Xilin Gol: Mongol-Yuan Culture and Grassland

Xilin Gol brings together Mongol-Yuan culture, horse culture, and landscapes of steppe and wetland. If you are looking for a hotel in Xilin Gol, these varied themes can help you decide what to focus on during your trip. Collections and architecture are as much a part of the destination as equestrian events, grassland volcanoes, and the Xilin River ecosystem.

Cultural History and Architecture

The Mongol-Yuan Culture Museum is the central building in the Mongol-Yuan Cultural Area. It preserves seals, insignia, clothing, gold and silver objects, stone carvings, ceramics, paintings, weapons, and architectural elements from the Mongol-Yuan period. The collection covers the political, economic, cultural, military, and technological aspects of the era. It ranges from everyday objects and works of art to subjects related to governance and technology. The collection on display may change.

At Baizimiao, the architectural decoration combines Buddhist architectural elements with design traditions of the Han, Mongols, Tibetans, and Manchus. While the museum focuses on the diversity of its collection, Baizimiao lets you trace the connections between different cultural traditions through its architecture. Each offers a different way to explore cultural history.

Horse Culture and Performances

The Xilin Gol Racecourse offers exhibitions on horse culture, flat races, and competitions. Equestrian performances include horseback greetings, picking up wine cups, and picking up hadag scarves. Other offerings include horse riding, photos in ethnic clothing, and campfire performances. Check before your trip which individual offerings are scheduled for your travel dates.

The large indoor live show “Mongolian Horse” is performed every year at the Horse Culture Performance Hall. If you would like to include the performance in your plans, check the schedule in advance. The show offers a distinct focus on a stage performance within the broader horse culture program.

Grassland Volcanoes and Wetlands

The National Geopark of the Xilin Gol Grassland Volcanoes lies south of the urban area of Xilinhot. It consists of two separate areas: Pingdingshan Park and Gezishan Park. The Pingdingshan volcanic group is in the vicinity of Xilin Gol. It formed around 10,000 years ago through volcanic eruptions; more than ten flat-topped mountains, as if cut flat with a knife, line up across the steppe. The geopark and the volcanic group offer different spatial and landscape perspectives on the volcanic theme.

The Xilin River wetland ecosystem includes wetlands, grassland, meadows, marshes, reservoirs, and rivers. The Xilin River National Wetland Park is home to 26 nationally protected animal species, including two nationally protected Class I bird species and 24 Class II species. Species counts may depend on the surveys conducted. Taken together, these habitats and animal species show that the wetland is made up of more than just one type of landscape.

Regional Cheese Culture

At the Xilinhot Cheese Culture Industrial Park, you can sample regional cheese products and learn more about their history, production techniques, and nutritional value. Food and production add another theme to the destination’s cultural and landscape highlights. As you plan your trip, you can decide whether you are most interested in cultural history, horse culture, landscapes, or regional cheese products.

Explore more destinations

Explore more destinations: Ulanqab, Hohhot, Tongliao, Wuhai, Hulun Buir, Chifeng, Alxa, Baotou.

For the broader travel overview: Inner Mongolia.