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No. 11 of Night Attractions in Inner Mongolia

Xilamuren Grasslands

The Xilamuren Grasslands is a typical desertified grassland. Hiramuren Mongolian means “yellow river”, commonly known as “Zhaohe”, named after the Qing Dynasty Lama called the “Puhui Temple” on the banks of the Xilamuren River. When you come here for sightseeing, you can also go horse riding, take a camel, enjoy the folk songs and dances, participate in a bonfire party, taste the delicious grassland flavors, and experience the cultural atmosphere of the Mongolian people.

Selected for Best Things to Do in Shanxi

Shanhua Temple

Shanhua Temple, commonly known as the "southern temple," is located in the southern corner of the ancient city of Datong. The temple was first built during the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty and was initially named Kaiyuan Temple. It was renamed Dapu'en Temple during the Later Jin Dynasty but was destroyed in the war at the end of the Liao Dynasty. It was rebuilt on the original site during the Jin Dynasty and was officially named Shanhua Temple in the Ming Dynasty, a name that has been used ever since. The temple's mountain gate, Three Saints Hall, Mahavira Hall, and Puxian Pavilion are all original structures from the Liao and Jin periods, making it one of the relatively well-preserved temple architectural complexes from that era in China. The halls are gradually elevated along the central axis from south to north, with the layout of the Tang Dynasty temple still faintly discernible. Unlike most temples, the mountain gate here combines with the heavenly king hall into one structure: the five-bay Jin dynasty gate houses Ming dynasty statues of the four heavenly kings, immediately visible upon entry with imposing majesty. The central three saints hall, also a Jin dynasty construction, features strikingly large and ornate bracket sets under its eaves that project in layers resembling blooming flowers—a distinctive hallmark of this hall. It enshrines the original Jin dynasty "Flower Adornment three saints": Vairocana Buddha at the center flanked by Manjusri and Samantabhadra bodhisattvas, their forms full and expressions serene. The main hall of the great hero on the northern high platform is the temple's principal hall, built during the Liao Dynasty and renovated in the Jin Dynasty. The altar enshrines the five wisdom buddhas arranged from east to west: Aksobhya in the east, Ratnasambhava in the south, Vairocana at the center, Amitabha in the west, and Amoghasiddhi in the north—all surviving Liao sculptures with Jin-era repainting. Twenty-four deva polychrome sculptures stand on brick platforms along the eastern and western walls, twelve on each side, representing masterpieces of Jin Dynasty sculpture. Some appear armored and weapon-wielding with fierce expressions, while others wear official robes with flowing sashes. Among them, the benevolent and graceful Sridevi particularly captivates viewers. The hall's western and southern walls preserve Buddhist narrative murals painted during the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty. Before entering the temple, consider viewing the glazed five-dragon wall in front of the mountain gate. This Ming dynasty Wanli-era relic was originally the screen wall of Xingguo Temple in the southern city, relocated here in the 1980s. Five coiling dragons surge amid turbulent clouds and waves on the wall, with the central "main dragon" holding a fire pearl and facing directly forward toward the ancient temple's gate. During your visit, pay special attention to the hall of three saints' diagonal arches and the Liao- and Jin-dynasty polychrome sculptures in the main hall. The dim lighting in these ancient halls invites slower observation of the statues' expressions and drapery details, allowing deeper appreciation of these Liao-Jin treasures.

No. 1 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Datong

Heng Shan Mountain

Mount Heng is the northern mountain of the famous "Five Sacred Mountains". Mount Heng Scenic Area comprises the Tianfengling Scenic Area, the Cuipingfeng Scenic Area and the Qianfoling Scenic Area. Generally speaking, "visiting Mount Heng" refers to touring the Tianfengling Scenic Area. Mount Heng not only has beautiful scenery but is also an important birthplace of Taoism. There are many Taoist temples on the mountain. It is said that Zhang Guolao, one of the “Eight Immortals”, practised and achieved the Tao on the mountain.

No. 3 of Night Attractions in Inner Mongolia

Chilechuan Grassland

Chilechuan Grassland is located in Baohe Shao Town, Xincheng District, Hohhot City, at the foot of Daqing Mountain. It was founded in 2012 and covers a total area of more than 30,000 acres. It has now become a very important ecological barrier and "back garden" of Hohhot City. Chilechuan Grassland is an ideal place for leisure, vacation and health preservation. There are more than 40 kinds of natural pastures in the grassland. It is an urban grassland ecological functional area integrating grassland protection, grassland restoration, grassland culture, leisure tourism, ecological research, and exhibition activities.

No. 7 of Best Things to Do in Inner Mongolia

Xilitu Zhao Temple

Xilituzhao is a large-scale temple in Hohhot, commonly known as "Xiaozhao" by the locals. Xilitu means "dharma seat" in Mongolian, and the Chinese name of the temple is "Yanshou Temple". It used to hold the power of the Yellow Sect in Hohhot. Xili Tuzhao building Hongchang is an exquisite Tibetan temple. Despite four hundred years of wind and rain, it is still relatively intact. The Great Scripture Hall is the main building of Xili Tuzhao. It is splendid and splendid. It adopts a Tibetan-style structure. The walls are decorated with colored glazed bricks, which form various patterns and patterns, which are dazzling and full of strong artistic effects. In front of the main hall, you can also see the "Pingding Galdan Jigong Monument"; in the southeast of the temple, there is a white tower, 15 meters high, very majestic. Every year, Xi Lituzhao also holds religious activities such as Buddhist meetings and dancing "Qiamu", which are very lively. On weekdays, compared with the Dazhao Temple on the opposite side of the road, this place is quieter. The tour group usually only goes to the Dazhao Temple, and most of the followers of Tibetan Buddhism come here. When you go to Xilitou to play, you can often hear the sound of chanting.

