Ordos Travel Guide

Situated in southwest Inner Mongolia, Ordos is surrounded by Yellow River in west, north and east and faces the Great Wall in south. Covering an area of 87,000 km², the city has a population of 1.59 million composed mostly by Mongolian and Han Chinese. It derives its name from Ordos Plateau and the capital is in Dongsheng District.
 

History

Ordos has a long history and is one cradle of human civilization. In ancient times, it was called Ih Ju League. People living here 35,000 years ago created the Hetao Culture. Ordos means "palace complex" in Mongolian. In Yuan Dynasty, a tribe called Ordos moved Genghis Khan’s tomb to this area and guarded the tomb. The area had been administered as Ih Ju League since the 17th century, and was renamed Ordos in 2001.
 

Attractions

Genghis Khan's Tomb  is the most reputed tourist resource of Inner Mongolia. The tomb is in Mongolian style reflecting the brilliant history of Mongolia. Every year, a memorial ceremony is held on seventeenth day of the third lunar month to commemorate Genghis Khan. This ceremony has been listed on the National Intangible Heritage List.

The Ordos Grassland with ethnic performance and customs is a good place to experience the local life by enjoying wrestling, equestrianism, archery and the consecrating service. Resonant Sand Bay in the eastern reaches of the Kubuqi Desert is a one hundred meters high sand dune creating powerful echoes in the wind.
 

Transportation

Ordos Airport is 45 km from downtown and 20 km from Genghis Khan’s Mausoleum. There are flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Shenzhen, Hohhot, Sanya, Zhengzhou and Chengdu.

Dongsheng Railway Station has trains to Hohhot, Baotou and Shenmu. It takes three hours from Baotou to Ordos. Baotou Railway Station has trains from/to Beijing, Tianjin, Shenyang, Xian and other cities in China.

The long distance bus station is near Zhengfujie and it serves buses to Hohhot, Shijiazhuang, Yanan, Shenmu and Baotou. Shenxin Bus Station sends buses to nearby towns.

The city is rather small and has only seven public bus lines. Bus No.1 and 4 pass the railway station and all the other five lines have stop at bus station. The flag fall rate for a taxi is CNY5.
 

Weather and Climate

Ordos has a temperate semi-arid climate with distinctive four seasons. Spring is windy, summer is humid and warm and winter is long, cold and very dry. The annual average temperature is 6.2℃ (43.2°F). Most of the rain falls between July and September.
 

Food

Food in Ordos is of grassland flavor. Rice and dairy products is the main food and mutton is also very famous. Local dishes and snacks include puffed rice soaked in milk tea, grilled mutton, fermented mare’s milk liquor and buckwheat noodles.

Caoyuanmuge Restaurant
Address: Torghut　Road, Dongsheng District.
Phone: 0477 3988855

Pizza Hut
Address: #1-#2Everyday Department Store in Dongsheng District.
Phone: 0477 3981161

Chinese Restaurant of Tianjiao Hotel
Address: Qipanjing Industry Park.
 

Shopping

Local products in Ordos include cashmere, oleaster and Malus micromalus. Ordos Shopping center is the largest one in the city. Other shopping malls include Everyday Department Store, Minsheng Shopping Center and Beiguo Xintiandi Shopping Center.
 

Entertainment

Nadam Fair held in August on the grasslands of Ordos is the most famous traditional Mongolian Festival. People can see entertainment like wrestling, equestrianism and archery as well as performances by dressed up local people.
 

Accommodation

There are several large hotels near the bus station. Visitors can also accommodate in local people’s Yurt.

Crown Plaza Ordos
Address: No.1 Yingbin Road, Dongsheng District

Kaixuanmen Holiday Hotel
Address: West to Jungar Bridge, Xuejiawan Town

Super 8 (Ordos Weike)
Address: No.249-251 Etuoke West Street
 

Travel Tips

1. May to October is the best time to visit Ordos.
2. Memorial Ceremonies at Genghis Khan's Mausoleum are held on March 21st, May 15th, August 12th and October 3rd in lunar calendar.
3. There are many branches of Bank of China in Ordos and it’s convenient to exchange currency.