[2025 Erenhot Attraction] Travel Guide for Er Lian Basin Cretaceous Dinosaur National Geopark (Updated Jul)

One-day itinerary: Erlian Railway Station - National Gate - Swan Lake - National Geological Park - Erlianhaote Museum (also known as Dinosaur Museum) - Sunset This is a complete memorial to the year I spent in this small border town in my motherland. I arrived in Erlian by train at 6:49 on the second day of the lunar new year. I walked around and didn't find any suitable hotels that were open. So I headed towards the National Gate, but I walked more than 3 kilometers and the gate didn't open until the third day of the lunar new year. I then walked 10 kilometers to the Geological Park. I hailed two cars and took a leisurely stroll around Swan Lake. A J-car on duty stopped and took me to the Geological Park, which was closed. In the afternoon, I also went to the Erlianhaote Museum, which was closed. I walked around the sparsely populated Olympic Park and enjoyed ice skating. As for dining, most restaurants were closed. Thank you, Lanzhou Beef Noodles, for solving my hunger. As for the night view, it's really not as good as Alshan or Manzhouli.

Erenhot City, a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, is a separately planned city of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, located in the central and northern part of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, in the northwest of Xilin Gol League, situated in the Eren Basin on the Inner Mongolia Plateau, with a temperate continental monsoon climate. It borders the Mongolian port city of Zamyn-Uud to the north, serving as the largest land port of entry to Mongolia from China, and is adjacent to 2 banners, covering a total area of 4,015.1 square kilometers.

📣 Stop crowding "Harbin"! Friends from the south, come to the vast grasslands of Xilin Gol League during the winter holiday to avoid the crowds and enjoy a better family travel experience! 🤗 Here are 3 recommended destinations suitable for family trips! Duolun County 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Duolun Lake Scenic Area 📝 Keywords: Winter fishing + ice activities + whole fish feast. Duolun Lake is located among mountains, sandy land, and grasslands, with diverse lakeside landscapes, vast misty waters, and abundant aquatic products! The lake circumference is about 41 kilometers, suitable for self-driving, cycling, and horseback riding adventures! In winter, you can experience small-scale winter fishing net pulling, where the whole family can work together to catch fish! You can also enjoy ice dragon boat racing, ice snow tube drifting, ski tubing, ice spinning tops, ice bumper balls, ice carts, and other snow and ice activities. After playing, enjoy a whole fish feast at a lakeside farmhouse for a satisfying meal! 📌 Tips ✅ Recommended Restaurant Jingbei Grassland Tianhu Fish Village: Located by Duolun Lake, offering whole fish feasts, Mongolian cuisine, and Youmian (oat noodle) feasts. ✅ Recommended Accommodation Duolun Jingbei Grassland Tianhu Holiday Hotel: Located within Duolun Lake Scenic Area, adjacent to National Highway 510, with convenient transportation. The hotel restaurant mainly serves various fish from Duolun Lake, including whole fish feasts. ✅ Other Recommended Attractions Shanxi Guild Hall, Huichong Temple, Chahar Anti-Japanese War Site, Horse Tack Museum, etc. Zhengxiangbai Banner 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Mingantu Observatory Base 📝 Keywords: Starry sky + study tours + science popularization. Zhengxiangbai Banner is home to the "Mingantu Observatory Base of the National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences," which has established a 1,300-acre "Tianyan" starry sky cultural tourism camp on the grasslands of Zhengxiangbai Banner. During the winter holiday, you can observe the winter night sky, shoot stunning starry sky photos, and participate in folk culture, astronomy, meteorology, and starry sky science popularization activities. 📌 Tips ✅ Recommended Food: Zhengxiangbai Banner dairy products — milk tofu, bishilaga, chula, edemu, airige, sour mare’s milk, etc. ✅ Recommended Accommodation: Hotels/guesthouses near Mingantu Bus Station in Zhengxiangbai Banner. ✅ Other Recommended Attractions Jihuhada, Naiman Mountain, Xiargayin Zhuoer, Junma Lake National Wetland Park, etc. Erenhot City 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Eren Basin Cretaceous Dinosaur National Geopark 📝 Keywords: Dinosaur fossils + China-Russia border gate. Erenhot City is known as the "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and is the earliest dinosaur fossil site in Inner Mongolia recorded in international paleontological history. The dinosaur fossil fauna of the Eren Basin represents the Late Cretaceous dinosaur fauna. The geopark features a dinosaur fossil burial hall, mineral crystal hall, dinosaur science museum, and more. Students and dinosaur enthusiasts can see dinosaur fossils here and learn about dinosaur science. 📌 Tips ✅ Recommended Food Mongolian-style snacks — roasted lamb chops, milk tea, dried beef, hot pot lamb, Mongolian blood sausage, etc. ✅ Recommended Accommodation Hotels/guesthouses near Erenhot Station. ✅ Other Recommended Attractions Erenhot National Border Gate Scenic Area, Erenhot National Geopark, etc. 🥳 This year, "reverse" travel is trending. While everyone goes north to Harbin in winter, why not "reverse" again, avoid the popular "Erbin," and 🚙 come to the treasure trove Xilin Gol League for a self-driving tour! For those with ample time, you can drive along the "Xilin Gol Thousand-Mile Grassland Scenic Avenue" to leisurely explore Xilin Gol League!

In Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia, there is a lesser-known yet stunning border town—Erenhot City. This is the starting point of National Highway 208 and the terminus of the Ji'er Railway connecting Ulaanbaatar and Moscow. It is also ✅ the hometown of dinosaurs, a border city in the far north of China, low-key but full of highlights❗ Friends who love border travel and educational tours can come here for a visit. 【Recommended Check-in Spots】 📸 National Gate Scenic Area 🎈 The scenic area preserves the old train station, the dual boundary markers No. 815 and 816, and the magnificent national gate—all perfect for photos! You can also climb the national gate to gaze into Mongolia. If you're lucky, you might see a train entering or leaving the border—don’t forget to capture the moment! 📸 Erenhot National Geopark 🎈 Also known as the Cretaceous Dinosaur Geopark, it features the Yilin Post Museum, an outdoor petrified wood exhibition hall, an in-situ dinosaur fossil burial hall, and a dinosaur science museum. As you wander through the halls, you’ll see dinosaur models and sculptures everywhere. It’s great for family trips and educational tours! 📸 "Buddha’s Palm" 🎈 A must-see for drone enthusiasts, this "Buddha’s Palm" site looks like it descended from the sky. It’s a large land art piece in Erenhot City, imprinted on the Gobi Desert. Viewed from the air, it’s spectacular and feels like another dimension. 🏡 Recommended Accommodation: Erenhot city center has many business hotels, inns, and homestays. They rarely get fully booked, so you can usually book anytime. Prices are affordable and very budget-friendly! 🥢 Recommended Restaurants: ✔ Russian Western Restaurant: Taste Russian dishes like sausage platters, beef patties, and Russian salad. ✔ Geiyigule Traditional Hot Pot: The food here has a strong Inner Mongolian flavor, with authentic Xilingol lamb. ✔ Xilin River Hotel: Offers many Inner Mongolian dishes such as scallion-fried eggs, stewed lamb, milk tofu, oat noodles, and lamb noodles. ✔ Tongfa Barbecue: Enjoy a variety of Inner Mongolian-style grilled foods like grilled beef jerky, grilled milk tofu, grilled blood sausage, and more—everything can be grilled! - 🚇 Travelers wanting to go abroad can also start the journey "Erenhot → Zamiin-Uud → Ulaanbaatar" from here! When spring blossoms, take a holiday and come to Xilingol League to explore this treasure border town! pic fr Vast Grassland Xilingol