No. 2 of Night Attractions in Inner Mongolia

Huitengxile Grassland

Huitengxile, meaning "cold plateau" in Mongolian. The grassland is located inYinshanNorthern foothills. The grassland is dotted with 99 natural lakes, earning it the nickname "Ninety-nine springs." It combines the vast, majestic style of pastoral grasslands with the bright, delicate hues of southern Chinese water towns. Huitengxile Grassland has cold winters and cool summers, making it a renowned summer retreat since ancient times. The tourist season here runs from May to September, when the land is carpeted with flowers, and it is one of the few highland wetlands in the country. Locals believe the lakes on the grassland mostly formed from underground springs, hence they often refer to lakes as springs. This area was a prehistoric volcanic belt, where eruptions created countless "volcanic craters." Over the years, these craters became overgrown with wild grass and filled with rainwater, forming circular lakes. Legend has it that Genghis Khan, the proud son of heaven, once reined his horse at the "Ninety-nine Springs," admiring the scenic beauty. However, as the springs fell short of a hundred, he reluctantly departed, and thus the Yuan Empire never established its capital here. Legend has it that these 99 lakes never diminish or dry up during droughts,Tianlao LakeThe water neither rises nor overflows, calm as a mirror. The Ninety-nine Springs nourish and moisten like a mother's milk.HuiThe vibrant life of Tengeri. With its green mountains and clear waters, the attraction is divided into two main areas, Shencong Valley and Huanghua Beach, featuring 15 breathtaking views. Here, you can ride horses and camels, practice archery and shooting, watch Mongolian wrestling performances, climb the aobao mountain, visit local herders' homes, taste ethnic dairy products and milk tea, enjoy hand-grabbed mutton, and drink kumis... Through these diverse activities, you can fully experience the rugged and natural Mongolian customs.

No. 5 of Family-friendly Attractions in Shanxi

Dai Wang Fu·Daming Baixi Garden

Dai Wang Fu·Daming Baixi Garden is located in the northeast corner of the ancient city of Datong. It was the mansion built after Zhu Gui, the 13th son of Emperor Taizu of Ming Zhu Yuanzhang, was granted the title of Dai Wang and stationed in Datong. Due to its design imitating the imperial palace in Nanjing and its grand layout, it has long been known as the "Little Forbidden City in the northern frontier." The mansion was first constructed in the 25th year of the Hongwu era (1392) on the former site of the Imperial Academy of the Western Capital during the Liao and Jin dynasties. Its central axis runs from south to north, featuring Yu Gate, Duanli Gate, Chengyun Gate, Chengyun Hall, Chongxin Gate, Cunxin Hall, Changchun Palace, and Guangzhi Gate. Following the principle of "ancestral temple to the left and altar to the right" as in the capital, it had a front court for governance and rear quarters for residence, with temples to the east and altars to the west. Over ten generations of Dai Wang lived and governed here. At the end of the Ming dynasty, the mansion was destroyed by war, leaving only the Nine-Dragon Screen wall in front of the mansion standing to this day. The current complex of halls and palaces seen today is a contemporary reconstruction on the original site, restoring the layout and grandeur of this frontier mansion. By day, this is an open "garden of a hundred shows": small theater performances cycle through various courtyards, with ming dynasty-costumed characters like imperial guards and palace maids patrolling and interacting with travelers. Folk arts like shadow puppetry, puppetry, ancient magic tricks, acrobatics, and nuo dances take turns on stage. The indoor performance "Carrying the mandate of heaven" uses gauze screen projections and laser dome effects to create an immersive space of flowing light and shadow. At night, a different scene emerges: the walking live-action show "Datong under heaven" guides audiences through palace halls and corridors, recreating the ming dynasty frontier town's events and the grand spectacle of nations paying tribute. A thousand-lantern festival illuminates the mansion's nightscape, with intangible cultural heritage fire skills like iron-flower forging and fire pots, plus the mansion's flame show, bringing the atmosphere to its climax. When touring, you might as well save the highlight for the night, carefully observing the architecture and encountering scattered performances between courtyards during the day, then immersing yourself in the storyline after dark. The illuminated halls and corridors are particularly photogenic. The original nine-dragon screen wall in front of the mansion still stands nearby and can be visited along the way.

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Shuozhou

Jingtu Temple

It is located in the northeast corner of Ying County, also known as the North Temple. Founded in the second year of Jintianhui (1124). The main hall is the Daxiong Hall, which was rebuilt in the twenty-fourth year of Dading (1184). The temple originally had a mountain gate, a stupa, the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Bell and Drum Towers, the East and West Side Halls, the Mahavira Hall, the apse, and the Tibetan Sutra Building. Today, only the Mahavira Hall remains. The Daxiong Hall is the main hall of the whole temple. It was built in the twenty-fourth year of Jin Dading. The single eaves rest on the top of the mountain, the roof of the hall is covered with tubes and tiles, and the eaves are inlaid with green glaze. The building is magnificent. The caisson in the hall is surrounded by golden dragons on all sides, with beautiful shape and fine composition. The murals on the four walls of the hall were painted in the Qing Dynasty, mainly describing the Buddhist deeds of Sakyamuni Buddha and various Bodhisattvas.

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