Travel Best Grassland, Forests & Little Switzerland in China Together
This 9 Days Hulunbuir & Arshan Tour takes you to explore highlights in Hulunbuir like Hulunbuir Grassland and Arshan UNESCO Global Geopark in nearby Xing’an League!
The tour starts from Hailar, the downtown area of Hulunbuir with the most frequent flight options of this region. Then, you will spend 3 days around to explore the scenic grassland, wetland, forests and Russian towns in Hulunbuir. After that, visit Manzhouli to savor the border flavor. Drive to Arshan UNESCO Global Geopark to discover the geomorphological secrets (volcanoes, solidified lava, crater lakes, primeval forests, granite peaks and rivers). Your tour will end in Hailar.
Best time to enjoy this tour: During the months of mid-May to early-October, especially from June to September, you will meet with the lushest scenery of the grassland. The weather during then is also the best of the year. Arxan is beautiful all year around, while spring, summer and autumn are more popular months to visit it.
Welcome to Hulunbuir! Upon your arrival, your guide and driver will wait you at the arrival hall of the airport and then escort you to your hotel in Hailar District (9 kilometers and 20 minutes around by car), the downtown area of Hulunbuir City, by a comfortable licensed private vehicle (non-smoking). Your guide will help you check in. The rest of today is on your own to explore Hailar.
Arrival ideas: Hailar Dongshan International Airport, or called Hulunbuir Dongshan International Airport, has flights from Beijing (2.5 hrs), Hohhot (2.5 hrs), Harbin (1.5 hrs), etc. Beijing is the best gateway.
Hulunbuir Dongshan International Airport (Hailar Dongshan International Airport)
Good morning! After breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel and then escort you to the most beautiful part of Hulunbuir Grassland, where dragon-like Morigele River winds through the wide-open prairie and rolling ridges are standing shoulder to shoulder in a distance. The car ride takes about 1 hour.
Landscape has already opened on the way. The whole Hailar District is built on the grassland, and thus you will get broad views of boundless steppe as soon as you leave Hailar. Stretching away in the distance: no trace of human activities except for the nomads and their Mongolian yurts and herds. Upon arriving at Morigele River, you can free yourself to enjoy roaming around or try galloping on horseback or other activities like wrestling, archery based on your interest (optional activities with extra payment). Lunch is served in the grassland area with unique Mongolian-style dishes like Shouparou, roasted mutton, etc.
After your satisfying grassland tour, you will travel north to visit Erguna Wetland Scenic Area (Ergun Wetland) - the No.1 Wetland in Asia. Walk for about 10 minutes (or ride an optional battery car for about 3 minutes and CNY 15/pp) from the entrance to the wooden trails, and then follow the trails to go up for a panorama view of the wetland. Nature has the best color palette. Astonishing views with verdant green willows, golden bushes and zigzagging Genhe River open in front of you. The mist hanging in the air adds more mysterious colors to the scenery.
After today's discovery, have a good sleep in Erguna City.
Meandering Morigele River and Vast Hulunbuir Grassland
Enjoy Exciting Running with Galloping Horses
Watch Archery Games
Lush Ergun Wetland in Summer
Ergun Wetland in Autumn
Good morning! After breakfast, your guide and driver will escort you (1.5 hours around by car) to Aoluguya Reindeer Village, the last reindeer village in China and the home of Santa Claus in China. Here, you will first admire their unique Cuoluozi houses, a kind of cottage made up of a stick and barks of white birch or white stones, and then date with groups of adorable reindeers, feed them, touch them and take photos with them up close. Later, visit the Aoluguya Museum to know the history and legend of this mysterious branch of Ewenki Ethnic Minority.
After that, drive north (4 hours around) to Shiwei Russian Town, which faces the small towns in Russia across the Ergun River. Enjoy your leisure moments in the small town. You can stroll around the rows of well-kept Russian-style buildings and streets or gaze the real Russian towns across the river to taste the Russian flavor. Thereafter, hike up to the "Fairy Slope" to get stunning sunset views. After night falls, you will accommodate in the unique Russian-style wooden Mukeden houses.
