Gegentala Grassland Tourist Area

Gegentala Grassland Tourist Area

Gegentala Grassland Tourist Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural tourism site.

Gegentala means "vast and bright grassland" in Mongolian. Established in 1979 and privatized in 1996, it has undergone large-scale renovation, expansion, and reconstruction in recent years. It is now a unique grassland-themed tourist destination integrating dining, accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, shopping, and entertainment. Gegentala is also the largest grassland tourist area in Inner Mongolia, closest to Hohhot, and the only cross-league-operated largest tourism enterprise in the region. It is one of the first batch of national 4A-level tourist attractions. The main landing site of the world-renowned manned spacecraft is located on the Siziwang Banner grassland, just 50 kilometers from Gegentala. It is also the necessary route to the border city of Erenhot.

Today’s Gegentala Grassland is even more beautiful, with lush grass, rolling hills, horse herds like waves, camel caravans in golden sunset clouds, and sheep flocks like white clouds drifting across the green sea. Horse-riding herders hold slender lassos, pointed sharply toward the sky like spears. Traditional yurts and modern ones complement each other, creating a stunningly beautiful scene on the Gegentala Grassland.

Every August is the season for the Naadam Festival. The Gegentala tourist site hosts its annual Tourism Naadam from August 15 to August 25, which is also an ideal time to escape the summer heat.

A grand temple fair is held here once a year, along with a smaller one each month and an annual Oboo worship ceremony. During the Oboo ceremony, visitors can enjoy traditional Mongolian competitions such as wrestling, horse racing, and archery.

Visitors here can dress in Mongolian robes, wear Mongolian boots, ride swift horses, or take a ride on sturdy camels across the grassland. They can enjoy Mongolian songs and dances by the light of a bonfire, taste the rich and fragrant mare’s milk wine, the aromatic hand-grabbed lamb, and whole roasted lamb accompanied by heartfelt toasting songs. Standing at an Oboo site not only reminds you of the romance in the song “Meeting at the Oboo,” but also offers a breathtaking view that refreshes the mind and spirit. The rich milk tea and traditional dairy products in herders’ homes offer a glimpse into the nomadic lifestyle. Spending the night in a yurt, listening to the distant sound of herding songs and counting the stars above, allows you to immerse yourself in nature. Traditional Mongolian activities such as horse racing, archery, and wrestling become even more appealing.

The vast and boundless Du'erbot (Mongolian for "Siziwang") Grassland, especially during summer and autumn, presents a breathtaking scene of lush green grass, birdsong, fragrant flowers, blue skies, clear waters, white clouds, rainbows, wisps of cooking smoke, the sound of shepherd’s flutes, cheerful crowds, and galloping livestock.

Here, you can dress in vibrant ethnic costumes, ride swift horses, mount sturdy camels, or take a ride in a traditional wooden cart. As you roam or race across the grassland and visit the herding families who have lived here for generations, the hospitable Mongolian herders will welcome you with traditional etiquette. You can indulge in their fragrant wine and milk tea, sweet and crispy fried rice, and a variety of exquisitely prepared dairy products. White hadas (prayer scarves) and melodious singing express the herders' sincere hospitality. This is your chance to experience the nomadic grassland life firsthand.

To enrich your grassland activities, daily programs include horse racing, traditional Mongolian wrestling (Bökh), equestrian performances, Oboo worship, and bonfire parties. If you want to join in, you can participate in many activities and compete with local Mongolian youths in friendly rivalry and fun.

When night falls, the Inner Mongolia Gegentala Art Troupe performs distinctive Mongolian songs and dances around the bonfire under the starlit sky. Visitors can sing and dance along with the performers, leaving behind the hustle and bustle of the city and joyfully immersing themselves in nature. The graceful and energetic Andai dance will bring your grassland adventure to a thrilling climax.

Spending the night in a yurt, you can gaze through the skylight at the starry sky, reflect on the lives of the hardworking and simple Mongolian people who have thrived on this land, while the distant sound of the horsehead fiddle drifts through the air. At this moment, you may feel like a true Mongolian, realizing that this day has been not just a leisure trip, but also a journey through the history and culture of nomadic life.