Hohhot Overview

Hohhot (means "Blue City" in in Mongolian), the capital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, covers a total area of 17,224 square kilometers and is located in the central part of the Inner Mongolia, enjoying a suitable geographic position and good transportation. The color blue in Mongol culture is associated with the sky, eternity and purity. In Chinese, the name can be translated as Qīng Chéng (Chinese: 青城; literally: 'Blue/Green City'). As its name reveals, Hohhot boasts green grassland for the amazing surroundings besides the historical and cultural wonders it provides. Going through this part will give you an overall understanding to Hohhot.

Basic Information

Geography

Located in the central part of Inner Mongolia and south of the Daqing Shan (Chinese: 大青山; literally: 'Great blue Mountains'), Hohhot borders Baotou city and Ordos  city in the west, Ulanqab (乌兰察布) city in the east and Shanxi Province in the south . It is an important opening city along land frontier of China to Mongolia and Russia, as well as a bridgehead connecting northwest and north China in the eastern region. Meanwhile, it is also an important aviation hub in northern China. Apart from Tianjin(天津) and Shijiazhuang(石家庄), Hohhot is the capital city closest to Beijing.

The land form of Hohhot: the city seat is situated at the elevation of 1040 meters, with the highest point of 2280 meters at the top of the Throne Room in Daqing Shan and the lowest point of 986 meters in Zhongtan township (中滩乡)of Togtoh(托克托) county. The territory of Hohhot is mainly divided into two geomorphic units: the northern and southeastern areas are mountainous while the southern and southwestern parts are plains, with the terrain slopes gradually from northeast to southwest.

Climate

Located in the temperate inland region, north China, central Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Hohhot features a typical temperate continental climate which is characterized by long and cold winter with little snow, hot and humid summer with concentrated precipitation, dry and windy spring as well as short sunny and cool autumn with abundant sunshine. The coldest month falls in January, with a daily mean of −11.0 °C (12.2 °F), while July, the hottest month, averages 23.3 °C (73.9 °F). The annual mean temperature is 7.33 °C (45.2 °F), and the annual precipitation is 396 millimeters (15.6 in), with more than half of it falling in July and August alone. Variability can be very high between the day and night temperatures. Hohhot is a popular destination for tourists during the summer months because of the nearby Zhaohe grasslands. More recently, due to desertification, the city sees sandstorms on almost an annual basis.

Best Time to Visit

The tourism season in Hohhot is relatively short, mainly dominated by Mongolian elements and prairie land culture. The best time to visit Hohhot is from mid-May to mid-October, September is the most beautiful season of the year. June to August is the hottest month while the high time for enjoying the glorious grassland is from middle of July - end of August, when the annual Nadam Fair is also held that tourists have the chance to watch horsing race and try horse riding in the vast green grassland.

Administrative Divisions

As the capital of Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Hohhot is the economic, cultural, scientific and educational as well as financial center of Inner Mongolia. The administrative area includes 4 counties, 4 districts, and a county-level banner; they are further divided into 20 urban sub-districts, and 96 townships. 

Ethnic Culture

Hohhot is home to 41 ethnic groups, including Mongolian, Han, Hui, Manchu, Daur, Ewenki, etc. Due to its relatively diverse cultural constitutions, and despite its characteristics as a mid-sized Chinese industrial city, the Hohhot street scene is full of ethnic minority elements. In recent years, government has emphasized the Hohhot's identity with ethnic minority groups, especially in increasing Mongol-themed architecture around the city. The Tongshun Street (通顺街) and Islamic Street (伊斯兰风情街) are the places you can’t miss to experience the exotic culture while tasting the local food and appreciating Islamic style artitechtures. Besides, there are ethnic festivals for you to explore more in its prairie culture, such as Inner Mongolia Grassland Tourism Festival, Zhaojun Culture Festival, Inner Mongolia Wulanmuqi Festival (乌兰牧骑艺术节) and the famous Nadam Fair.

