Hulunbuir Travel Guide: Grassland Road Trips, Hulun Lake and the Russian Border
Hulunbuir, in the far northeast of Inner Mongolia, is the grassland most Chinese travellers picture when they think of the steppe: rolling green hills, wandering rivers and huge skies. It's also enormous, bigger than many countries, so a visit is really a road trip. Fly or take the train to Hailar, hire a car with a driver, and plan at least two full days on the road, ideally looping north through Ergun and west to Manzhouli and Hulun Lake. The green season is short: mid-June to August.
How a Hulunbuir trip works
There is no single grassland "site" to visit. The landscape is the attraction, seen from roadside pull-offs, viewpoints over meandering rivers and the occasional herding camp that welcomes visitors. That has practical consequences:
- You need wheels. Public transport between towns exists but won't stop where the views are. Most visitors hire a car with a local driver, join a small-group tour, or self-drive. Agree the route, the number of days and what's included before you set off.
- Distances are long. Expect several hours of driving a day. Toilets and restaurants are sparse between towns; carry water and snacks.
- Rain changes everything. Summer storms can turn dirt tracks to mud and close some routes. A spare day helps.
- Stay on established tracks. Driving across the turf damages it and is often prohibited.
The Hulunbuir grasslands page goes deeper into seasons, road days and fees.
The classic loop
Most itineraries follow some version of this circuit, which you can do in either direction over three or four days:
Hailar to Ergun. North from Hailar, the road crosses open grassland to the Ergun area, with the wide wetlands of the Ergun (Argun) River basin, one of the most photographed spots in the region. The river has formed the border with Russia since the 1858 Treaty of Aigun.
Along the border. North of Ergun, towns such as Shiwei have communities of Russian descent, wooden houses and a distinctly different feel. The road follows the river with Russia on the far bank.
Manzhouli. On the Russian border in the west, Manzhouli grew up around a station on the Chinese Eastern Railway, completed in 1901, and boomed after it opened as a border trade city in 1992. Its Russian-style buildings and shopping streets are a change of pace after days on the grassland.
Hulun Lake. About 45 to 50 km from Manzhouli, Hulun Lake (Dalai Nuur) is China's fifth-largest freshwater lake, around 2,600 km² but only about 5 m deep on average. Lakeside viewing areas offer shore walks and summer boats. From Hailar it's over 200 km, so it fits best when you're already in Manzhouli. See the Hulun Lake page for access and fees.
Hailar: the base
Hailar, the administrative centre, is where most trips start and end. It has the airport, the main station, the widest choice of hotels and restaurants, and a few sights for an arrival afternoon or rainy day, including the remains of a Second World War Japanese fortress on the city's edge. It's not where the grassland is, so don't spend whole days here.
When to come to Hulunbuir
- Mid-June to August: peak green, wildflowers, warm days and cool nights, also the busiest and most expensive time. July often brings Naadam-style festivals with horse racing and wrestling; dates vary.
- Late August to mid-September: grass turns golden, crowds thin, forest areas in the east colour up.
- Winter: extreme cold (Hailar averages around −25 °C in January). Some travellers come for snow landscapes and winter festivals, but grassland touring largely stops.
The region is sunny most of the year, so pack sunscreen and sunglasses even when it feels cool, plus mosquito repellent near rivers in summer.
Getting there and where to stay
Hulunbuir Hailar Airport has flights to Beijing, Harbin and other major cities, and Manzhouli has its own airport. Trains run to Hailar and Manzhouli from Harbin and Qiqihar along the old Chinese Eastern Railway route; it's a long journey, and overnight trains are common. Confirm whether your ticket is for Hailar or another Hulunbuir station.
Sleep in Hailar at the start and end, and in Ergun and Manzhouli along the loop. Grassland camps with yurts are fun for a night, but check facilities and heating, and confirm transport.
Eating in Hulunbuir
Lamb is central: hand-pulled mutton (shouba rou), lamb hotpot and roast lamb. Mongolian milk tea and dairy snacks such as dried curds are everywhere, and Manzhouli adds Russian bread, sausage and soups. Hailar has the best range of restaurants. In camps, agree the price of meals and any whole-lamb dinners before ordering.
How to arrange the route
Day 1: Arrive in Hailar, short city walk, early night.
Day 2: Hailar to Ergun across the grassland; Ergun wetlands in the evening.
Day 3: Border road north to Shiwei, or back south via grassland viewpoints, toward Manzhouli.
Day 4: Hulun Lake in the morning, Manzhouli in the afternoon; fly or train out.
To the south, Hinggan League has Arxan's forest and crater lakes, a good extension. Hohhot, the regional capital, is a long way west, with temples rather than grassland.
What to cut if short on time
With two days, do a single grassland loop from Hailar and skip the border. Cut Manzhouli's shopping before Hulun Lake, and Hailar's sights before either.
Things to confirm before you go
- Car, driver or tour inclusions, daily hours and what happens if it rains.
- Hotel bookings in July and August, when rooms sell out.
- Opening of grassland camps and lake viewing areas for your dates.
- Flight and train times; services drop off outside summer.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need in Hulunbuir?
Three to four days for a loop through Ergun and Manzhouli. Two days only allows a short grassland drive from Hailar.
When is the grassland green?
Usually mid-June to August, with the deepest green in July. It varies with rainfall.
Can I visit without a car?
It's hard. Tours and hired drivers are the realistic options; public buses connect towns but don't stop at viewpoints.
Sources
The facts in this article were checked against the following Wikipedia and encyclopedia entries, retrieved September 18, 2026, and rechecked on October 17, 2026.
- Hulunbuir https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulunbuir
- Hailar District https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hailar_District
- Hulun Lake https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulun_Lake
- Hulunbuir (Chinese) https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/呼伦贝尔市
- Manzhouli https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manzhouli
Tour fees change; this article does not invent yuan amounts.
All photos are from Wikimedia Commons, used under stated licenses; re-use requires attribution.
- hulunbuir-grassland.jpg from File:Hulunbuir Grasslands, Inner Mongolia.jpg, by Sergio Tittarini, CC BY 2.0
- hulunbuir-grassland-2.jpg from File:Hulunbuir Grasslands, Inner Mongolia - 9758734754.jpg, by Sergio Tittarini, CC BY 2.0
- hulunbuir-grassland-rain.jpg from File:Rain-flooded Hulunbuir Grasslands, Inner Mongolia.jpg, by Sergio Tittarini, CC BY 2.0