Less than 1700 per person! A two-day, one-night self-driving guide for three people to the mountainous grasslands of Zhalute Banner, Inner Mongolia

Less than 1700 per person! A two-day, one-night self-driving guide for three people to the mountainous grasslands of Zhalute Banner, Inner Mongolia, including pitfall avoidance, real photos, and full records of food and accommodation Destination: Zhalute Banner Mountainous Grassland, Tongliao City, Inner Mongolia Number of people: 3 💰 Total budget: 4980 RMB (1660 RMB per person) Duration: 2 days 1 night ✅ Suitable for: couples/friends/families planning a short escape from the city 【Why choose Zhalute Banner?】 Stop crowding Hulunbuir! The true "hidden gem" lies at the northern end of the Horqin Grassland—Zhalute Banner. This is not a flat sea of grass, but rolling mountainous grasslands, like green waves stretching to the horizon. Cattle and sheep scattered on the hillsides, Mongolian yurts with curling smoke, horseback riding through forests, camping under the stars, drinking freshly squeezed milk tea... The key is— Few people! Wild scenery! Low costs! The three of us set off from Beijing, combining high-speed rail + car rental + local homestay, enjoying a wild yet comfortable two-day, one-night trip. 【Itinerary｜Careful budgeting without pitfalls】 Day 1: Beijing → Tongliao → Zhalute Banner (about 5 hours by car) Transportation: -Beijing South Station → Tongliao High-Speed Rail G2623 (07:10-11:38), second class seat ¥280/person ×3 = ¥840 -Car rental outside Tongliao Station: Volkswagen Lavida automatic, including insurance ¥350/day ×2 days = ¥700 (deposit paid separately) -Navigate to "Zhalute Banner Prince's Mansion Museum," all highway + national roads, stunning scenery Lunch: "Lao San Lamb Restaurant" in Tongliao city Hand-held meat + lamb offal soup + shaomai, three people ate until full, cost ¥180 🌿 Afternoon activities: Core area of Zhalute Mountainous Grassland (free) -The grassland is right by the roadside, park anywhere to take photos! -Climb a small hill to overlook the rolling green waves, wind blowing the grass revealing cattle and sheep -Encountered herders returning on horseback, paid ¥50 for a 15-minute horseback ride experience (Safety reminder: be sure to wear long pants!) 🏡 Accommodation: Muyunju · Light luxury Mongolian yurt homestay -True independent courtyard yurt, with private bathroom + floor heating + viewing window -At night, open the window to see the Milky Way full of stars, phone can directly capture star trails! -Includes dinner + breakfast, three-person set ¥680 (hand-held meat, milk tea, sand scallion eggs, roasted lamb chops) 👉 Total cost: ¥680 🌙 Evening activities: Sit around the campfire chatting, the owner provides a free marshmallow roasting rack -Someone got drunk and shouted to the grassland, "I quit my job!"—that moment felt truly free Day 2: Cross the grassland interior → Return to Tongliao Early morning: Get up at 6 to watch the sunrise -The grassland sunrise is stunning! Golden sunlight shines on the dew, the whole land looks like it's on fire -Took lots of videos to post on social media, got bombarded with "Is this Switzerland?" Morning: Deep experience of herder life (optional) -Milking cows ¥30/person ×3 = ¥90 -Make milk tofu ¥50 (includes a small box to take away) -Archery experience ¥40/person = ¥120 👉 Total cost: ¥210 📸 Recommended check-in spots: Valley near Arikun Dulang Town—fly a drone, looks like a green folded carpet Baiyin Flower Reservoir—lake and mountain scenery, flocks of water birds, free! Zhalute Prince's Mansion Ruins—ticket ¥30/person, learn about Qing Dynasty Mongolian history (optional) Lunch: Packed road meal from homestay -The owner made beef pies + milk tea thermos, eat on the road, saves time and warms the stomach -Cost ¥90 🚗 Return: Zhalute Banner → Tongliao → Beijing -After returning the car, buy high-speed rail ticket G2628 (16:20-20:50) = ¥280/person ×3 = ¥840 -Bought local specialties on the way: dried beef ¥120, milk skin ¥60, fried rice ¥40, total ¥220 【Total cost breakdown】 Item Cost Round-trip high-speed rail ¥1680 Car rental + fuel + parking ¥900 (including ¥200 fuel) Accommodation + two meals ¥680 Lunch + snacks ¥270 Herdsman experience ¥210 Tickets + miscellaneous ¥30 Specialties ¥220 Total ¥4980 Only 1660 RMB per person! Cheaper than staying one night in Sanya! 【Pitfall avoidance guide｜Hard-earned experience】 Do not navigate to "Zhalute Banner Grassland"—no specific location! Recommend setting location to "Zhalute Banner Prince's Mansion Museum" or "Arikun Dulang Town" Wear a windbreaker! Big temperature difference between morning and night, 25°C during the day, only 8°C at night Bring some cash, some herder stalls only accept cash, do not pick wildflowers randomly, locals consider it disrespectful Sun protection is a must, UV is strong enough to cause peeling! 【Final thoughts】 This trip made me realize: The true grassland is not in the scenic spot ticket, but in a gust of wind, a cloud, a herder's song. Zhalute Banner is undeveloped, quiet, primitive, with the vitality of earth and grass fragrance. If you are tired of the city's noise and want to take a spontaneous trip with friends to relax, Zhalute Banner is worth taking a day off for. 📌 Next plan is to go to the Xilingol border area, follow me to see China's most beautiful "no man's land"