Baiyinxile Grassland Ranch

Baiyinxile Grassland Ranch

The Baiyinxile Ranch was established in 1950, covering a total area of 3,730 square kilometers. It is located 55 kilometers southeast of Xilinhot City in the Xilin Gol League and is a national nature reserve. The horses and sheep raised here are renowned for being superior breeds; its management and technological standards are also quite high. The area has a rich diversity of wildlife and plant species, and is considered the finest part of Inner Mongolia’s grassland ecosystem.

The Baiyinxile Grassland Ecotourism Area is a typical steppe region, where the reserve features lush water and grass, flourishing vegetation, and a relatively intact range of vegetation types as well as abundant wildlife resources. The Chinese Academy of Sciences has established a “Grassland Ecosystem Research Station” here to carry out fixed-point scientific research. This area has been internationally recognized as a representative sample of Eurasian steppe and attracts scholars and researchers from both China and abroad every year. The Xilingol Grassland Nature Reserve, with Baiyinxile Grassland as its core area, is part of the UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve Network.

Not far from the eastern shore of the lake lies a mysterious primeval forest — the famous sandy land spruce forest. This sandy land spruce forest covers an area of 60,000 square meters and is home to approximately 1,000 sandy land spruce trees. Spruce is a rare tree species, and natural spruce forests are extremely uncommon in northern regions. Sandy land spruce is considered a globally rare and precious species, referred to by scientists as a “biological gene bank” and a “living fossil.” Sandy land spruces can grow up to 28 meters tall, usually over a century old. Their shape is tower-like, with red trunks and green leaves that remain evergreen all year round, standing tall and majestic. Currently, the tallest of these spruces in the reserve reaches 20 meters. It is the only surviving evergreen coniferous forest on the Xilingol Grassland, and some botanists have classified it as a new species — the Mongolian Spruce.

The tourist area includes attractions such as a horse racing field, a wildlife park, the Great Wall of Genghis Khan, Sifangcheng (Square City), the Haolutuyin Sumu Temple, and the Buryat Sumu Temple. Chugulan Obo is located 25 kilometers south of Xilinhot City and hosts a grand sacrificial ceremony on the 21st day of the fifth lunar month every year. Lake Zhaagesitai boasts shimmering blue waters and produces “Three-Scale” carp. Each year, it also attracts migratory birds such as seagulls and swans to nest there.

“Chugulan Obo” means “Obo of the Allied Ceremony” in Mongolian. According to historical records, from the sixth year of the Chongde era of the Qing Dynasty (1641) to the sixth year of the Kangxi era (1667), the five tribes and ten banners of Xilingol gathered here to hold grand Obo sacrificial ceremonies and “Naadam” festivities in celebration, which gave the site its name. It is situated 25 kilometers south of Xilinhot City. Today, on the 21st day of the fifth lunar month, a large-scale sacrificial ceremony is still held annually. During the event, herders tie 13 Obo together with colorful wool ropes, then offer dairy products, fermented mare’s milk, or sheep heads as sacrifices to pray for blessings and ward off disasters, expressing their hopes and emotions.

The Baiyinxile Ranch was established in 1950. In 1997, with the approval of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, the reserve became China’s first national-level grassland nature reserve. In 2001, it was listed as one of the “Top Five Premium Tourism Attractions” by the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.