Autumn in Northern Xinjiang! A Comprehensive Guide to Hulunbuir and Arxan

Northern Xinjiang in September is breathtaking! Hulunbuir's golden grasslands stretch endlessly, while Arxan's forests turn into oil paintings. This guide will help you avoid pitfalls and make the most of your trip.

📅 Best Time to Visit
Mid-September to early October! A golden window of just 20 days—too early and the foliage isn't vibrant enough, too late and you risk encountering early snow and road closures. Timing is key to seeing the forests in full color.

🧳 Essentials for Your Trip
👗 Clothing: Day-night temperature difference exceeds 15°C. Dress in layers: quick-dry shirts + fleece/thin down jacket + windproof outerwear. Pair with waterproof hiking shoes, scarf, gloves, and bring heat packs.
🛒 Other items: Sunscreen, sunglasses (to prevent snow glare), thermos, wide-angle camera (for capturing vast landscapes), some cash (for guesthouses), and mosquito repellent.

📅 Itinerary
👉 Day 1: Hailar → Morigele River → Grassland exploration → Ergun Wetland → Birch Forest → Enhe
👉 Day 2: Enhe → Charming town of Shiwei → Kaxian → Ulan Mountain Scenic Area → Wuka → Heishantou
👉 Day 3: Heishantou → Border Road → 186 Ribbon River → Visit a herder's home → National Gate/Matryoshka Square → Manzhouli
👉 Day 4: Manzhouli → Hulun Lake → Rose Peak → Dongyang Railway Station → White Wolf 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

🚗 Transportation Tips
✈ Major transportation: Direct flights to Arxan are limited; it's recommended to fly to Hailar or Ulanhot to start your journey.
🚘 Local travel: Self-driving or hiring a car is ideal! The Mo-Ar Highway and Border Road are autumn scenery corridors, perfect for stopping anytime to take photos. Private cars are not allowed inside Arxan Scenic Area; you'll need to purchase a 275 RMB ticket for entry and sightseeing bus access.

🏨 Accommodation Recommendations
✅ Hulunbuir: Stay in grassland guesthouses in Heishantou for stargazing; opt for wooden cabins in Enhe to experience Russian-style charm.
✅ Arxan: Choose hotels near the train station in the city for easy access to the retro red-roof station. Inside the scenic area, stay at the Heavenly Lake service area to catch the sunrise without rushing.

🍲 Must-Try Local Foods
🥩 Ice-boiled lamb: Lamb cooked in frozen Arxan spring water, tender and flavorful, perfect for warming up.
🍖 Hand-grabbed lamb: Bone-in lamb boiled in clear water, dipped in chive flower sauce, paired with salty milk tea to balance the richness—a great energy booster.
🍇 Blueberry specialties: September is harvest season. Blueberry jam and dried blueberries are sweet and tangy, perfect as souvenirs.
🥘 Iron pot stewed goose: Rich broth with corn pancakes soaking up the flavor—a must-order for group travelers.

⚠️ Important Notes
1. Prepare offline maps for self-driving; some sections of the Mo-Ar Highway lack signal, and roads can be slippery in rain—carry anti-skid chains.
2. Arxan sightseeing bus tickets are valid for two days—don't lose them. Food options inside the scenic area are limited, so bring snacks.
3. At Deer Village, avoid pulling deer antlers. Ask herders for permission before taking photos and respect local customs.
4. For photography, aim for early morning before 9 AM or late afternoon after 4 PM for soft lighting and avoid backlighting.

The fleeting yet dazzling autumn scenery of Northern Xinjiang is worth the wait. Pack your bags and embark on this golden journey now!