Huitengxile Grassland

Huitengxile Grassland

Huitengxile Grassland is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Huitengxile Grassland is located in the central-southern part of Qahar Right Wing Middle Banner, Ulanqab City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, at the northern foot of the Yin Mountains, 430 kilometers from the capital Beijing, 135 kilometers from the regional capital Hohhot, and 75 kilometers from Ulanqab. The name “Huitengxile” is Mongolian, meaning “cold plateau.” It has an elevation of over 1,800 meters and stretches about 100 kilometers from east to west.

Wumeng Huitengxile Grassland

Wumeng Huitengxile Grassland

Ninety-nine natural lakes dot the lush green Huitengxile Grassland, blending the vast and majestic style of pastoral plains with the bright and delicate charm of southern water towns. Here, verdant mountains and beautiful waters create a magnificent landscape. From May to September each year, flowers bloom everywhere, turning the area into a sea of blossoms. In the beautiful Tugou Valley, there is a natural cave dwelling more than 100 meters above ground level, capable of accommodating nearly 100 people. The rugged Heishan Mountain features 99 large and small caves, the largest of which can hold 200 to 300 people. Grassland activities include horseback riding, camel riding, archery, shooting; watching Mongolian wrestling, climbing to the敖包 (Obo) mountain, visiting local herders’ homes, tasting ethnic dairy foods and milk tea, eating hand-grabbed lamb, and drinking mare’s milk wine.

Wumeng Huitengxile Grassland

Huitengxile Grassland is cold in winter and cool in summer, with an average maximum temperature of 18°C. From May to September each year, the area is covered in blooming flowers, forming a sea of blossoms. The scenic area is mainly divided into two major destinations: Shencong Valley and Huanghua Beach, featuring a total of 15 major attractions. Since the Tang Dynasty, many Taoists, monks, and hermits have retreated here. Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty also visited this place.

Huitengxile Grassland is a typical alpine meadow grassland, with an average elevation of 2,100 meters and covering an area of 600 square kilometers. Its vegetation coverage rate ranges from 80% to 95%. The grassland is dotted with numerous natural lakes, often referred to as the “Ninety-Nine Springs.” The wind energy at Huitengxile is stable, continuous, and of high quality, making it an ideal location for building wind farms. The grassland is one of the world’s rare and well-preserved natural meadow-type pastures, with 18 grass species confirmed as rare. According to the overall plan, it can be developed into a summer retreat on the grassland and Asia’s largest wind power plant.

The best time to visit is during June and July each year. This season belongs to nature—everything you’ve seen and haven’t seen, everything you can imagine and can’t imagine, competes in a dazzling display of colors. Since grazing restrictions were implemented in 2002, while you might not see “grass so tall you can see the sheep when the wind blows,” you’ll still spot chickens and ducks without issue.

There is a little story describing the local summer: “One morning, someone woke up to find a cow frozen to death. Seventy-two people took out seventy-two knives and began butchering the cow, but by noon, half the meat had already gone bad.” Though exaggerated, there is some truth to it. From 7 to 11 a.m., it’s too cold—the cow is still basically a block of ice, and the knives simply can’t keep up. From 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., the cow thaws rapidly. No matter how many or how fast the knives are, the high temperature ensures the meat will spoil. Therefore, wearing thick clothes in the morning is no exaggeration, and long sleeves at noon are quite cool.