Hohhot Weekend Special Forces | Two Days and One Night: Temples, Old Streets, and Grassland Sunsets

Hohhot isn't a city that takes three days to figure out. The main urban area boasts a high concentration of attractions, with Mongolian restaurants and halal snacks lining the same streets. Transportation is inexpensive and pedestrian-friendly, making it perfect for a fast-paced two-day, one-night weekend getaway. The following itinerary uses a mix of walking, shared electric bikes, and the subway, allowing you to start immediately upon arrival by early morning flight or train.

Day 1: A high-density tour of the city center, with temples, old streets, and night views.

Our first stop is Kuanzhai Alley. This is the area with the highest density of breakfast options in Hohhot's Hui Muslim District, where you can find shaomai (steamed dumplings), beizi (baked flatbread), and yangzasu (lamb offal soup) all in one place. If it's your first time, I recommend ordering a small portion of shaomai with brick tea, and choosing the savory beizi, all while it's hot. If you arrive before 8:00 AM, there's basically no queue. After eating, it's a ten-minute walk to Dazhao Temple.

The morning light at Dazhao Temple is perfect for photographing its red walls and white pagoda. The silver Buddha statue, dragon sculptures, and murals inside are worth a closer look, but don't miss the quieter Xilitu Temple next door. The two temples are less than 500 meters apart on foot and can be visited together. Around noon, head into Sai Shang Old Street. The main street is mainly filled with souvenir shops; after taking photos, it's recommended to explore the side alleys and find Mongolian or Hui restaurants run by locals. Hand-pulled mutton, blood sausage, and fried rice with yogurt are all great value options.

Fill the afternoon with visits to either Wuta Temple or the General's Office. Wuta Temple's Vajrasana Relic Pagoda has a unique design and attracts significantly fewer tourists than Dazhao Temple; a visit takes about forty minutes. The General's Office is suitable for those interested in the layout of Suiyuan City during the Qing Dynasty, taking about an hour. Choose one of these two options, leaving the remaining time for Qingcheng Park in the evening.

After dark, walk along Zhongshan Road to Xinhua Square or the Ruyi River area. The night view is concentrated there, making it a good place for a stroll to digest your meal. You can check the Ruyi River fountain's opening hours in advance on their official WeChat account. If you miss it, the pedestrian bridges in the Zhongshan Road commercial district offer plenty of good photo opportunities. For dinner, you can return to Kuanzhai Alley or Niujie for a barbecue, accompanied by fruit porridge and liangpi (cold skin noodles). Fruit porridge is a local specialty dessert, and its effect on cutting through grease is more direct than milk tea.

Day 2: In-depth exploration of the old town, covering all the streets and alleys without taking a long detour.

It's not recommended to spend time traveling to and from the suburbs on the second day; the density of the old town is enough to fill most of the day. Leave before 9:00 AM and head first to the Grand Mosque. The Islamic architecture and the fabric of the Hui Muslim community contrast sharply with the Tibetan Buddhist temples visited on Day 1. Please dress appropriately for your visit; women may want to prepare scarves and avoid wearing short skirts.

Afterwards, visit either the Qing Princess's Residence or the Inner Mongolia Museum, choosing whichever interests you best. The Princess's Residence is less crowded and quieter, offering a quick overview of the history of Manchu-Mongol intermarriage; the museum systematically presents grassland civilization, is free but requires advance reservations, and is closed on Mondays. At noon, return to the vicinity of the North Gate of the Old City for a bowl of mutton noodles or oat noodles with a side of pickled vegetables—a more authentic local experience than chain restaurants in bustling areas.

In the afternoon, catch up on the Xilitu Temple or Guanyin Temple that you didn't have time to explore in detail the day before. Xilitu Temple has a stupa-shaped white pagoda; it's less crowded and perfect for capturing human interest details. You can also ride shared electric bikes through the alleys to find traditional yogurt and milk skin. If the weather is fine, after 4 pm you can ride to the grasslands on the edge of the city to watch the sunset over the grasslands; you don't need to go too far to get good photos. In the evening, buy some milk skin or milk tofu as souvenirs. Milk skin needs to be refrigerated; be cautious about buying it if your return trip is more than three hours.

Transportation Saving Card

Hohhot's buses and subways support mobile phone scanning, and local electronic cards offer transfer discounts. Shared electric bikes have wide coverage and are cheaper than taxis within three kilometers, but be sure to check the return points. For travel from the airport to the city center, prioritize the subway to avoid peak-hour queues. Walking is the most convenient way to get between attractions in the old city; Dazhao Temple, Wuta Temple, and Xilituzhao Temple are all in the same area.

Packing list

For a two-day, one-night trip, a large suitcase is not recommended; a 20-liter backpack is sufficient. Essentials include your ID card, sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hat, lip balm, power bank, and sneakers. The area around the grasslands is windy, so even in summer, bring a light windproof jacket. Those with sensitive stomachs should bring a small amount of montmorillonite powder to avoid dairy product intolerances that could affect the trip.

Avoiding pitfalls while queuing

Try to enter Dazhao Temple before 9:00 AM or after 4:00 PM, as tour groups tend to arrive between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM. At Kuanxiangzi Shaomai shops, you can generally eat there as soon as you arrive before 7:30 AM. The Inner Mongolia Museum requires advance reservations through official channels and is closed on Mondays. The main street of Sai Shang Old Street offers a high degree of homogeneity in its goods; after taking photos, head to the alleys on either side for more local and time-efficient dining options.