Essential Two-Day One-Night Itinerary to Explore Four Secret Wonders Around Hohhot

Hohhot Surrounding 2-Day Tour Guide: Grasslands × Temples × Desert All Checked In! Experience the "Green City" Backyard for 800 RMB per person, so off-the-beaten-path even locals are amazed

Stop treating Hohhot as just a transit stop!
This city, known as the "Green City" beyond the Great Wall,
is not only the heart of Inner Mongolia but also the golden gateway to grasslands, deserts, millennia-old temples, and Mongol-Yuan secrets.

I spent two days and one night visiting the most worthwhile hidden gems around Hohhot:
There are tranquil pastures where the wind blows over low grass revealing cattle and sheep,
mysterious Zhaomiao Temples hidden in the yellow sands,
and desert oases even locals might not know about.

This guide will help you escape the crowds and dive deep into the soul folds of Inner Mongolia.

📅 Suggested itinerary: Weekend 2 days 1 night or in-depth travel
✅ Suitable for self-driving / chartered car (flexible and free)
🚗 One-way driving time within 1.5 hours, easy and unhurried

🗺️ Essential Route | Two Days One Night Exploring Four Secret Wonders Around Hohhot

Day 1: Blessings at Dazhao Temple + Bustling Saishang Old Street + Ginkgo Golden Roof at Tanhua Temple
📍City Cultural Trilogy: Free + Photogenic + Soul Cleansing

🏯 Dazhao Temple (Wuliang Temple) – Inner Mongolia’s largest Tibetan Buddhist temple
⏰ Opening hours: 8:00–17:30 Ticket: 35 RMB
✅ Must-see:
The Ming Dynasty silver-cast Shakyamuni Buddha statue inside the Silver Buddha Hall (rare nationwide)
The gilded Dharma wheel on the roof shines like an oracle in the sunlight
Monks chanting softly nearby instantly calm your mind
📸 Photo spot: Early morning backlight shots of flying eaves silhouette, wearing dark blue or red long dresses for a storybook feel
🛍️ Saishang Old Street takes you back to the Qing Dynasty Guihua City
Free to stroll! Ming and Qing style streets with blue bricks, gray tiles, and horse-head walls
Recommended:
Buy handcrafted camel leather boots (custom around 300 RMB)
Drink a bowl of freshly brewed Mongolian milk tea + fried rice
Check in at Dashengkui Cultural and Creative Museum, get a custom stamp on postcards

🍂 Tanhua Temple | Autumn Beauty Hidden on the City’s Edge
So off-the-beaten-path it’s not on maps! But in autumn, ginkgo leaves cover the courtyard, paired with the golden roof, it’s like a painting
Free admission, incense is light, making it peaceful
Recommended to visit at dusk, when the sunset filters through ancient trees, creating stunning light and shadow

I say: The gentleness of Hohhot is hidden in the sound of a wooden fish drum.

Day 2: Easy Hike at Hasuhai + Power Walk at Shenquan Ecotourism Area Desert Oasis
📍Nature’s double combo: half lake, half sand

🌊 Hasuhai – The tranquil beauty of the Western Lake beyond the Great Wall
40 km from the city Ticket: 30 RMB Horse riding/boating available
Features:
In autumn and winter, flocks of swans rest here, perfect for ethereal photos
Walk the lakeside trail for 2 hours, reeds sway in the wind
Local fishermen catch fresh carp, farmhouse iron pot stew is super fresh!

🐫 Shenquan Ecotourism Area – Mini Kubuqi Desert by the Yellow River
Ticket + shuttle: 90 RMB includes sand sliding, cable car, glass walkway
Upgraded activities:
Hike to the desert peak to overlook the Yellow River winding through the sand
Experience camel riding for 80 RMB per round, pretend to be a Silk Road merchant
In summer, soak your feet in natural hot springs; in winter, recommended for scenic views from heights
💡 Hidden gem: On the west side of the park is a wild red willow forest, blazing red in autumn, rarely visited!

🍽️ Must-Eat for a Complete Experience | The Taste Secrets Only Locals Know in Hohhot

Must-eat item Recommended place Price reference
Shaomai (Shao Mei) Deshunyuan (Xinhua Plaza branch) 12 RMB per basket, juicy lamb filling!
Lamb offal soup Mongliang Fengqing Street roadside stall 10 RMB a big bowl, perfect with baked bread
Grilled milk skin Near Dazhao Temple small stall 5 RMB/piece, rich milky flavor
Youmian Wowo Gerile Ama Restaurant 15 RMB, dip in lamb soup

I say: Hohhot people’s mornings start with a steaming basket of shaomai.

🏡 Accommodation Recommendations | Great Value & Atmosphere Combined

1. Qingcheng Courtyard Boutique Homestay (near Dazhao Temple)
Converted siheyuan with floor heating + tea room, very artsy 260 RMB/night

2. Sheraton Hotel (city center)
Convenient transportation, good for staying a night before driving back 400 RMB+/night

3. Vacation House inside Shenquan Scenic Area (family-friendly)
- Independent cabin with Yellow River view from the window | Off-season around 300 RMB

💰 Total budget for 2 days 1 night about 780 RMB per person

Item Cost
Transportation (fuel + tolls or carpool) 200 RMB
Accommodation 260 RMB
Food 150 RMB
Tickets + activities 200 RMB
Souvenirs (dairy products + dried beef) 100 RMB
| Emergency reserve | 100 RMB |
| Total ≈ 780 RMB

✅ Affordable even for students!

📌 One last honest word:
Many people pass through Hohhot thinking it’s just a "city with lamb."
But when you enter its temples, walk its dunes, and hear the Yellow River whispering at the desert’s edge,
you’ll understand this is a wound and a medal where grassland civilization and Central Plains culture have collided for thousands of years.

If you want to understand half of Inner Mongolia in just one weekend,
come to Hohhot.
It’s not big, but it’s deep enough.

👉 Next stop, I’ll take you to Ulanqab to see the earth crack and ice waterfall wonders, where even below zero you can feel the thrill!