For a trip to Xilin Gol, options range from collections from the Mongol-Yuan period to horse culture and river landscapes. In Xilinhot, the Mongol-Yuan Culture Museum, the horse racetrack and the Cheese Culture Industrial Park each represent different cultural and culinary themes. Also visit the National Geopark of the Xilin Gol Grassland Volcanoes and the wetland ecosystem of the Xilin River. When choosing your destination, you can decide whether to focus on history, architecture, performances or nature.
A geopark with two separate areas
The National Geopark of the Xilin Gol Grassland Volcanoes lies south of the urban area of Xilinhot. It consists of two separate areas: Pingdingshan Park and Gezishan Park. This division is a useful point of reference: the two areas are not part of one continuous park, but are located separately. The geopark thus offers a landscape theme of its own alongside the city's cultural attractions.
The Mongol-Yuan period at the museum
The Mongol-Yuan Culture Museum is the central building of the Mongol-Yuan cultural area. Its collection includes seals, badges and clothing, as well as gold and silver objects, stone carvings, ceramics, paintings, weapons and architectural elements from the Mongol-Yuan period. The different groups of objects offer several ways to explore this era: alongside handicrafts and architectural evidence are objects connected with political, economic, cultural, military and technological fields. The museum therefore presents history through more than individual types of object. The specific collection may change.
Horse culture: races and performances
The Xilin Gol Racecourse offers exhibitions on horse culture, gallop races and competitions. Equestrian performances include horseback greetings, picking up wine cups and lifting hadag scarves. Other offerings include horseback riding, photos in ethnic dress and bonfire performances. The focus is therefore different from that of the museum: here, horse culture is presented through performances and activities, while the museum focuses on a collection of historical objects. Before your trip, check which specific activities will be available during your visit.
The Horse Culture Performance Hall hosts the large indoor live show “Mongolian Horse,” which is performed every year. As schedules may change, we recommend checking performance dates before your trip.
Architecture as another way to explore culture
At Baizimiao, the architectural decoration offers a distinct cultural perspective. It combines Buddhist architectural elements with design traditions of the Han, Mongols, Tibetans and Manchus. The combination of these four traditions makes the design a subject in its own right, alongside the museum collection and horse performances. Visitors interested in architecture will find a different perspective on cultural design here than at the museum, whose collection includes objects and architectural elements from a historical period.
Wetlands and protected animal species
The National Wetland Park on the Xilin River is home to 26 species of nationally protected animals. These include two nationally protected Class I bird species and 24 Class II species. Species counts may vary depending on the survey. The wetland ecosystem of the Xilin River includes wetlands, grassland, meadows, marshes, reservoirs and rivers. The nature experience is therefore not limited to the river itself: aquatic and grassland habitats are both part of the ecosystem described. The information about protected species and the variety of landscape features offer two different ways to explore this natural environment.
Regional cheese products
A visitor description from 2024 presented the Xilinhot Cheese Culture Industrial Park as a place to sample regional cheese products and learn about their history, production techniques and nutritional value. Cheese thus combines tasting with information about the product and how it is made, adding a culinary perspective to the cultural and landscape themes.
Discover more destinations: Bayan Nur, Ulanqab, Hulun Buir, Ordos, Tongliao, Chifeng, Alxa, Hinggan
For the regional travel overview: Inner Mongolia.
