Autumn Adventure! Hailar + Arxan Travel Tips

September's grasslands and forests are breathtaking! Hailar's golden grasslands stretch endlessly, while Arxan's volcanic lakes are nestled among colorful forests. Here's a detailed guide to help you plan your trip👇

🍂 Best Time to Visit
Mid-September to before National Day! Larch trees turn caramel-colored, birch forests are covered in golden leaves. After National Day, leaves fall and temperatures drop—don't miss the best timing❌

🎒 Essentials for the Trip
👗 Clothing: Layer with "quick-dry shirt + fleece + windbreaker." Wear a light down jacket in the mornings and evenings. Bright-colored jackets are great for photos.
🕶 Gear: Hiking boots (many steps at the volcanic lakes), sunglasses, thermos, hand warmers (lifesaver for morning shoots), wide-angle lens for stunning landscapes.
💊 Medications: Stomach medicine (to adapt to beef and lamb), cold medicine, chocolate (to prevent low blood sugar in cold weather).

🚗 Transportation Guide
✈ Major Transport: Fly to Hailar/Arxan Airport. Book tickets early for discounts. Trains offer a chance to visit Arxan's Japanese-style old station.
🚘 Local Transport: Rent a car or self-drive! Public transport is almost nonexistent in the grasslands and scenic areas.
🚍 Scenic Area Transport: Buy the Arxan Forest Park sightseeing bus ticket (105 RMB, valid for two days). The park is too large to explore on foot.

📅 Itinerary Suggestions
👉 Day 1: Hailar → Morigele River → Grassland Exploration → Ergun Wetland → Birch Forest → Enhe
👉 Day 2: Enhe → Charming Town of Shiwei → Scenic Route → Ulan Mountain Scenic Area → Wuka → Heishantou
👉 Day 3: Heishantou → Border Road → 186 Rainbow River → Visit Local Herdsmen → National Gate/Matryoshka Square → Manzhouli
👉 Day 4: Manzhouli → Hulun Lake → Rose Peak → Dongyang Train Station → White Wolf Peak → Arxan
👉 Day 5: Arxan → Arxan National Forest Park (Volcanic Lake/Stone Forest/Dujuan Lake/Santan Gorge, etc.)
👉 Day 6: Arxan National Forest Park → Zhangzi Pine Scenic Avenue → Qixian Lake Grassland → Hailar

🏠 Accommodation Recommendations
✅ Hailar Section: Stay in Ergun city for convenience. Choose a Mongolian yurt in Heishantou for stargazing. Enhe offers charming Russian-style wooden houses.
✅ Arxan Section: Opt for a hot spring hotel in the city to relax. Stay in the Tianchi service area cabins within the park for forest views (300-500 RMB/night).

🍱 Food Recommendations
🍖 Mongolian Cuisine: Try hand-grabbed lamb with chive flowers and crispy roasted lamb ribs. "Grassland Pastoral Mongolian Cuisine" is highly recommended.
🥘 Northeastern Dishes: Iron pot stewed goose with corn pancakes—warm and hearty. Make reservations in advance.
🥚 Local Specialties: Boiled eggs from Wuli Spring (3 RMB each), dried blueberries—cheaper in the city than in scenic areas.

⚠️ Tips to Avoid Pitfalls
1. Skip "Forest Eye" and "Aolunbukan" in Arxan—expensive tickets and average scenery. Take photos outside Rose Peak instead.
2. Ask for prices before buying souvenirs in scenic areas. Check menus carefully to avoid overcharging.
3. Forest areas are under fire prevention—no smoking outdoors. Signal is weak, so download offline maps.
4. Remove shoes before entering Mongolian yurts, walk clockwise, and ask for permission before taking photos to respect local customs.

The grassland sunsets, forest morning mist, and shimmering volcanic lakes make Northern Xinjiang in autumn incredibly romantic! Grab your friends and start planning your trip!