Transportation

As the capital city, also the economic and cultural cent of Inner Mongolia, Hohhot enjoys a good transportation with aviation, railways, expressway and public transportation. Hohhot's Baita International Airport, about 14.3 km (8.9 mi) east of the city center, offers direct flights to larger domestic cities including Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, and others. It also has international flights to Taichung, Hong Kong, and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Hohhot Railway lines have basically covered the whole prefecture-level cities, served by two railway stations: Hohhot Railway Station and Hohhot East Railway Station. Based on the first expressway built in 1997 (then known as the Hubao Expressway) links Hohhot with Baotou, this expressway, In recent years, has been expanded eastwards to Jining(济宁市) and Zhangjiakou(张家口), and on to Beijing as part of the G6 Beijing–Lhasa Expressway(Jingzang Expressway). The city's public transit system is composed of nearly one hundred bus routes and a large fleet of taxicabs, which are normally green or blue. With those transportation systems, it is very convenient for tourists to get in and out of Hohhot.

Things to Do

Dazhao temple (大召寺)

Dazhao Temple is a large Tibetan Buddhism temple in the southern Yuquan district of Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China. The “zhao”of Dazhao temple means “temple” in Tibetan. It was also once renamed as “Wuliang Temple”, and is called “Silver Buddhism Temple” due to the silver Buddha is enshrined in the temple. Dazhao temple is the earliest yellow temple built in Hohhot. It is also one of the large monasteries built in Mongolia after the Meidai Monastery during the earlier period when the Mongolian converts to shamanism. It has a wide range of influence in Mongolia. Every year on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month and the fifteenth day of the sixth lunar month, Dazhao temple exhibits a huge statue of the Buddha (the Future Buddha) which is treasured in the temple, in front of the hall. A dharma meeting is usually held when displaying the giant Buddha statue.

Zhaojun Tomb(昭君墓)

The Zhaojun Tomb , also known as "qingzhong(青冢)",situated by the Dahei River nine kilometers south of Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, is said to be the resting place of Wang Zhaojun (王昭君), a commoner woman from the Han dynasty who married a Xiongnu Chanyu(匈奴单于), nomadic chieftain from the steppes. The tomb, one of largest tombs in Han dynasty, has become the major attraction in the city of Hohhot; it covers an area of about 13,000 m², with a 33-metre mound and a history of more than 2,000 years. Every year, thousands of tourists visit the tomb in summer (the best season for it), which has driven the economic development of the surrounding areas. It is now a national AAAA tourist attraction and a key cultural relic protection unit in Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Great Mosque of Hohhot (清真大寺)

As the earliest and largest mosque in Hohhot, it got its name Great Mosque of Hohhot. The mosque was firstly constructed in 1693 by the Hui people, and then renovated in 1789 and 1923. It covers an area of 4,000 m2 and was designed with the Chinese and Arabic architecture and built with black bricks. For those who are interested in religion culture, it is a good choice to have an overview; it is free of charge to visit the Mosque.

Hasuhai Lake (哈素海)

Located on the south side of Daqing Mountain, the west of Tume Left Banner, 70 kilometers from Hohhot, Hasuhai Lake also known as the “West Lake to North of the Great Wall” for its pleasant scenery. Hasuhai is abbreviated from Halawusuhai, meaning “black water” in Mongolian. Hasuhai Lake is naturally formed, and has a surface area of 45,000 acres. Every spring and summer season, you can see fishes and weeds in the clear water, there is a water reservoir and a fishing ground in the lake, tourists can enjoy the fresh and delicious fish while appreciating the beautiful scenery of the lake and the mountains. It is highly recommended by China Dragon Tour for family tours.

Hadamen Highland Pasture (哈达门高原牧场)

Located in the Hadamen National Forest Park, the Hadamen Highland Pasture boasts vast green grassland dotted with wild flowers. It is also equipped with resort with complete facilities including the Ancient Dahlinhar Nomadic City which is decorated in nomadic style. There is birch forest in the east, surrounded by waters and mountains, contributing more greenness to the park. Tourists can participate in the Ji Aobao Ceremony(祭敖包), summer campus for experiencing the nomadic life, and visit Sulde Cultural Theme Area, Erguna Mukeden House (木刻楞), so as to fully enjoy the unique free life of the nomad. 

