolian dances, horse races and wrestling, trying your hand at archery and sitting around
bonfires while enjoying a bowl of shouba rou (boiled mutton eaten with the hands).
The locals can be very friendly, but beware of overdoing the local baijiu (fiery grain alcohol),
often offered in quantity. It's powerful stuff.
A scenic area featuring colorful wild flowers and cloud-like flocks of sheep grazing endless, rolling plains, Gegentala is great place to take some pictures and enjoy the calming stillness of this peaceful land.
Huitengxile Grassland
Situated at an altitude of over 1800 meters, it's no wonder that Huitengxile means "cold plateau"
in Mongolian, but don't let that dissuade you from visiting. There's lots to see and do on the
Huitengxile Grassland (Huitengxile Caoyuan). From caving in the Meilitu Gully and
Heishan Mountain's 99 grottoes to visiting the grassland's numerous hot springs, Huitengxile
offers the usual traditional Mongolian activities on the menu, and then some. Try some hare's
milk wine, or a camel ride and take in a gorgeous landscape carpeted with wildflowers in the warm
months.
How to get there
There is a 7:50 a.m. bus leaving for Xilamuren from in front of the train station, which costs
RMB 14 and returns at 3 p.m., but the easiest way to visit the grasslands will be by taking any
one of the numerous grasslands tours on offer, which can be organized from any hotel.
Another option is to catch a bus from the long-distance bus station to Zhaohe
(Xilamuren grassland). These leave twice daily and are a bargain at RMB 8.
Jiangjun Yashu
The only historic building still standing in the newly developed area of the city, this former
Qing Dynasty general's office has a certain allure. Resembling a temple, it's something of a
mixture of a religious site, featuring rather unusual Buddhist art done in a "modern" style,
along with examples of stately Qing-era office furnishings and a scale model of the city that
depicts Hohhot as it was before modernization took its toll, transforming the cityscape
from one dominated by temple dragon tails and city walls to one defined as much by
boxy skyscrapers, office buildings and city lights as it is by its dwindling Mongolian old town.
How to get there
Located on Xincheng Xi Jie, Bus #3 will take you there from the train station.
Open daily from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Wusutu Lamasery (Wusutu Zhao)
A unique complex, Wusutu Zhao is the only set of temples in Mongolia to have been designed
and build solely by Mongolians. Peaceful and remote, it rewards the effort to reach it
(it isn't on any bus routes). Once you're there, you can enjoy the Mongolian, Tibetan and Han
style buildings free of the all-too-usual gawking package-tour crowds, as Wusutu Zhao
has yet to be included in most China guides and doesn't frequently make it onto tour itineraries.
Wusutu Zhao is best explored at a slow pace. Unadulterated by the gaudy refurbishments that have marred other historic sites, the Ming-era murals, ornate woodcuts and exquisitely crafted Buddhas exude tranquil beauty. The grounds include four sets of temples, so it takes about half a day to do them all justice. Expect the elderly monk charged with collecting admission fees to be a little surprised to see you.
How to get there
Surrounded by scenic countryside, Wusutu Zhao lies 12 km northwest of Hohhot, south of
Daqing Mountain, and is separated from the city by a new expressway. To get here,
take bus no. 6 to its terminus and then hire a taxi. The caveat here is that once the taxi
drops you off, you may have to walk back to the no. 6 bus station, which takes
about an hour to reach on foot.
Xilituzhao
The holy seat and residence of the reincarnation of the Living Buddha, Xilituzhao was
built during the reign of Ming Emperor Wan Li for the 3rd Dalia Lama, Sonam Gyatso.
Featuring one of the most well-preserved Lama pagoda's in Inner Mongolia, Xilituzhao,
another temple restored after the tumult of the Cultural Revolution, is a structure built
in the symmetrical Han style, and adorned with Tibetan-style murals and Sanskrit inscriptions.
There'll be lots of fine, detailed Tibetan woodwork to inspect, but if you have any questions,
you might want to ask some of the resident Tibetan monks, they speak pretty good English
and are generally happy to show you around.
Xilitu Zhao, 112 Danan Street, Yuquan District. The largest Buddhist temple in the city and
main seat of Buddhism in Inner Mongolia.
How to get there
Just a few minutes from Dazhao Temple, the area is serviced by buses # 6, # 7 and # 8.
Open daily from 8am to 5pm, RMB 10.
If you're still sweltering from the sticky heat that prevails in Southern China, a trip to Hohhot might be just what you need. The Inner Mongolian steppes are dry and increasingly arid as you move westward towards the Gobi Desert. Inner Mongolia has a temperate continental climate, with warm and windy springs. Summer is short and hot with many rainy days and average temperatures between 16 C and 27 C. Autumn usually sees early frost and plummeting temperatures and winter is long, bitter and cold with temperatures dropping to a bone-chilling -40 C. Whatever time of year you choose to visit, make sure you pack a variety of clothes as temperatures vary by 10 C to 16 C over the course of a day. Windbreakers are a must.
