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- Facts About the Ordos Grassland
- What to See and Do in the Ordos Grassland
- Best Time to Visit the Ordos Grassland
- How to Get to the Ordos Grassland
- Ordos Grassland Travel Tips
- Must-try Food on Ordos Grassland
- Accommodation on Ordos Grassland
- Attractions Nearby the Ordos Grassland
“Between the vast sky and the boundless earth, flocks and herds appear as grass bends to wind.” This verse is true to Ordos Grassland (also called Ordos Prairie).
The Ordos Grassland Tourism Area is located in Hangjin Banner, Ordos City. It is set against the backdrop of endless grasslands, with Mongolian culture as its foundation and Mongolian yurts as its main building. The core area consists of two Mongolian golden tents and about 399 yurts, creating an overall landscape that is like an eagle soaring on the Ordos grassland of Mongolia. Covering over 1,6000 acres with a viewing area of about 30 square kilometers of grassland, Ordos grassland is one of the largest grassland leisure and vacation destinations in central and western Inner Mongolia.
The unique vast grasslands, Mongolian style, and grassland culture, leisure and entertainment blend together here, attracting numerous people to travel to Ordos Mongolia to experience a passionate, free, and romantic way of grassland life.
Facts About the Ordos Grassland
- Location:about 9 kilometers southwest of Xini Town, Hangjin Banner, Ordos, Inner Mongolia
- Opening time: April 1st to October 23rd
- Opening hours: 08:00-22:00
- Project operating hours: 08:30-19:30
- Bonfire party time:21:00 to 21:50 (subject to on-site conditions)
- Time Needed: half a day to a full day
- Ticket price: 80 RMB per person, with various entertainment and experience packages available, ranging from 168-298 RMB
- Suited to: anyone who loves nature, culture, and adventure
What to See and Do in the Ordos Grassland
Enjoy the Grassland Scenery
The beauty of the Ordos Grassland lies in its vastness, with boundless grassland connected to the blue sky. In summer, you can enjoy the most beautiful grassland scenery here, to feel the wind and freedom, the breath of nature, to see herds of cattle and sheep, and to experience the joy of running or roaming care-freely on the vast grassland. Don’t forget to take photos of Ordos Grassland to record the beautiful moments.
Experience Unique Mongolian culture
The Ordos Grassland creates extraordinary grassland performances, integrating beautiful natural landscapes with colorful Mongolian culture.
- Live-action equestrian drama “Hero”- Genghis Khan, featuring powerful cavalry conquering the grasslands;
- “Ordos Wedding”, a large Mongolian song and dance drama;
- “Flying Grassland’, a thrilling acrobatic drama;
- “Livestock Defur Feast” (诈马宴), originating from the cultural feast of the 13th century;
- “Grassland Night Bonfire Party”, a cheerful carnivaligniting your enthusiasm.
Among them, the performances of “Hero” and “Flying Grassland” are visually stunning, while the interactive experience of “Ordos Wedding” and bonfire party are stronger.
In addition, you can listen to the ancient and melodious Mongolian Long Song (长调) and the magical Mongolian singing art Khoomei (呼麦), the horse-headed fiddle play, and more.
These allow you to experience the authentic Mongolian culture and customs deep in the grassland.
Try Traditional Mongolian Cuisine
The Ordos Plateau offers a variety of distinctive Mongolian dishes, including roast whole lamb, boiled mutton by hand (手扒肉), roast lamb leg, milk tea, and dairy products.
Stay in a Mongolian Yurt
You can experience the traditional nomadic lifestyle by staying in a yurt, a type of portable, round tent used by Mongolian nomads. Those pure white yurts are like big white mushrooms growing on the Ordos Grassland, which is visually pleasing too.
Ride a Horse
Horse culture is the characteristic and charm of the Ordos Plateau. So horse riding is a popular activity in the grassland, and you can explore the surrounding area on horseback during your Inner Mongolia tours.
There are also rich characteristic recreational activities such as archery, grass sliding, go karting, Mongolian signature, visiting herdsmen, and offering sacrifices to Aobao.
Spectacular natural beauty, unique grassland culture, joyful leisure activities, delicious Mongolian food, the Ordos Plateau is like a paradise in the dream, welcoming guests from all over the world.
Best Time to Visit the Ordos Grassland
The Ordos Grassland is best visited between July and September when the weather is mild, and the grass is lush green. And the morning or afternoon is recommended in order to avoid the high temperature period at noon.
You can also watch the annual Inner Mongolia Naadam Festival in July or August, which is a significant celebration of Mongolian sports and culture. The festival includes horse racing, wrestling, and archery, as well as Mongolian music and dance performances.
How to Get to the Ordos Grassland
- By Bus:
First arrive in Ordos City, then transfer to the shuttle bus heading to Ordos Grassland.
Besides, the shuttle buses between Ejin Horo Banner and Kangbashi District to/from the Ordos grassland have both been opened, free of charge.
- By car:
It is recommended to drive by car. The journey from Dongsheng District, Ordos city takes about 2 hours (120 km).
Ordos Grassland Travel Tips
The grassland has strong UV rays and dramatic temperature differences between day and night. So it’s always recommended to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, a sun hat, and wear long sleeves and trousers.
There are a large variety of entertainment activities. However, please assess your physical condition before participating any, and always remember to follow the safety instructions from staff.
When trying riding, don’t carry backpacks, water bottles with you on the horse, or wearing hats without straps, as these may fall and startle the horse.
Do not shout, take photos, make phone calls, or stand directly behind a horse during the ride to ensure safety for both you and the horse.
Must-try Food on Ordos Grassland
A trip to Ordos Grassland isn’t complete without tasting authentic Mongolian cuisine. Roast whole lamb, which would be crispy outside and tender inside, is the signature dish for welcoming guests on grassland. Except that, Hand-torn mutton is another must-try grassland food. It preserves the original flavor of mutton and greatly reflects the local traditional eating customs. Other iconic foods include roast lamb leg, milk tea, and dairy-based snacks like milk tofu — all of them are rich, hearty meals that are perfect for refueling on the grasslands.
Accommodation on Ordos Grassland
There is a wide range of accommodation options on the Ordos Grassland. Visitors can choose from basic traditional yurts, perfect for a nomadic-style experience (the facilities may not be that developed), to upgraded yurts equipped with private bathrooms, heating, and electricity for added comfort.
For those seeking more premium stays, places like Ordos Tieniu Phoenix Hotel and Shangri-La Hotel offer star-rated grassland hotels and cozy eco-cabins with modern amenities, are ideal for basically all kinds of travelers, including families, couples, or luxury tour groups.
At night, step outside your yurt or cabin to gaze at the star-filled sky and immerse yourself in the peaceful, untouched atmosphere of the steppe, this is a unique and memorable way to connect with nature.
Attractions Nearby the Ordos Grassland
- Mausoleum of Genghis Khan: A sacred place for Mongolian people, the mausoleum is the cenotaph of the legendary emperor.
- Kangbashi District: The new urban center of Ordos features the futuristic Ordos Museum, where you can learn about the history and culture of Ordos, and witness the brilliant light show by the Ulan Mulun River.
- Kubuqi Desert: The seventh-largest desert in China, where you can enjoy various desert activities such as camel riding, sand sliding, jeep safaris, and desert camping.
- Lake Engebei: A large freshwater lake surrounded by grasslands and sand dunes, where you can take a boat ride to watch the birds and fish, and enjoy the tranquility this beautiful lake.
