Autumn Exclusive! A Comprehensive Guide to Hulunbuir and Arxan

Northern Xinjiang in September is breathtakingly beautiful! Golden grasslands meet vast forests, and volcanic crater lakes reflect the clear skies. This guide covers everything from gear, transportation, to food and accommodation—grab it and start your journey!

🧳 Essentials for the Trip
🧥 Clothing: The temperature difference between day and night exceeds 15°C! Be sure to pack thermal underwear, sweaters, a windbreaker or down jacket, along with fleece-lined pants and waterproof high-top shoes. Scarves, gloves, and hats are essential for wind protection.
🛒 Other Items: The high-altitude UV rays are strong, so don’t forget sunscreen and sunglasses. The dry climate calls for moisturizing skincare products and a thermos. Also, bring a power bank, raincoat, ID card, and some cash, as signal coverage in scenic areas can be unstable.

🚗 Transportation Guide
✈ Major Airports: Hailar Dongshan Airport, Arxan Yiershi Airport, Manzhouli Xijiao Airport.
🚘 Local Transportation: Attractions are scattered, so renting a car or hiring a driver is essential. In urban areas, taxis and walking are sufficient, while shuttle buses are available within forest parks.

📅 Itinerary Suggestions
👉 Day 1: Hailar → Morigele River → Grassland Exploration → Erguna Wetland → Birch Forest → Enhe
👉 Day 2: Enhe → Charming Town of Shiwei → Kaxian → Ulan Mountain Scenic Area → Wuka → Heishantou
👉 Day 3: Heishantou → Border Highway → 186 Ribbon River → Visit a Herdsman’s Home → National Gate/Matryoshka Square → Manzhouli
👉 Day 4: Manzhouli → Hulun Lake → Rose Peak → Dongyang Railway Station → Bailang Peak → Arxan
👉 Day 5: Arxan → Arxan National Forest Park (Heavenly Lake/Stone Forest/Dujuan Lake/Santan Gorge, etc.)
👉 Day 6: Arxan National Forest Park → Zhangzi Pine Scenic Avenue → Qixian Lake Grassland → Hailar

🏠 Accommodation Recommendations
✅ Arxan City: Opt for budget-friendly hotels or star-rated hotels with hot springs for more convenience in dining and shopping.
✅ Inside the Forest Park: Wooden cabins in the Heavenly Lake service area offer views of the forest and are perfect for sunrise photography while avoiding crowds.
✅ Hulunbuir: Stay in a traditional Mongolian yurt for a unique experience, or choose from a variety of hotels in Hailar City.

🍽 Food Highlights
🍖 Must-Try Mongolian Cuisine: Hand-pulled lamb with leek flower sauce and crispy roasted lamb ribs. Recommended restaurant: "Grassland Pastoral Mongolian Cuisine."
🥘 Northeastern Flavors: Steaming hot iron pot stew paired with corn pancakes—so delicious you’ll stomp your feet! "Countryside Iron Pot Stew" in the city requires advance booking.
🥚 Specialty Snacks: Hot spring boiled eggs from Wuli Spring and wild blueberry preserves. Supermarkets offer better prices than scenic spots.

⚠️ Tips and Reminders
1. Best Time to Visit: Mid-September to before National Day. After the holiday, leaves fall, and the scenery loses its charm.
2. Avoiding Pitfalls: Restaurants inside the forest park are expensive, so bring your own snacks. Be cautious of restaurants recommended by drivers to avoid kickbacks.
3. Respect Local Customs: In Mongolian communities, observe proper etiquette and avoid randomly photographing cattle and sheep.
4. Other Tips: Download offline maps in advance as some areas lack signal. Bring common medications to cope with dryness and temperature changes.

Autumn’s beauty is fleeting but stunning—save this guide and embark on a golden journey to Northern Xinjiang! ✨