A Lovely Reindeer at Aoluguya Reindeer Village
Shiwei Russian Town
Good morning! Your forest and grassland tour continues! After breakfast, your guide and driver will escort you to Haur River Scenic Area. The secluded Haur River, which means "spring-like river" in Mongolian language, zigzags the Haur Wetland, forming an impressive picture. You will stand on the viewing platform to overlook the meandering river and its lush surroundings. After that, wander around the forest to relax yourself and to seek traces of reindeers and take a glimpse the Ewenki traditions and culture. Enjoy your blissful moments with dappled shadows of the sunshine kissing your face every now and then.
Then, continue the driving to Heishantou. Along the way, you will pass through White Birch Forest, the only pure White Birch Landscape in the whole Great Khingan area. Let’s indulge in the forest-crossing driving with amazing white birch trees standing on the two sides of road.
Then, drive for about 1.5 hours to Heishantou. Enjoy a moderate hiking to the "Sundown Slope" to enjoy the intoxicating sunset scenery over the vast wetland. When the red glow of the sunset fades away, you will go down the slope and then be escorted to the nearby Mongolian tribe for accommodation. Tonight, you will enjoy happy Bonfire Party with Mongolian girls and boys (free, but it may be cancelled in case of bad weather), and then stay overnight in adorable Mongolian yurts (with private bathroom) that you have seen many times. Have a nice sleep with the fresh smell of grasses.
Haur River Scenic Area
White Birch Forest
Amazing Sunset near Heishantou
Mongolian Yurts in Hongjila Tribe near Heishantou
Different Mongolian Yurts at Hongjila Tribe (For Your Reference Only)
Good morning! Today you will wake up in the grassland. After breakfast, you will spend your blissful morning in Heishantou, where you can enjoy galloping across the plains on horseback at the most professional horse ranch in the whole Hulunbuir region (optional activities with extra fees). Or, you can indulge in the emerald-like grassland that is awash with a blanket of multi-colored wildflowers.
Then, you will first enjoy an exciting driving trip along the Sino-Russian border road. On your left is the vast Hulunbuir Grassland, and on your right is the gurgling Ergun River and Russia.
After about 3 hours' drive, you will arrive at Hulun Lake which is one of the largest fresh water lakes in China with a length of 93 kilometers and a maximum width of 41 kilometers. It is praised as "the Pearl of the Grassland" and "the Kidney of the Grassland", playing an important role in the ecological environment protection and maintaining the biodiversity of Hulunbuir Grassland. Meanwhile, Hulun Lake is also the main birthplace of many nomadic ethnic groups in the north.
After the lake tour, keep driving to Manzhouli where China meets Russia and Mongolia. The evening is for you to freely enjoy the cheerful night view of this prosperous border city. Tonight, you will accommodate in the luxury hotel in Manzhouli.
Exciting Galloping Across the Grassland at Heishantou Horse Ranch
The Skyline Disappears over Hulun Lake
Today after breakfast, you will visit Manzhouli Matryoshka Plaza to savor the mixed flavor of three countries. Over 200 lovely Matryoshka dolls, large or small, spread the square, forming the largest scale of the irregular architectural complex in the world. Then, your guide and driver will escort you to Arxan City in Xing'an League (about 5~6 hours by car).
Tonight you will accommodate in Arxan City.
Manzhouli Matryoshka Plaza (Manzhouli Matryoshka Square)
Morning after breakfast, your wonderful Arxan tour begins. Your guide and driver will escort you to Arxan UNESCO Global Geopark with a 1.5-hour driving from Arxan City.
