“Baotou” in Mongolian means “place that has deer”, and is famous for its iron and steel industry. Baotou is therefore referred to as both “Deer City” and “Steel City”.
Xiangshawan (Resonant Sand Bay)
Xiangshawan is located in Ih Ju League, 45 kilometres from the city of Baotou. Sliding down from the 90-meter-high, 45-degree sand hill, one can hear the sound of car and aircraft engines, a natural and as yet inexplicable phenomenon.
Apart from sand sliding, one can also ride horses and camels, or ride on sand-sliding boats.
Xilamuren Grassland
The imposingly lush Xilamuren Grassland is situated 90 kilometres north of Baotou. This enchanting summer resort located along the banks of the Xilamuren River is famous for the Nadam Grassland festival held each year.
A special and unique feature of the spectacular Xilamuren Grassland is that it remains cool even during the hot summer. It houses a total number of 62 Mongolian yurts of which 30 are standard.
Xilamuren Grassland is listed by the National Tourist Bureau of China as a national tourist resort. Visitors to this cool Grassland can enjoy activities such as horse riding, camel riding, campfire partying and visit households of herdsmen.
Wudangzhao Lamasery
The famed Wudangzhao Lamasery is situated approximately 70 kilometres northeast of Baotou. This impressive 250-year-old Lamasery is historic in western Inner Mongolia.
Wudangzhao, which literally means “Willow Lamasery“, is named such due to the wispy trees that encircle the temple area.
The entire compound boasts of six main halls, one of them is the Sugabi Prayer Hall. The extensive collection of Buddhist art is an integral feature at the Lamasery which includes ancient sculptures and frescos of gold, silver, wood and soil.