Discover Ulanqab

Ulanqab offers several starting points for a trip: a rail connection from Beijing, regional dishes and natural attractions in the surrounding area. Train travel, cuisine and landscapes each involve different aspects of planning: the railway helps you get there, while trips to grassland and volcano attractions call for additional travel arrangements. These differences can help you decide what to focus on during your trip and what kind of holiday rental in Ulanqab to look for during your stay.

Getting there and planning excursions

An article updated in November 2024 listed nearly 40 high-speed and express train services from Beijing to Ulanqab, with a journey time of two hours. Routes and journey times can change, so check the timetable before you travel. This information relates to the connection between Beijing and Ulanqab, not trips to attractions in the surrounding area. Many notable grassland and volcano attractions are some distance from Ulanqab city centre. For getting there, it is recommended that you rent a car locally or book a car with a driver. If you plan to visit these places, include these additional travel arrangements in your daily itinerary.

Regional cuisine: Shouba rou and Youmian

In the wider Ulanqab area, Shouba rou, also called “Hand-Served Mutton,” is considered a typical dish served to welcome visitors from outside the region. To prepare it, high-quality grassland mutton is scored, cooked in cold water with a little salt, cut into small pieces and served with dipping sauces. This gives a clear picture of both the dish’s role in welcoming guests and how it is prepared.

Another way to explore regional cuisine is Youmian, a traditional whole-grain food and one of Ulanqab’s “three treasures.” Dozens of distinctive dishes have been developed from Youmian in the region. Oat noodles and rolled oat dough are two examples; each has its own shape and flavour. While Shouba rou stands out for its particular preparation and role in welcoming visitors from outside the region, Youmian represents a whole variety of dishes. These examples therefore show two different culinary highlights to consider when planning your trip.

Volcanic formations and woodland nearby

Natural attractions nearby include Ulaanhada Volcano Geopark in Qahar Right Wing Rear Banner. It features well-preserved Holocene volcanic formations and a lake formed by a volcanic dam. The lake’s formation directly connects it to the area’s volcanic character. By contrast, Sumu Mountain Forest Park in Xinghe County is described as the largest man-made forest in northern China. The two places represent different landscape themes: volcanic formations and how they formed are a focus at the geopark, while Sumu Mountain Forest Park is notable for its man-made forest. This distinction can help you plan excursions around the kind of natural attraction you would like to see.

Discover more destinations: Wuhai, Chifeng, Hinggan, Baotou, Hulun Buir, Alxa, Xilin Gol, Tongliao

For the broader travel overview: Inner Mongolia.