[RoundNails]Location: The "Land of Dinosaurs" on the China-Mongolia Border Erenhot Geopark is located in Erenhot City, Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, adjacent to the border between China and Mongolia. It is an important land port city in northern China. Known as the "Land of Dinosaurs" due to its rich dinosaur fossil resources, the geopark covers approximately 70 square kilometers. The core area showcases spectacular dinosaur fossil burial layers, uniquely shaped rock formations, and distinctive desert landscapes. The "Dinosaur Site Museum" and "Yilin Post Station Ruins" are two highlights of the park - the former displays complete dinosaur skeleton fossils, while the latter bears witness to the commercial history of the ancient Silk Road. [TrafficLightVertical]Transportation: Multiple Ways to Reach the Border City Self-driving: Drive north along the G55 Erguan Expressway. The distance from Hohhot to Erenhot is about 460 km, with grassland and Gobi Desert scenery along the way. Local transportation: The geopark is only 3 km from the city center. Taking a taxi or riding a shared electric bike is recommended for convenient and quick access. [Drops]Weather: Dry Continental Climate with Four Distinct Seasons Erenhot has a temperate continental climate with large temperature differences between day and night. In summer (June-August), the maximum daytime temperature reaches about 30°C with intense UV radiation, so sun-protective clothing and hats are necessary. Winter (November-March) is severe, with temperatures dropping to -25°C, requiring down jackets and windproof face masks. Spring and autumn (April-May, September-October) are the best times to visit, with temperatures between 10-20°C. Occasional dust storms occur, so it's advisable to bring windproof goggles and moisturizing products. [Hotel]Accommodation: Border City Charm and Comfortable Experiences High-end option: Erenhot Xiangjiang Hotel (4-star), adjacent to the National Gate scenic area, offers Mongolian-style breakfast, standard rooms around 500 yuan/night. Budget-friendly: Home Inn (Municipal Government Branch), 2 km from the geopark, clean rooms, approximately 200 yuan/night. Unique homestay: "Grassland Post Station" Mongolian yurt camp, located in the suburban grassland, offers bonfire parties and stargazing camping experiences, 150 yuan per person including breakfast. One-Day Itinerary Recommendation: Geological Wonders and Border Scenery Morning - 8:00-10:30: Visit Erenhot Geopark and the Dinosaur Fossil Site Museum to touch ancient imprints from millions of years ago; climb the observation deck for a panoramic view of the China-Mongolia border Gobi landscape. - 10:30-12:00: Head to the "Buddha's Palm" landform area, where the giant palm print formation is a photography hotspot. Afternoon: - 13:00-14:30: Explore the National Gate scenic area, climb the China-Mongolia border watchtower for distant views of Mongolia's Zamyn-Üüd city's exotic scenery. - 15:00-16:30: Visit the Erenhot Dinosaur Museum (free admission) and learn about the mystery of dinosaur extinction through 4D films. Evening: - 17:30-19:00: Stroll through "Yiwu International Trade City" to shop for Mongolian leather goods, Russian chocolates, and other specialty products, and taste hand-pulled mutton, milk tea, and other Mongolian cuisine. Tip: If time permits, sign up for the local "Grassland Sunset Off-road Vehicle Tour" to venture deep into the Sonid Grassland and experience the magnificent "setting sun over the long river."

Park 🚗Erenhot, a border city in Inner Mongolia, is also the earliest region in China and even in Asia where dinosaur fossils were discovered. Because of the wide variety of dinosaur fossils in this area and their high scientific research value, it has become a hot spot for dinosaur fossil research and is affectionately called the "Hometown of Dinosaurs". 🏜️The entire geological park is located on a Gobi-like sandy and rocky land. The huge dinosaur models, vast area and dead wood artistic shapes outline a picture of the period when dinosaurs survived. Whether viewed from a distance or up close, it brings a great visual impact, making people feel as if they are in the Cretaceous dinosaur era. 🦕There are four parks in the entire Cretaceous Dinosaur National Geopark, which respectively display the post station culture, the excavation scene of dinosaur fossils, the classification of dinosaurs and the excavation of geological crystals. It is also a treasure park that is very suitable for bringing children for science education. 🌟Address: 3 kilometers north of Ersexian Swan Lake Wetland Park, Erlianhot City, Xilinguole League, Inner Mongolia. 💰Ticket: 50 yuan/person, electric car 10 yuan/person. 🕙Business hours: Winter - 8:40-17:20/ Summer - 8:40-18:00 (last admission at 17:00) 👣Play time: 2-3 hours. 🅿️Parking lot: Super large and free. Highlights: 1. Restoration of the Erenhot Gigantoraptor fossil 2. At the dinosaur fossil excavation site, salt-alkali wind erosion makes the fossils fragile and requires regular maintenance. The scattered fossils were formed by the impact of river basins, and the skeletal fossils are scattered, making them very difficult to sort out. 3. The vast fossil site and the fossil statues scattered among it make it even more desolate. 4. This is also a good time to educate children. Before the founding of the People's Republic of China, many fossils were stolen by foreign countries in the name of scientific expeditions. Later, 50% of the fossils were taken away by cooperative scientific expeditions.

It was once a desolate barren land, famous for discovering a large number of dinosaur fossils. It is a reptile kingdom with trees and lush lakes 70 million years ago. Although with the dramatic changes in the earth, dinosaurs and many reptiles that have survived here for 20 million years are extinct, but when you walk in, you can understand all aspects. This is the Erlianhot Cretaceous Dinosaur Geological Park. There are many dinosaurs here. The most famous one is the Tyrannosaurus Rex at the door, and there is a real exploration area, which is very worthwhile.