Chifeng travel guide
赤峰
Chifeng travel guide with a day by day itinerary, 7 places with tickets and opening hours, where to eat and stay, and how to get there.
7 places · In the guidebook: pages 1888–1895
Chifeng, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region · AI illustration for China Trip
Quick itinerary
Chifeng in 3 days
- Day 1
- Chifeng→
- Jiangjun Paozi (General's Lake)→
- Ulan Butong Grassland→
- Chifeng
- Day 2
- Chifeng→
- Gongger Grassland→
- Dalinor Lake (Dali Lake)→
- Chifeng
- Day 3
- Chifeng→
- Bulongke Desert→
- Yulong Sand Lake→
- Chifeng
The feel of the place
Chifeng takes its name from a red mountain peak northeast of the urban area. It was once the birthplace of the Liao state, and today visitors can still see the ruins of the Liao Upper Capital, the Liao Central Capital and the Liao Ancestral Mausoleum.
Beyond its rich historical sites, Chifeng's natural scenery is equally outstanding. Gongger Grassland in Hexigten Banner is the grassland closest to Beijing. Next to the grassland, Dalinor Lake is a well-known inland lake in Inner Mongolia. The Bulongke Desert scenic area combines grassland, lakes and desert landscapes. There are also rare geological wonders such as the Ice Stone Forest and Ice Stone Mortars.
What to Bring to the Grassland
In November, temperatures on the grassland can reach around 0°C, so be sure to dress warmly if you visit at that time. Bring binoculars for birdwatching; the birdwatching platforms by the lake also offer free use of telescopes with admission tickets. Carry some food and drinking water in case you cannot get a meal on the way.
Preparation and Information
Climate and Travel Seasons
This area lies in a transitional zone between the warm temperate and cold zones. Winters are cold and dry, and summers are warm and rainy. Sunlight is strong, so be sure to bring sun protection.
Things to see
A round trip by car is about 1,400 km in total. The recommended route is Beijing → Chifeng → Hexigten → Dalinor. Road conditions are good, and an ordinary car is fine. The only exception is a gravel section of about one hour when travelling from the north shore to the south shore of the lake.
Gongger Grassland
Gongger Grassland is the grassland closest to Beijing. It hosts a wide variety of plant species, earning it the nickname "Natural Garden." July and August are the best months for sightseeing, summer retreats and photography.
2–3 hours
Dalinor Lake (Dali Lake)
Located in the southwest of Gongger Grassland, this is one of the four major inland lakes of Inner Mongolia. Together with Poyang Lake and Bayanbulak Lake, it is counted as one of China's three great swan lakes. "Dalinor" means "a lake as broad and beautiful as the sea," and green grass surrounds its shores. The lake area is also famous for its crucian carp and the local huazi fish (Chinese Ya-type bream, locally known as huazi), prized for their fresh, tender meat.
4–5 hours · South shore ¥120; north shore ¥90. Horseback riding by the lake about ¥40/hour
Ulan Butong Grassland
This area is world-famous for the battle in which the Kangxi Emperor defeated Galdan. The land is vast, the mountains stretch on, and dense forests and grasslands together create a scene of enchanting beauty. Many film and television productions, including *The Legend of Zhen Huan*, *Kangxi Dynasty* and *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, have been filmed here, earning it the reputation of "the grassland movie city."
1–2 days · ¥120
Yulong Sand Lake Resort
This is where the "First Dragon of China," famous at home and abroad, was unearthed. Yulong Sand Lake is best known for its desert, sand lake and sand pine landscapes, and is known as the "800-li Sea of Sand." At the edge of the vast desert, a rocky mountain rises abruptly from the flat ground, its summit covered with oddly shaped boulders in a range of forms. The Huanghua and Dahei mountains beside the desert also have many peaks and strange rocks.
0.5–1 day(s) · ¥80; individual attractions charged separately
Arshihaty Stone Forest (Asihatu)
Its unique geographical location, combined with the artistry of nature, has sculpted the area into a beautiful picture scroll. The Keshiketeng Stone Array is a rare landform found nowhere else in the world. It currently comprises five scenic areas: the Grassland Stone Forest, Grassland Pillars of Heaven, Grassland Kun-Peng (the mythical fish and bird), Grassland Stone City and Grassland Stone Fortress. Shaped by the meticulous carving of the Quaternary glacial periods, together with magmatic activity, ice-sheet unloading, climate change, wind erosion and human activity, these forms produced the stone array we see today.
2–3 hours · ¥160
Jiangjun Paozi (General's Lake)
The lake here has an open expanse of water, surrounded on all sides by mountains, making it an ideal spot for photographing sunset glow. Every day just after 6:00 p.m., a large herd of horses gallops to the lake to drink, and the splashes as they enter the water are stunning. When night falls, spend a night in a yurt beside the lake, sit around a campfire, and listen to the stirring, rising and falling strains of Mongolian long-song. It is an unforgettable experience.
4 hours · ¥60
Getting there & around
By Air
Chifeng Airport is 14 km from the city centre. It has flights to Beijing, Hohhot and other cities.
By Train
The Jingtong Railway runs east to west across the region, and the Ji(ning)–Tong(liao) Railway links eastern and western Inner Mongolia. Chifeng Railway Station is in the southern part of the city, at the southern end of Zhaowuda Road. Direct trains run from Chifeng to Beijing, Hohhot, Shenyang, Dalian, Jinzhou, Chengde and other cities.
By Road
The road from Xilinhot to Beijing passes through Chifeng. Many roads within the city lead to the banners and counties in the region, and National Highways 111 and 303 connect most of them. Direct buses run from Chifeng to Beijing, Tianjin, Qinhuangdao, Shijiazhuang, Shenyang, Tangshan, Jinzhou and Chaoyang.
Chifeng Long-Distance Bus Station
By Road- Address:
- Near the railway bridge in Songshan District
- Phone:
- 0476-8427555
Eat & drink
Chifeng's food still focuses on Inner Mongolian grassland flavours. Street stalls sell many local snacks, mostly baked wheat dishes that are crisp and sweet, such as Hada huoshao and duijia (a type of meat patty sandwich). Also widely found across Inner Mongolia are hand-held mutton, roast whole lamb and a variety of dairy products.
Chifeng Local Specialties
Dali fish, Ningcheng Laojiao liquor, Balin chicken-blood stone, Linxi crystal, Great Wall tapestries, bronze ware and more.
Guangli Duijia
Both the pork duijia and the pork-belly duijia are delicious and reasonably priced. Chifeng duijia is famous across Inner Mongolia: crisp on the outside, tender inside, with smoky meat that is fragrant without being greasy. One bite and you won't forget it.
- Address:
- Opposite the southern entrance of the Changbodian Hutong, Sandao Street
- ¥
- ¥14 per person
Where to stay
Chifeng has many hotels and guesthouses across the city, so accommodation is convenient.
Accommodation in Scenic Areas
Scenic areas offer rooms and yurts at various price levels.
Shopping
Scenic areas offer a range of ethnic daily-use souvenirs, treasured stones, celebrity calligraphy and paintings, antique-style porcelain and Chifeng local specialties.
Day trips & beyond
Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 1888–1895. Translated from the Chinese edition; names and prices follow the guidebook. · Plain text version