14 Days in Xingan Meng

The Hanshan temple was finished in 1944, and the hall where Inner Mongolia's autonomous government was proclaimed on May 1, 1947 stands nearby — orientation first, museum tomorrow.

1. xingan meng genghis khan temple
2. xingan meng wuyi site

The liberation memorial sets out the league's modern history; the modest office where Ulanfu worked through the 1940s is a short hop, and Hanshan park closes the day above the city.

1. xingan meng liberation memorial
2. xingan meng ulanfu office
3. xingan meng hanshan park

Half an hour north, the Chersen reservoir backs onto forest parkland; then the 230-km run up the S203, about three and a half hours, ending at Arxan's 1937 station.

1. xingan meng chersen reservoir
2. xingan meng arxan station

Rose Peak's granite pinnacles stand about 25 km north on the border road; fill bottles at Wuli Spring coming back and give the evening to the hot springs that named the town.

1. xingan meng meigui feng
2. xingan meng wuli spring
3. xingan meng arxan hot springs

The Songbel crossing lies about 40 km north, where the road ends at the Mongolian frontier — a viewing platform and a boundary marker, no crossing without papers. Check open days before driving up.

1. xingan meng arxan port

The gate is about 60 km from town — start by 7 am and sleep at the Tianchi service area; the round lake sits near 1,330 m and the gorge runs 3 km.

1. xingan meng arxan tianchi
2. xingan meng santan gorge
3. xingan meng shitang forest

Climb to the kidney-shaped Tuofengling lake early, then walk the lava-dammed shore of Dujuan — azaleas red along it in late May and June. Back to town for the night.

1. xingan meng tuofengling tianchi
2. xingan meng dujuan lake
3. xingan meng arxan grand canyon

Bailang Peak, 1,511 m, is half an hour south; the summit view over the birch line is best before noon, and the deer farms and timber lanes below fill the afternoon.

1. xingan meng bailang peak
2. xingan meng bailang town

An honest Hulunbuir day — about two hours northwest lies Chaihe's Moon Town, already in Zhalantun, with lava-dammed lakes and forest guesthouses; stay the night among them.

1. xingan meng chaihe moon town

A soft return day — two hours back over the divide, one more soak in the springs, and an unhurried dinner; the laundry catches up and the car refuels for the drive down.

1. xingan meng wuli spring
2. xingan meng arxan hot springs

Break the 230-km drive down at Haosen Gou's forested valley in Front Horqin Banner's northern woods, then roll into Ulanhot for the night.

1. xingan meng haosengou

About two hours southwest, the Qing-era Tushiyetu Prince's Mansion and the Daiqintala five-maple reserve pair court history with flaming groves — maples peak around mid-October.

1. xingan meng tushiyetu palace
2. xingan meng daiqintala maples

A Jilin neighbor day — east to Baicheng and on to Xianghai National Nature Reserve, about three hours door to door, where reed marshes shelter red-crowned cranes from spring through autumn.

1. xianghai nature reserve

One last climb past the 1944 temple, a milk-tea breakfast in the old street, then the short hop to the airport — or the slow train east to the main line.

1. xingan meng hanshan park