Hulunbuir Grassland, covering about 100,000 km², or about six times as large as Beijing, is China’s best preserved grassland. The lush region is rightly called the “northern jade land.”

The abundance of the place has nourished generations of the nomadic tribes. Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire, one of the largest in human history, was born on the grassland.

The fabled grassland, despite its association with fierce Mongolian horsemen, owes its name to an unlikely animal – an otter. “Hulun” means otters while “buir” means male otters in Mongolian, and the names were given due to the fact that the two lakes in the region used to have a large population of otters.

Although there may not be as many otters now, you will find of hordes of grazing cattle and galloping horses manipulated expertly by Mongolians in a pristine setting that rolls back time for travelers from urban environments.

Such fresh sights, together with the fresh air, should impose on both your eyes and lungs the delightful labor of taking in as much as possible.

Satisfy your fascination with the Mongol Empire with a time-warping visit to Golden Horde Mongolian Tribe (Jinzhanghan Mongolia Tribe), the only site open to the tourists on the grassland featuring a nomadic tribe. You will find there a replication of the camping tents in Genghis Khan’s time.

Best time to visit: From June to September, be prepared for strong sunshine and sharp changes in temperatures from day to night.

How to get there: Hulunbuir Dongshan International Airport, the nearest airport to the grassland, is in the Hailar District of Hulunbuir City. The distance between the airport and the grassland is about 150 km. You can hire a driver to take you to and from the grassland.