Day 1: Beijing → Ulanhada Volcano Park → Sunite Right Banner
Departing early from Beijing, we embarked on a scenic drive along the Beijing-Tibet Expressway, passing through Badaling and Zhangjiakou, before traversing a distance of approximately 450 kilometers to arrive at the Ulanhada Volcano Park. The journey took approximately six hours. Situated in the Chahar Right Rear Banner of Ulanqab City, the park boasts an array of captivating landscapes, including volcanic and lava formations, ideal for photography and aerial filming. While it offers one of the closest glimpses of grassland scenery to Beijing, personally, I found it slightly inferior to the vistas of Eastern Mongolia. Nevertheless, it remains a recommended destination, and we spent approximately three hours exploring its wonders.
Due to our itinerary for the next day, we chose to overnight in Sunite Right Banner, located a further 150 kilometers from the volcano park. As avid lovers of lamb, we were eager to sample the authentic Sunite hotpot lamb.
Day 2: Sunite Right Banner → Dahongshan → Erenhot Border Scenic Area
After a delicious breakfast consisting of Mongolian-style sand onion and beef buns, we embarked on a 100-kilometer drive to the Dahongshan Scenic Area. Dahongshan, nestled in the Siziwang Banner, offers a breathtaking experience that can only be fully appreciated through personal visitation. Its desolate yet majestic beauty is truly captivating, and its lack of commercial development makes it a highly recommended destination. We recommend spending approximately two hours exploring its wonders.
From Dahongshan, we drove for two hours to our next destination: the Erenhot Border Scenic Area. As we neared the border from Beijing, our excitement mounted. While the scenic area itself is not vast, its significance as the northernmost point of the China-Mongolia travel route makes it a must-visit spot. Seeing the national flag invoked a sense of pride and faith.
Day 3: Erenhot → West Ujimqin
On the third day, we traveled along National Highway 330, covering an estimated distance of 500 kilometers. As we traversed the route from west to east, the scenery gradually transformed from desolate gobi deserts to lush grasslands, offering a quintessential Mongolian road trip experience. In the afternoon, we arrived in West Ujimqin, where we indulged in the region’s signature dish: Ujimqin lamb hotpot.
Day 4: West Ujimqin → Beijing
On the final day, we embarked on a 700-kilometer journey back to Beijing, traveling along National Highway 306 and then transferring to the Danshi Expressway towards Chengde. Along the way, we made a detour to visit the scenic Beauty No. 99 Highway in West Ujimqin.
In conclusion, this trip, which traversed the eastern grand loop from western Mongolia, may not have offered the most verdant or expansive grasslands, but it nonetheless provided a comprehensive experience encompassing volcanic landscapes, grasslands, gobi deserts, cultural attractions, and delicious cuisine. It was a worthwhile getaway for a short holiday.
#InnerMongolia #SelfDriveTour #BeijingSurroundingTour
