Hohhot has numerous shopping stores ranging from department stores and shopping plazas to small shops. They offer various kinds of goods, including the local products as well as international brands. Among them, the local traditional products should not be missed on your shopping route, such as the Mongolian knives and carpets, cashmere, Balin tone and Mongolian metalwork.

Inner Mongolia Wool Carpet

The Inner Mongolia Wool Carpet is made of local wool and colored with natural mineral and plant dyes and it is featured by delicate patterns, natural colors and soft feel. Currently, there are 10 types of carpet in Inner Mongolia, including artistic tapestry, Han Dynasty Carpet etc. The development of Inner Mongolian Wool Carpet was closed connected with Lamaism, for the gorgeous carpets, cushions and some other decorations in lamaseries were all made of wool carpets. In Qing Dynasty, the royal families honored Shamanism and built many lamaseries, which greatly promoted the development and improvement of wool carpets.

Cashmere

Cashmere produced in Inner Mongolia is a kind of rare textile raw material and it enjoys a great reputation in the whole world. The cashmere from Oerhtossu Plateau is particularly famous for its thin and soft fibers. It can be used to make shawls, sweaters and even quilts, ranging from clothes to bedding. The cashmere products are soft, warm and comfortable. Those features make the cashmere products quite popular among customers, especially in cold seasons. Generally speaking, the quality of cashmere can be judged by its colors. The white cashmere is better than the green or purple cashmere.

Mongolian Knife

Mongolian Knife is a practical and beautiful handicraft favored by local people. Mongolian Knife is a necessity in herdsmen’s daily life, for it can be used to slaughter sheep and cattle. And due to its beautiful appearance, the Mongolian Knife can also be used as a decoration. The blade of Mongolian Knife is usually made of steel, while the handle and scabbard can be made of various materials ranging from wood to silver. Besides, the local artists will also carve fine patterns or embed jewelry on the hand or scabbard. In local people’s heart, the Mongolian Knife is a gift given by God and it will bring good luck to its owner.

Ox Horn Handicrafts

The ox horn can be used to make a variety of products. Generally speaking, the ox horn handicrafts have three major categories: the wall decorations, furnishings and clothing ornaments. There are over 100 kinds of ox horn products fell on 10 series such as totems, animals, figures etc. Among all those products, the ox horn combs are the most popular souvenir among visitors. According to the records in “An Outline Treatise of Medical Herbs”, an authoritative classic medical book, the ox horn is cool and refreshing. The ox horn comb can increase the blood circulation by massaging the scalp. By long term use, it will help to cure some diseases such as headache.

Hohhot is the transport hub in central and western China regions which not only connects the north-west provinces and autonomous regions, but also links Chinawith Mongolia, Russia and Eastern European countries. Hohhot BaitaInternational Airport has opened 70 international and domestic routes. It has direct flights to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other cities. There are 19 state-owned railway lines, 12 extensions, 5 local rail transits. There are 23 taxi companies with over 5000 taxi vehicles in urban area. The total number of buses is more than 1600 with 71 bus lines. The transport industry in Hohhot has developed rapidly. The density of road network reached 21.77 kilometers per 100 square kilometers.

Getting to Hohhot by Air

Baita International Airport is 14.3 kilometers east of the downtown area of Hohhot. The airport is close to Wanbu Huayanjing Pagoda which is also called Baita in Chinese, hence the name. Hohhot Baita International Airport is 10 kilometers away from the east suburb of Hohhot. Originally, the airport runway was 3,200 meters long and 45 meters.

Getting to Hohhot by Train

Hohhot Railway Station is located on Chezhan East Road in the city center. Visitors can get there easily by taking a bus or taxi. Hohhot is a city on the Jing-Bao Railroad Line, an important railway connecting Inner Mongolia with other regions in China. The Hohhot Railway Station offers trains to Beijing, Chengdu, Lanzhou, Tianjin, Harbin, Shenyang, Hangzhou.

