Ulanqab Travel Guide: Huitengxile Grassland, the Ulanhada Volcanoes and Gegentala
Ulanqab, on the high plateau in central Inner Mongolia, is the closest real grassland to Beijing: high-speed trains reach Ulanqab station in about 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours. The city sells itself as a summer escape, with July days often around 18°C, and that cool air is much of the appeal. The city of Jining is only a base. The trips are to the Huitengxile grassland and its Huanghuagou flower valley, a highland meadow lined with wind turbines; the extinct cinder cones of the Ulanhada volcano field; and the yurt camps of Gegentala in Siziwang Banner. Each is a separate day with a car.
Getting in and where to stay
Ulanqab station, in Jining, is on the Zhangjiakou–Hohhot high-speed line, with trains from Beijing and on to Hohhot in under an hour. Since 31 December 2024 the Jining–Datong–Yuanping line has linked it to Datong South in about 40 minutes, which makes an Ulanqab–Datong combination easy. The older Beijing–Baotou railway and the line to Erenhot on the Mongolian border also pass through.
Stay in Jining; most hotels and restaurants are there. Rent a car or hire a driver for the grassland and volcano days, because the sights are 1–2 hours apart and public transport to them is thin.
Places worth visiting
Huitengxile and Huanghuagou
Huitengxile, in Chahar Right Middle Banner south of Jining, is a high rolling meadow covered in wind turbines. The open grassland itself is free. Huanghuagou ("yellow flower gully") is the managed scenic area on its edge, with valley paths, horse riding and summer shows; listed tickets start at about ¥90, with combination packages much higher. July and August bring the flowers. Even then, the wind on the ridges is cold, so bring a jacket.
Ulanhada volcano field
In Chahar Right Rear Banner, northwest of Jining, a cluster of extinct volcanoes, the Chahar volcano group, rises out of the grassland. The bare red and black cinder cones have paths up to their rims, and they make the most unusual landscape in the region. Self-drive entry was listed at about ¥60 per person plus about ¥30 for the internal shuttle in 2026. Go in the morning, when the light is good and the wind is lighter. It is best combined with a car day.
Gegentala
Gegentala, in Siziwang Banner to the north, is a classic grassland resort: yurt camps, horse shows and wrestling, archery and roast lamb dinners. It is touristy, as the photo shows, but it is the easiest way to spend a night on the steppe. Listed entry is about ¥80, and you need a full extra day for the drive.
Jining
The city has a memorial hall to the Jining campaigns of the civil war, and its name goes back to Jininglu, a Yuan-dynasty city whose ruins lie outside town. It is also a freight hub: China–Europe trains to Central Asia have run from Ulanqab since 2016. Most visitors simply eat and sleep here.
When to come
June to September. July and August are the peak, with flowers and cool days, and Beijing visitors fill the trains at weekends. Nights are cold even in summer. Winters are long and harsh, and spring is windy.
Eating in Ulanqab
Ulanqab calls itself China's "potato capital", and its red-skinned potatoes are soft and floury. The other staple is youmian, a naked-oat flour shaped into rolled tubes (wowo), thin strips (yuyu) or dumplings, steamed and eaten with a hot stew broth or a cold dressing. Add grassland lamb and milk tea.
How to arrange the route
- Day 1: morning train from Beijing, pick up a car, afternoon at Huitengxile or Huanghuagou.
- Day 2: Ulanhada volcanoes, back to Jining.
- Day 3: Gegentala with a night in a yurt, or the train to Hohhot or Datong.
For bigger grasslands, see Xilingol to the northeast.
What to cut if short on time
On a weekend from Beijing, do Huitengxile on day one and the volcanoes on day two. Gegentala is the first to drop; it needs its own day.
Things to confirm before you go
- Season and opening months for Huanghuagou, Ulanhada and Gegentala.
- Car hire, and how far each site is from where you stay.
- Wind and temperature forecasts for the ridges.
- Current ticket prices; the figures above are 2026 listings.
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit Ulanqab from Beijing for a weekend?
Yes. High-speed trains take under two hours, and two days covers Huitengxile and the volcanoes with a car.
Is the Huitengxile grassland free?
The open grassland is free. Huanghuagou, the scenic area on its edge, charges entry.
What should I eat in Ulanqab?
Youmian, the local naked-oat noodles, with potatoes and lamb.
Sources
The facts in this article were checked against the following sources, retrieved September 21, 2026, and rechecked on October 21, 2026.
- Ulanqab https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulanqab
- 乌兰察布市 (Chinese Wikipedia) https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/乌兰察布市
- Ulanqab–Beijing train times (Ctrip) https://trains.ctrip.com/trainbooking/wulanchabu-beijing/gaotie
- Ulanqab off-peak travel tips, tickets (Qunar) https://travelnews.qunar.com/qa_strategy/wulanchabu-travel-guide
- Huanghuagou transport (official site) http://www.huanghuagou.net/site/5.html
- Jining–Datong–Yuanping high-speed railway https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/集大原高速铁路
Ticket prices are 2026 listings; check before you go.
Photos are from Ctrip sight pages; captions credit the source.
- ulanqab-grassland.webp from Ctrip sight page
- ulanqab-steppe.webp from Ctrip sight page
- ulanqab-city.webp from Ctrip sight page