The best time to visit Hohhot is from April to October, while the best time to go to the grassland is from middle July to early September when the temperature is 15 C (59F) to 25 C (77F). Also, the famous Nadam Fair is held during July or August. This traditional festival occupies an important place in the life of Mongolian people. Nadam means "entertainment" or "game" in Mongolian. Horse racing, wrestling, and archery are called men's three skills. Tasting savory milk tea, listening to melodious music from horse-head string instruments, living in gers and watching stars will bring you back to nomadic times. Nadam Fair is also the trade fair for farm products, such as mutton, beef, cheese, butter, and yogurt. However, remember to bring a coat or jacket even in summer since the temperature drops dramatically in the evening.
January -6 C to -4 C
February -2 C to -16 C
March 6 C to -7 C
April 15 C to 0 C
May 22 C to 6 C
June 26 C to 12 C
July 27 C to 15 C
August 25 C to 13 C
September 20 C to 7 C
October 13 C to -1 C
November 3 C to -9 C
December -5 C to -17 C
Hohhot Baita International Airport is an airport in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China (IATA: HET, ICAO: ZBHH). It is the largest airport in Inner Mongolia and lies 14.3km (8.9 miles) east of downtown Hohhot. Its name Baita meaning White Pagoda derives from Wanbu Huayanjing Pagoda, one of the historical attractions in Hohhot which lies 5.6km (3.5 miles) south-east of the airport.
Airport Code: HET
Location: east of Hohhot, 14.3km (8.9 miles) from downtown.
Hohhot Baita (White Pagoda) Airport owes its name to the Wanbu Huayanjing Pagoda, one of the historical attractions in Hohhot which lies 5.6km (3.5 miles) southeast to the airport, it was opened in 1958 and then expanded during 1985-1987 to enable it a yearly capacity of handling 1,000,000 passengers. Presently connected to 28 domestic cities by 26 air routes, it serves international scheduled flights to Ulan Bator as well as charter flights to Hong Kong, Russia and Thailand. An expansion project which covers a 3,600-meter-long (2 miles) runway, a new terminal building and the expansion of the parking apron is being carried out to enlarge its yearly capacity up to 3,000,000 passengers.
Airport Lounges: Exclusive services and expedited boarding procedures are provided by the airport lounges, four of which are on the Level 1 while the other three can be found in the Restricted Hall, Level 2.
Airport Hotline: 0471-4941122
Airport Transportation: Airport shuttles charge RMB 5 per person while Bus No. 12 conveniently connects the
airport to the city center. Taxis charge RMB 6 within 2km (1.2 miles) and RMB 1 per km is to be charged
hereafter.
Airlines and other destinations of Hohhot
Air China (Beijing-Capital, Guangzhou, Shanghai-Hongqiao)
China Eastern Airlines (Nanjing, Shanghai-Hongqiao, Shijiazhuang, Xi'an)
China Southern Airlines (Kunming, Ningbo, Shenyang, Urumqi, Zhengzhou)
China United Airlines (Beijing-Nanyuan)
Grand China Express Air (Chifeng, Dalian, Lanzhou, Shenyang, Ulanhot, Xi'an)
Hainan Airlines (Beijing-Capital, Haikou, Shenzhen, Wuhai)
Juneyao Airlines (Hailar, Shanghai-Hongqiao)
Aero Mongolia (Ulaanbaatar)
Shandong Airlines (Chifeng, Hailar, Harbin, Jinan, Manzhouli, Qingdao, Tianjin, Tongliao, Ulanhot, Xiamen, Xilinhot)
Shanghai Airlines (Shanghai-Hongqiao)
Shenzhen Airlines (Baotou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Wuhan)
To be able to travel to Hohhot you need to have a valid China Visa, issue from your local government at the China Embassy, Chinese visa fall into four types: diplomatic visa, courtesy visa, service visa and ordinary visa. Ordinary visa is further divided into the following 8 categories each marked with a letter: (1) Tourist and family visit visa (L-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China for tourist purpose, family visit or other personal affairs.
(2) Business Visa (F-visa ) is issued to a foreign citizen who is invited to China for visit, research, lecture, business, exchanges in the fields of science, technology, education, culture and sports, or attending various kinds of trade fairs or exhibitions, or short-term study, intern practice for a period of no more than 6 months.
(3) Student Visa (X-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China for the purpose of study or advanced study for a period of six or more months.
(4) Work Visa (Z-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China to work and his or her accompanying family members, or to give commercial performances in China.
(5) Transit Visa (G-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who is to transit through China on his or her way to a third country (or region).
(6) Crew Visa(C-visa)is issued to crew member performing his/her duties on board an international train, or on an international airliner, to a sailor on board an international ocean-liner or freighter, and also to their accompanying family members..
(7) Journalist Visa (J-visa)is issued to foreign journalists. J-visa has two categories: J-1 visa and J-2 visa. J-1 visa is issued to resident foreign journalists in China and their accompanying spouses and under-age children, J-2 visa to foreign journalists who visit China for temporary news coverage.
(8) Permanent Residence Visa(D-visa)is issued to a foreign citizen who has been approved by China's public security authority to reside in China permanently.
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