Getting around Hohhot by City Bus

Hohhot is served by more than 40 bus lines, leading to almost every corner in the city. The major sightseeing places and shopping areas inside Hohhot can all be reached by taking a bus, such as the White Pagoda, Five Pagoda Temple, Dazhao Temple and so on. Generally speaking, the operation hours of buses in Hohhot are from 06:00 to 20:00.

Getting around Hohhot by Taxi

The most convenient way of getting around Hohhot is by taking a taxi. At present, there are over thousands of taxis in Hohhot. The car types include Xiali, Jetta and Citroen zx etc. For most taxis, the starting fare is 6 yuan for two kilometers, and after that the fare will be 1 yuan per kilometer. At night, an extra fee will be charged.

Hohhot has the monsoon climate. The low rainfall is unequally distributed in the whole year. The winter is relatively long and cold and the temperature difference between day and night is quite large. Usually, there will be spring drought and winter storms striking this area. As a result, visitors had better avoid spring and winter seasons. Comparatively speaking, the best traveling time is form April to October when the grassland is green and the climate is temperate. What’s more, there will be Nadam Fair from July to September and visitors can enjoy the ethical customs here.

Hohhot is the capital of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, located in Tumochuan Plain, the central part of Inner Mongolia. The name of the city in Mongolian means “the Green City”. Hohhot is encircled in “Golden Triangle”, which has the rich sources in the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, by the Yinshan Mountains to he north, and the Yellow River to the south with full of the grass and water and rich soil.

Hohhot has a total land area of 17224 square kilometers, and its administration Yuquan District, Huimin District, Xincheng District, Saihan District and Tolmud left Banner, Tokto County, Horinger County, Qingshuihe County, Wuchuan County, total 9 districts, counties, banner and 1 national level Economic and Technological Development Zone, including a population of 2.63 million with inhabited by the 36 ethnic groups including the Mongolians as the main body, the Han, Hui, Manchu, Korean, Daur, and Oroqen ethnic groups.

Hohhot lies at an average of 1050 meters above sea-level in the middle temperate inland regions, the annual precipitation is 300-500 milliliters, yearly average temperature is about 8℃. The city has blue sky and green land, no chilliness in winter and no intense heat in summer and has different four seasons with inviting views, named as the heaven of grassland.

Starting to be built in 1898 and initially called China Street, it was renamed as the Central Avenue and later developed into the most prosperous commercial street in the city. Starting from the Memorial Tower of Fighting against the Floods of Songhua River to the north and extending to the Jingwei Street to the south, it is 1,450 meters long, 21.34 meters wide, of which 10.8 meters are paved with square stones and were once used by vehicles. There are 71 European style bulidings as well as 13 buildings of Renaissance, Baroque, eclecticism and modern style under protection. This street has incorporated the four most influential styles of western architecture, reflecting the glamorous history of cultural development of nearly 300 years in Europe.

In 1986, the municipal government of Harbin decided to turn the Central Avenue into a street under protection. In August 1996, the government made a decision to renovate it into a pedestrian street. Being 860 meters long, the street has 6 recreational areas, which are beautiful and well arranged. With its unique European style buildings, numerous shops, beautiful recreational area and colorful cultural life, the Central Avenue has become an important scenic spot in Harbin.

Lying on north bank of Harbin Songhua River, the Sun Island is elegant, and well-known with a melodious song of On the Sun Island. The center of the Sun Island is at a water pavilion. About 1,515 square meters, the highlights include a long corridor, a link corridor and a square pavilion built with modern methods of garden making. In the two-storied square pavilion 54 black marble pillars are built.

The scenery in the Sun Island is composed of artificial lakes and artificial hills. There are 5 inter-linked lakes around the Sun Lake. On the lake are Sister Bridge, Pavilion Bridge, and White Jade Bridge. The elegant willows, the picturesque pavilions and bridges as well as their reflections in the water have constituted most beautiful scenery. There is a three-layer waterfall built in the Sun Hill. The crystal clear water curtain hangs down and its sound can be heard from afar. This scenery is the Clear Spring and Flying Waterfall.

The ice and snow culture of the Sun Island is fascinating. The well-known Harbin snow carving art expo and the competition of ice carving among the masters are held in the Sun Island every year.