Inner Mongolia Travel Guide

With summer vacation and graduation season approaching, many friends must be planning trips. I recently visited Inner Mongolia and have a fresh, hot-off-the-press guide to share!

This itinerary covers grasslands-deserts-cities, offering diverse landscapes. Guaranteed to be my genuine travel experience - feel free to "dig in" with confidence.

Pre-trip Preparation:
1. Documents: ID card (essential); student ID (for discounted attraction tickets); driver's license (if planning to rent a car)
2. Clothing: Match outfits to destinations. For deserts, post-apocalyptic style dresses with boots work great; grasslands look best with light/colorful clothes. Bring a windbreaker for grassland temperature swings. As someone who fears cold, I even packed thermal underwear!
3. Sun protection: Sunscreen is mandatory as most sites are open-air. Don't forget sunglasses - desert/volcano sunlight can be blinding.

DAY1: Your city - Hohhot
Fly from your hometown. Stay near Saishang Old Street for convenience and vibrancy.

DAY2: Hohhot - Ulanqab - Huanghuagou
Recommend buying the ¥30/person shuttle ticket - driving in costs double with rough roads. Skip early stops and head straight to South Alchemy Furnace Station for the famous volcanoes #5 & #6. After volcanoes, navigate to Huanghuagou - stunning roadside scenery perfect for photos. We skipped the paid area but stayed at a clean, delicious Mongolian yurt homestay outside with awesome bonfire parties and fireworks!

DAY3: Huanghuagou - Hongshiya - Chilechuan Grassland
Head to Hongshiya Scenic Area in the morning, but we encountered storms that closed all activities. Disappointing, but we passed beautiful Jiulongwan (requires ticket to stop). Later, drive to urban-adjacent Chilechuan Grassland - small but free, with adorable lambs for photos!

DAY4: Hohhot City Walk
Rain made for perfect urban exploring among stunning Islamic architecture. See my route in image 15.

DAY5: Xiangshawan Desert
This massive desert park needs a full day - check my dedicated Xiangshawan guide for details.

DAY6: Hohhot - Home
Final day for souvenir shopping before returning.

Overall, Inner Mongolia delivers unbeatable fun and value! Happy travels!