Arxan UNESCO Global Geopark is located in the hinterland of the Great Khingan and the junction of four grasslands in northeastern China, including Hulunbuir Grassland, Xilingol Grassland, Horqin Grassland and Mongolian Steppe. It has breathtaking volcanic landscape waiting for your steps. Your first site is the pearl of the scenic area - Heavenly Lake (Average Altitude: 1,322 meters above the sea level). Your driver will take you to the entrance of Tianchi Scenic Area, from where you will start your 998 steps leisurely forest hiking to get close to the holy lake. Heavenly Lake is a crater lake created after a volcanic eruption about 300,000 years ago. It is pure and crystal clean, with the reflections of the blue sky, lush trees and beautiful flowers waving on the water surface. The white gull and ducks leisurely playing around the lake add more vitality to this area. Take a short walk in the primitive forest there. After that, go down the stairs to visit the next site.
Warm tips: 1) During the peak season in July and August, all the cars will be suspended to go into the scenic area, and thus we will take you to the entrance and then change to a sightseeing bus to travel around. 2) The traffic fee (CNY 105/pp) is charged whether we take our private car or the required sightseeing bus.
Then, you will visit the 3-kilometer-long Three Lakes Gorge. The south side of the gorge are magnificent rugged cliffs, while the north side is full of unique basaltic lava deposits, which are special turtle shell patterns left on the surface after the volcanic eruption. The swift Haraha River runs through the gorge, accompanying with tinkling of the water striking the stones at the river bed.
After that, you will visit Shitang Forest, the largest and best-preserved lava landscapes in the world. The large area of lava stones are very thin, without any soil covered, however, the tall Xing'an larches and silver birches are rooted in the lava cracks, forming an impressive landscape.
After today's discovery, your will accommodate in your hotel at the foot of Heavenly Lake Scenic Area.
Stunning Heavenly Lake
Three Lakes Gorge
Shitang Forest
Good morning. After breakfast, your guide and driver will escort you to Azalea Lake of Arxan UNESCO Global Geopark.
When the volcano erupted, the lava flow blocked up the valley and thus the Azalea Lake formed. When spring comes, the lake will be surrounded by blossoming Azalea, hence the name. Azalea Lake is a paradise for photographer. There are beautiful scenery all the year round. Spring with mountains of beautiful Azalea flowers is awe-inspiring. In summer, Azalea Lake is full of duckweed swaying in the wind. Lush water plants and the clouds in the sky set each other off, which will certainly let you marvel at the charm of nature. The lake in autumn is still in pure blue, with the trees nearby turning to golden yellow. In winter, the lake will be frozen, and becomes a white fairy world.
Enjoy your peaceful moment at the lake area. Then, your guide and driver will escort you to Hailar District for accommodation. Today’s tour ends. Have a good sleep.
Azalea Lake
Today, your guide and driver will escort you to the airport to catch your flight to your next destination or home. Tour ends!
Departure ideas: The Hulunbuir Dongshan International Airport has flights to Beijing (2.5 hrs), Hohhot (2.5 hrs), Harbin (1.5 hrs), etc.
Kubuqi Desert, one of the most beautiful deserts in China.
Kubuqi is so popular among travelers to admire the authentic desert view with nice colors and curves. Yemingsha Scenic Area at the hinterland of Kubuqi boasts fantastic sand dunes for exciting off-road driving adventure and other entertainment in the yellow and chocolate colored wonderland. Within 2 days, you will play it to the most with the nice desert hiking, cool off-road driving, starry night sky appreciating, desert hotel or camping experience, and other optional interesting fun.
No documents found.
Hohhot / Huitengxile Grassland / Yemingsha of Kubuqi Desert / Hohhot
Hulunbuir / Erguna / Manzhouli / Hulunbuir
Hailar / Hulunbuir Grassland / Erguna / Greater Khingan Range/ Shiwei / Heishantou / Hailar
“Very good experience”
“WONDERFUL 25 DAYS IN CHINA - PRIVATE TOUR”
“Awesome China tour from northeast to southwest”
1,580+
Reviews