 

Inner Mongolia Museum (内蒙古博物馆)

Inner Mongolia Museum, located in the center of Hohhot City, the exhibition buildling of the museum is unique in shape and full of ethnic characteristics. The roof is decorated with galloping horses, symbolizing the prosperity of Inner Mongolia. It is one of the landmark buildings in the autonomous region. The exhibition building of the museum has four floors divided into 15 exhibition halls, of which the second, third and fourth floors are used for exhibition services.  The Museum has many objects relating to ethnic history in its collections. Among these quite a few are rare treasures seldom seen in China, especially the artifacts relating to the northern tribes called Xiongnu, Xianbei, Qidan, Mongolians and others.The museum in particular offers an insight into the history and traditions of the Mongolian people exhibiting paraphernalia used by nomadic Mongols. It is good choice for those who interested in Mongolian history and culture.

History

The history of Hohhot can be traced back to the  Warring States period. During that period, the area around Hohhot was part of Zhao state. In most time of Imperial China, Hohhot area was under control of Chinese dynasties and played an important role in defense against northern nomadic people' invasion. In Ming and Qing era, In 1557, the Mongol leader Altan Khan began building the Da Zhao Temple on the Tümed plain in order to convince the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) government of his leadership of the southern Mongol tribes. After the Manchus founded the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), the Kangxi Emperor sent troops to control the region. Then came the republican era, in 1913, the government of the new Republic of China united the garrison town of Suiyuan and the old town of Guihua as Guisui, and after the Chinese Revolution in 1949, Guisui was renamed Hohhot. People's Republic era, During the Civil War, in order to gain the support of separatist Mongols, the Communists established the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in Mongol-minority areas of the Republic's provinces of Suiyuan, Xing'an, Chahar, and Rehe. Guisui was chosen as the region's administrative centre in 1952, replacing Zhangjiakou. In 1954, after establishment of the People's Republic of China, the city was renamed from Guisui to Hohhot, though with a different Chinese pronunciation of Huhehaote. A city with a rich cultural background, Hohhot is known for its historical sites and temples and is one of the major tourist destinations of Inner Mongolia. 

Natural Resources

Water Resources

The groundwater of Hohhot is divided into shallow water aquifer and deep water aquifer. Shallow water aquifer includes shallow phreatic water and semi-confined water. Groundwater depth, water quality and water quantity show a regular change from north to south. The annual supply of shallow groundwater in the city is 987 million cubic meters.

Biological Resources

Hohhot is home to more than 100 minds of wild plants and animals mainly including plants and fern plant pheasant, half wing, vulture, eagle and others. Among them, there are more than 10 kinds of birds, such as blue sheep, clouded leopard, sparrow hawk, Accipiter virgatus, Merlin eagle, golden eagle, , sparrowhawk, swallow eagle, grey-backed eagle, cat hawk, red eagle, small crane, long-eared crane, short-eared crane, vulture crane and red-horned crane.

Mineral Resources

Daqing Shan of Hohhot is rich in mineral resources with more than 20 kinds of mineral resources discovered. There are 85 mineral areas, including 4 large ones, 3 medium ones, 15 small ones and 63 mineralized ones. The mineral scales are dominated by ore spot and mineralized spot, with few industrial mineral deposits. Except for a few mineral areas, most of the mineral areas are in a state of low development and utilization, only for the census. Its varieties of non-metallic minerals mainly include graphite, marble, granite, asbestos, mica, zeolite, perlite, bentonite, crystal, purple sand clay, and etc. Construction materials take up the majority, with few ferrous metallurgy auxiliary materials and special metal ore. The dominant species includes marble, granite, graphite and whisk. Nengtan minerals are mainly coal and peat. Precious metals, rare metals and radioactive minerals are mainly gold, beryl and pegmatite-type uranium and thorium. Common metallic mineral basically has iron, copper, lead, zinc.

Luminous Energy  Resources

Hohhot is rich in light energy resources and enjoys abundant sunshine, being the secondary high value area national wide. In the growing season of crops, the total solar radiation amounts to 35592828 mj/cu m, accounting for 63% of the total solar radiation of the whole year; the sunlight duration is more than 1600 hours, accounting for 55% of the annual sunshine, those being quite a superior production potential. 

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