Autumn in Hulunbuir and Arxan! A one-month exclusive fairytale guide.

Northern Xinjiang in autumn hides unparalleled romance! Golden grasslands and colorful forests await—here’s your ultimate guide to make the most of it.

🧳 Travel Essentials
👗 Clothing: Windbreaker + light down jacket + thermal underwear. In October, a thick down jacket is necessary as the temperature difference between day and night exceeds 20°C.
👒 Accessories: Don’t forget a hat, gloves, and scarf. Sunglasses are essential to protect against strong light and snow glare.
🛒 Others: A thermos (you can fill it with spring water at Wuli Spring), sunscreen, and a portable power bank.

🚗 Transportation Guide
✈ Major transportation: Fly to Hailar or Arxan Airport; trains are a more cost-effective option.
🚘 Local travel: Self-driving or car rental is ideal. The classic route is "Hailar → Ergun → Manzhouli → Arxan," allowing you to stop and take photos freely.
🚍 Scenic area transportation: Arxan Forest Park relies on sightseeing buses, while smaller spots like Haosengou are best accessed by rented cars.

📅 Itinerary Planning
👉 Day 1: Hailar → Morigele River → Grassland exploration → Ergun Wetland → Birch Forest → Enhe
👉 Day 2: Enhe → Charming town Shiwei → Border road → Ulan Mountain Scenic Area → Wuka → Heishantou
👉 Day 3: Heishantou → Border highway → 186 Ribbon River → Visit herders → 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

🏡 Accommodation Recommendations
✅ Enhe: Choose Russian-style wooden cabins for high photo success rates in the morning mist over the grasslands.
✅ Manzhouli: Stay in the city center to easily explore the Sino-Russian style street and be close to Matryoshka Square.
✅ Arxan: Opt for Saint Petersburg Hotel in the city for Russian-style charm or stay in the Tianchi service area within the scenic park for convenient sunrise views.

🍱 Must-Try Foods
🍖 Grassland flavors: Hand-grabbed lamb, roasted lamb ribs, and hot pot lamb paired with chive flowers are a must.
🍛 Specialty staples: Warm up with pot tea, paired with milk tofu and fried rice for a fragrant treat.
🍰 Exotic flavors: Russian-style Western cuisine in Manzhouli, including borscht and Russian sausages, is a must-try.

⚠️ Important Notes
1. Best time: Early September to early October, with mid-to-late September offering the most vibrant forest colors.
2. Accommodation booking: Reserve at least one month in advance during peak season, especially for homestays within Arxan scenic areas.
3. Driving safety: Forest and mountain roads have many curves and speed limits; border roads may be under construction.
4. Respect customs: Follow local etiquette when visiting herders or entering yurts, and avoid chasing or photographing cattle and sheep without permission.

Autumn’s beauty is fleeting but breathtaking—the wind of the grasslands and the light of the forests are waiting for you! ✨