Ulanqab: Getting There, Regional Cuisine and Places to Visit

A stay in Ulanqab can be considered in terms of three topics: getting there, regional cuisine and places to visit in the surrounding area. This distinction is helpful when looking for a hotel in Ulanqab: a train connection from Beijing and trips to attractions outside the city center concern different parts of the journey.

Getting There by Train

Travel information updated on November 14, 2024, lists nearly 40 high-speed and express train connections between Beijing and Ulanqab; the train journey takes two hours. Connections and journey times may change. So check the timetable for your travel date before finalizing your travel plans. This makes the listed connection a time-specific point of reference.

Regional Dishes

Shouba rou, also called “Hand-Served Mutton,” is considered a typical dish served to welcome visitors from outside Ulanqab. High-quality grassland mutton is scored and cooked in cold water with a little salt. It is then cut into small pieces and served with dipping sauces. Scoring the meat before cooking and cutting it into pieces afterward are two separate steps.

Another point of reference is Youmian, a traditional whole-grain food and one of Ulanqab’s “three treasures.” Dozens of distinctive dishes have been developed from it in Ulanqab. These include oat noodles and rolled oat dough; each has its own shapes and flavors. Youmian thus represents both a traditional food and a variety of dishes developed from it. Together, these examples show two different aspects of regional cuisine: a typical welcome dish and a grain-based food used in a wide range of preparations.

Volcanic Formations and Forest Nearby

Near Ulanqab, in Qahar Right Wing Rear Banner, lies Ulaanhada Volcano Geopark. Its features include well-preserved Holocene volcanic formations and a lake formed by volcanic damming. The formations and the lake are two connected geological features of the geopark.

Also nearby, in Xinghe County, lies Sumu Mountain Forest Park. It is considered the largest man-made forest in northern China. The region therefore offers contrasting landscapes: volcanic formations with a lake formed by damming, and a man-made forest.

Trips to the Wider Region

Many notable grassland and volcanic attractions in the wider region are some distance from Ulanqab city center. For the journey, it is recommended that you rent a car locally or book a car with a driver. Traveling by train from Beijing and taking trips to destinations in the wider area are therefore separate parts of your planning. If you are considering such excursions, include the transport arrangements in your travel plans and check which of the recommended options might suit you.

Discover more destinations: Alxa, Tongliao, Xilin Gol, Hohhot, Bayan Nur, Ordos, Hinggan, Baotou

For the overview of the wider region: Inner Mongolia.