Skip the crowds in Xinjiang, Ulan Butong is the real deal!

OMG🆘! Ulan Butong in July is so stunning it made me scream on the spot😭!! The grasslands look like they've been drenched in ten buckets of green paint🎨, and every photo you take is Instagram-worthy📸! Bookmark this ultimate guide to unlock the perfect way to experience this fairy-tale grassland👇

🌿Why you must visit Ulan Butong in July:

✅ Peak grassland beauty: The grass grows taller than your calves🌱, swaying like green waves in the wind!
✅ 25°C natural air conditioning❄️! While Beijing hits 40°C, you'll need long sleeves here to stay warm~
✅ Floral paradise💐: Purple willowherb and golden lotus flowers blanket the hills, like a real-life Monet garden!
✅ Stargazing freedom🌌! Zero light pollution lets you see the Milky Way with your naked eyes✨

🚗Transport Guide (with lazy routes):

✈️ By plane: Fly to Chifeng Yulong Airport (3h drive) or Chengde Puning Airport (2.5h drive), then take a taxi/private car🚖
🚗 By car: 4h direct from Beijing! Navigate to "Ulan Butong Scenic Area"—the Jingjia Road views are breathtaking, perfect for road trip photos🛣️
⚠️ Pro tip: Roll down your windows after passing the Saihanba checkpoint! The scent of fresh grass + cow dung (?) hits you—pure grassland vibes🌬️

🏠Accommodation Guide (from $15/person):

1️⃣ Mongolian yurt experience: Fall asleep to crickets under the stars🌌, wake up to horse neighs~ Try yurts near Hongshan Horse Ranch—clean and photogenic!
2️⃣ Trendy B&Bs: Instagrammable courtyards with big terraces📸, perfect for sunset silhouettes! Search "Ulan Butong View B&B" on Trip.com
3️⃣ Camping lovers⛺️: Pitch tents by General Paozi Lake! Bring thick sleeping bags—it gets freezing at night❄️

🌟Must-Visit Spots (with secret photo ops):

1️⃣ Film Base🎬: Where "My Fair Princess" & "Wolf Totem" were shot! Arrive by 7am for mist + horse herds = magical scenes🐎
2️⃣ Princess Lake💎: A hidden blue tear in the grassland! Birch forests by the lake add natural soft lighting~
3️⃣ Hamaba🌄: Sunset paradise! Arrive 1 hour early to watch orange hues paint the hills—speechless beauty!
4️⃣ Toufeng Valley🌲: Hidden gem! Horseback through birch forests for "Meet Yourself" vibes🐎

🎢Ultimate Activity List:

✅ Horse riding🐎: From $7/hour! White ponies = perfect photos—remember to bargain!
✅ Off-road adventures🚙: Explore untouched areas! Dune bashing + water crossings—bring motion sickness meds~
✅ Bonfire + fireworks🎇: Dance around the fire with sparklers for max romance!
✅ Milky Way photography📷: Best at 1am! Rent gear or hire photographers if needed~

🍖Food Hall of Fame (and Shame):

❤️ Must-try:
▫️Hand-grabbed lamb with leek flower sauce🐑, juicy perfection!
▫️Savory Mongolian milk tea + milk skin cakes🥛, soul-warming!
▫️Fresh lamb skewers🍢 $1.5 for 3—bigger than your face!
💔 Avoid:
❌"Wild blueberry juice" at scenic spots—90% fake!
❌Too-good-to-be-true roast whole lamb = frozen meat scam!

🎒Packing List (life-saving reminders):

⚠️ Sun protection trio: SPF + sunglasses + UV shirt (you'll tan to charcoal!)
⚠️ Warm jacket!! 20°C day-night difference—down coats aren't overkill🧥
⚠️ Bug spray + itch cream🦟 Grassland mosquitos are brutal!
⚠️ Drone + power bank🔋 So much beauty, your memory will explode!

PSA! July is peak season—book accommodations and off-road tours early! Save this guide to wow your socials💥!

Post by Lily King and queen | Jul 1, 2025

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