Autumn Exclusive! A Comprehensive Guide to Hulunbuir and Arxan

Hulunbuir and Arxan in autumn are like a palette spilled by God—golden haystacks dot the grasslands, caramel-colored forests stretch endlessly, and sapphire-like Tianchi Lake nestles among the woods✨ Save this guide and dive in without worries! 🍂 Best Time to Visit Mid-September to early October is the golden period, with peak autumn colors in late September. After the National Day holiday, leaves start to fall, and snow may arrive—so plan early! Check the foliage change status before departure for a safer bet. 🧳 Essentials for Your Trip 👗 Clothing: With a day-night temperature difference of over 15°C, dress in layers: quick-dry shirts + fleece/sweater + windbreaker/light down jacket, paired with thermal pants and waterproof high-top shoes. Bring hand warmers for morning shoots, and don’t forget windproof hats and gloves. 🛒 Other Items: High-SPF sunscreen, lip balm, face masks (the climate is extremely dry); a thermos, power bank (photo-taking drains batteries fast); stomach medicine, motion sickness pills, and chocolate (to prevent low blood sugar). 🚥 Transportation Tips ✈ Major Transportation: Flights to Hailar are more frequent, while Arxan Yiershi Airport is closer to the scenic spots. Alternatively, take a train to enjoy the views along the way. 🚘 Local Travel: Highly recommend hiring a car! The grasslands are vast and sparsely populated, with many scenic spots along the roads. Some areas have poor signal, and local drivers know the routes and best viewpoints. Self-driving requires caution on complex road sections. 📅 Itinerary Suggestions 👉 Day 1: Hailar → Morigele River → Grassland Exploration → Ergun Wetland → Birch Forest → Enhe 👉 Day 2: Enhe → Charming Town of Shiwei → Kaxian → Ulan Mountain Scenic Area → Wuka → Heishantou 👉 Day 3: Heishantou → Border Road → 186 Ribbon River → Visit a Herding Family → National Gate/Matryoshka Square → Manzhouli 👉 Day 4: Manzhouli → Hulun Lake → Rose Peak → Dongyang Railway Station → White Wolf Peak → Arxan 👉 Day 5: Arxan → Arxan National Forest Park (Tianchi Lake/Stone Forest/Dujuan Lake/Santan Gorge, etc.) 👉 Day 6: Arxan National Forest Park → Zhangzi Pine Scenic Avenue → Qixian Lake Grassland → Hailar 🍱 Must-Try Foods 🍖 Hand-Pulled Lamb: Boiled in clear water and dipped in chive flower sauce. The authentic taste at Asihan Mongolian Restaurant is tender and not gamey. 🍛 Ice-Boiled Lamb: Lamb cooked in an ice pot with milk and red wine, ready to eat in 3 minutes. The meat is exceptionally tender. 🥪 Blueberry Jam Bread: Fresh blueberry jam paired with freshly baked bread—perfect for breakfast. Available at Shanshe Homestay. 🏡 Accommodation Recommendations ✅ Hailar: Stay in the city center for convenient transportation, easy supply shopping, and seamless itinerary connections. ✅ Enhe: Choose a wooden Russian-style homestay for an immersive experience of Russian culture. ✅ Arxan: If budget allows, opt for Orenburg Villas for stargazing; for hot springs, stay at Haishen Hot Spring Hotel for relaxation and comfort. ⚠️ Important Notes 1. The Arxan National Forest Park requires a 105 RMB sightseeing bus ticket (valid for two days). The park is too large to explore on foot. 2. From September 23 to October 8, the Wusulangzi Lake loop is one-way only—enter from Jinjiang Valley and exit at Tianchi Service Area. Don’t take the wrong route. 3. Book accommodations and tickets in advance; it’s hard to find rooms during peak season. Download offline maps as signal is poor in scenic areas. 4. Choose certified venues for horse riding and reindeer interactions. Follow guidance when entering yurts and respect local customs.