Xilingol Grasslands

Xilingol covers around two hundred thousand square kilometres of central Inner Mongolia and includes a UNESCO biosphere reserve protecting typical steppe vegetation, some of the most representative grassland in the country. It is working herding country: Mongol families run sheep, cattle, horses and camels, and the summer naadam festivals bring wrestling, horse racing over long distances and archery, held at banner level through July and August. Visitors stay in yurt camps, ride, and eat mutton and dairy. The grassland has suffered from overgrazing, drought and mining, and restoration and grazing bans have been applied in places, which changes what visitors see from one district to the next.

What you actually see

• The open steppe - grassland running to a flat horizon.
• The naadam festivals - wrestling, horse racing and archery through summer.
• The herding life - families working sheep, horses and cattle.
• The yurt camps - accommodation set up across the grassland for visitors.

When to go

June to September, with July and August the green peak and the naadam season; the grass browns by late September and winter is severe. Naadam dates vary by banner and are announced locally, not far ahead.

Honest expectations

Grassland condition varies widely and degraded, overgrazed areas are common near roads. Tourist yurt camps range from comfortable to poor and are often staged rather than working. Distances are long and a vehicle is necessary.

Nearby

Xanadu lies southeast; the Hunshandake sandy land is south.