Founded by Altan Khan in the 16th century, the good-looking capital of Inner Mongolia is an increasingly prosperous city. Hohhot (known in Mandarin as 呼和浩特; Hūhéhàotè) means ‘Blue City’ in Mongolian, a reference to the arching blue skies over the grasslands.

Northern Inner Mongolia's largest city, Hǎilā’ěr (海拉尔) is a busy, rather ordinary place. Don't fret, the city isn't the draw: surrounding the town range the expansive Hūlúnbèi’ěr Grasslands, a vast prairie that begins just outside the city and rolls northwards towards the Russian and Mongolian borders, seemingly forever.

The golden deserts, shimmering lakes and ruined cities of western Inner Mongolia are fantastic places for adventures far from the beaten track. With new airports in the three major towns across the region now providing links to Hohhot and Xī'ān, the Badain Jaran Desert and ancient town of Khara Khoto are far more accessible than before.

A small Russian-style town of log cabins located right on the É'ěrgǔnà River, which marks the border with Russia, Shì Wěi (室韦) is deep within the glorious grasslands. Shì Wěi itself is no longer the backwater it once was and the commercial summer tourist season gets busy with domestic visitors, although very few foreigners make it up here, especially out of season.