Don't get caught in the rain at Dazhao Temple! | A local's guide to avoiding getting wet and stylish shoes.

During the torrential rain at the end of July last year, I saw a group of tourists with their shoes and socks soaked through, still crowding into the Sai Shang Old Street in Dazhao Square. I suddenly realized how misleading the travel guides for Hohhot were—it made it seem like the city only had open-air temples and grasslands left, and that you were destined to stay in your hotel when it rained.

In fact, when locals encounter heavy rain, heavy snow, temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius, or cold waves of minus 20 degrees Celsius, they turn around and head to the indoor cultural area of Xinhua East Street. Museums, art galleries, theaters, and shopping malls are all connected in one line, allowing them to spend the whole day without getting sunburned, wet, or their shoes wet, which is much more comfortable than rushing to outdoor attractions.

First, remember this counterintuitive fact: bad weather is actually a good time to visit cultural venues.

Hohhot has long winters and frequent summer showers, but its public cultural venues are well-heated and air-conditioned, making them crowded during peak seasons but less so during bad weather. The only day to avoid is Monday, when museums, art galleries, and planning exhibition halls are mostly closed, and the library doesn't open until the afternoon.

My recommended route is "Inner Mongolia Museum - East Wanda Plaza - Inner Mongolia Art Museum - Hohhot City Exhibition Center - Ulanqab Grand Theatre". The walking distance is very short. On rainy or snowy days, you will only walk outdoors for a minute or two at most. The rest of the time, you can reach the destination by connecting indoors or crossing a street.

This route is friendly to families with elderly people and children, solo travelers, and people with half a day off from business trips. You won't have to queue in the rain or compete with day tour groups for flight seats. Taking your time to explore is more in line with Hohhot's understated charm than simply checking off tourist spots.

II. Morning: Inner Mongolia Museum – Don't just think of it as a "dinosaur museum"

The Inner Mongolia Museum is located on Xinhua East Street. Admission is free, but reservations must be made through the official WeChat account. It is closed on Mondays, and entry is by scanning your ID card. Allow at least two and a half to three hours. The four-story exhibition hall has a very high density of artifacts from the Xiongnu, Xianbei, and Mongol Yuan dynasties. The temperature in the exhibition hall is around 20 degrees Celsius in winter and is well-air-conditioned in summer.

Don't rush to see the giant dinosaur skeleton as soon as you enter. The grassland Silk Road exhibits, Liao and Jin dynasty artifacts, and Khitan script inscriptions are more worthwhile. The Liao dynasty gold mask is a genuine artifact you won't find anywhere else. Arrive before 10 AM to avoid crowds and enjoy a quieter view of the details.

For lunch, head straight to the adjacent East Wanda Plaza. It's just a short walk or a street away from the museum, so you won't get wet in the rain or get sunburned. Inside, there are Mongolian fast food restaurants, braised noodles, lamb offal soup, and chain coffee shops, with prices ranging from tens to hundreds of yuan per person. If you don't want to eat at a chain restaurant in the mall, there are also local favorites nearby, such as shaomai (a type of steamed dumpling), but on a rainy day when you're too lazy to walk, Wanda Plaza is the safest bet.

3. Noon: Don't leave Wanda Plaza; these food stalls are better than those at the scenic area entrance.

The Saihan District Wanda Plaza (locally known as East Wanda) next to the museum is a good place to refuel during bad weather. Don't go to the Dazhao Temple and Sai Shang Old Street to eat "special Mongolian food," many of which are prepared for tourists, are overpriced, and may not even taste as good as the stalls in the mall.

The basement food court features local specialties like shumai, braised noodles, and lamb offal soup, averaging a few dozen yuan per person; the upstairs hot pot and stew restaurants are mid-range. After eating, you can stay in the mall's bookstore or cinema lobby, rarely going outside, and your shoes will still be dry.

IV. Afternoon: Inner Mongolia Art Museum + City Exhibition Center, indoor tour without getting wet.

The Inner Mongolia Art Museum is located next to the museum. Admission is free; entry requires a reservation code or ID card. It's closed on Mondays. One to one and a half hours is sufficient. The grassland painting school and Mongolian woodblock print exhibitions are frequently held and are quieter, perfect for leisurely viewing.

Next, head to the Hohhot City Exhibition Center, also known as the Planning Museum by locals. It's free, but you need to check in advance if it's open; it's closed on Mondays. The giant city model and historical and cultural exhibition area are perfect for a rainy day; allow at least an hour.

If you prefer to stay in one area, you can replace the city exhibition center with the Inner Mongolia Library. No reservation is needed; it's closed Monday mornings and open Monday afternoons. It's especially suitable for afternoon downpours, with plenty of seating and easy-to-find charging ports. It's a shared memory for local young people who use it for studying and escaping the summer heat.

5. Evening: Libraries or Yue Lifang Bookstore, hidden refuges during bad weather.

If you want to continue seeking shelter from the cold and rain, head to the Inner Mongolia Library or the Hohhot City Library. They're free and open without reservations, but closed Monday mornings. Find a window seat and read local chronicles – a more authentic experience than visiting those trendy photo spots.

For a more relaxed experience, head to Qingcheng Yue Lifang Bookstore near Ruyi River. It boasts a spacious interior with photogenic bookshelves that don't overdo the photography. There are also restaurants in the nearby shopping mall, making it a great place to have dinner. Students and tech nomads often use it as a temporary workspace.

6. Evening: Ulanqab Grand Theatre or Inner Mongolia Art Theatre. Please check the schedule in advance.

The most authentic place to go after dark is the Ulanqab Grand Theatre, which is in the same area as the museum. It offers operas, concerts, and plays, but tickets must be purchased through official channels. It is not open when there are no performances, so you must check the schedule in advance.

If there are no shows scheduled for that evening, go to the Inner Mongolia Art Theatre Concert Hall or a nearby cinema instead; both are indoors. Definitely avoid going to the Ruyi Riverbank just to "see the night view"—it's -20 degrees Celsius on winter nights, and the wind is biting. Theater tickets are often easier to buy in high humidity.

After the performance ended around 9 p.m., most of the restaurants in Dongwanda Plaza were still open. I grabbed a bowl of lamb offal soup or barbecue nearby. On the way back to the hotel, there was basically no rain or snow, and even the soles of my shoes stayed dry.

In closing: Don't ask the locals if I didn't tell you.

Article 1: Monday is a public holiday for public venues in Hohhot. Museums, art galleries, and city exhibition centers are all closed, and the library only opens in the afternoon. Don't force your cultural tours onto Mondays.

Article 2: Although museums and art galleries are free, reservations must be made in advance via their official WeChat accounts during peak season weekends. Reservations are also required for children, and ID cards must be scanned on-site. Making a trip without a reservation is a waste of time, and it is even more troublesome on rainy or snowy days.

Article 3: Do not wear mesh shoes, white shoes, or thin-soled shoes in bad weather. The venue is well heated, but there is some water accumulation in some connecting corridors. It is more practical to put a spare pair of socks in your backpack than to bring an extra umbrella.

Article 4: Avoid going to small theaters around Dazhao Temple to watch so-called "Mongolian food performances". If you want to hear long songs or throat singing, choose regular theaters with scheduled performances. Locals do not recommend those small venues that solicit customers, as the quality varies and they are likely to charge extra.

Article 5: In high temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or winter temperatures of minus 20 degrees Celsius, the biggest concern is the alternation of hot and cold indoors and outdoors. It is recommended to wear an insulated layer that is easy to take off and change. Most lockers in museums and theaters are sufficient.