* Hulunbuir (or Hulun Beier) Grasslands
Located outside the remote border town (with Russia) of Manzhouli, Inner Mogolia, the Hulun Buir Grasslands are the most pristine and lushest in China. The grasslands here are known locally as the "most unsullied prairie", because of the lack of pollution and the uninterrupted green that, in summer, stretches in all directions. Hulunbuir is fed by hundreds of rivers, large and small, that have made this area highly popular with the Mongolian nomads and herders.

Visitors can try horse-riding in the Hulun Buir Grassland and try boiled or barbecued lamb. and spend the night here, in the yurts, that although a little too designed for tourism (on concrete bases and in yurt hotels), will give you a taste of the lifestyles of the nomads and the marauding Mongols of yesteryear.

* Erguna River, Genhe Wetland and Erguna City
The water of the Hailaer River flows from east to west before turning north-east about 20 km north of Hulun (or named Dalai) Lake. At this point, the Hailaer River becomes the Ergun (Chinese name) or Argun (Russian name) River and forms the China's border with Russia's Zabaykalsky Krai (formerly, Chita Oblast).

Ergun City occupies 28,400 km2 on the right (south-eastern) bank of the Ergun River. It is hometown of Genghis Khan (1162-1227), Mongol conqueror of most of Asia and of East Europe to the Dnieper River.

* A Russian Township near Shiwei
Shiwei was listed as one of top ten most beautiful townships in China in 2007. However it has been touristy. CCC will explore a small township near Shiwei. Located by the Erguna River, which is the border between China and Russia, the town features Russian descendants, Russian style wooden houses and filled windows and golden-silver birch forest.

* Sino-Russian Border Town -- Manzhouli (CCC will not visit this town as it has been urbanized so quickly and becomes a busy city and lost its original flavor)
Manzhouli, about 70km west of Hailar, is a miniscule city with a population of around 150,000 and an area of 696 square kilometers. The town lies on the Sino-Russian border, giving it a lively feel that is especially interesting in this far corner of China. This is a place for hardy travellers, entrepreneurial Russians and bartering Chinese, most trying to thrive on cross border trade.

Highlights

* Enjoy one of few well preserved mongolian grassland in China & Mongolia
* Ergun, hometown of Gengis Kan and its Ergun River and Wetland
* A Russian township and its Russian descendants at the border to Russia.

Please note that CCC offers two separate Inner Mongolia grassland tours. Both of them are good but offer different features depending on what your objective is and what you expect from the tour. In order for you to choose the tour best meeting your needs, we provide some comments here for your reference.

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1 Fly to Hailar / Hulun Buir Grassland

Beijing  Hailar (around 07:00-09:00)
Shanghai –No direct flights are available from Shanghai to Hailaer, you have to first fly to Beijing in the previous evening and fly to Hailaer next morning.
Other locales: we welcome you departing from other locales, and arrange a trip for you.

* Arrive in Hailar, the largest city in the Hulunbuir (or Hulun Beier) Prefecture with rolling grasslands stretching for endless miles.
* We will drive to one area of the Hulun Buir Grassland. Check in your yurts. The sky is so blue and the snow white clouds seem being connected with the grassland on the horizon.  Mushroom-like yurts, bright sky, fresh air, rolling grass and the flocks and herds moving like white clouds on the remote grassland will give you a quiet and relaxing impression you will never forget!
* After lunch, take some walk by the river of the grassland.   
* Visit a herdsmen's home and learn their life and culture.
* Free time for you to do horse-back riding, or relax on the grassland.
* At night, sit in front of your yurts facing the tranquil river and grassland and counting stars!  Stay overnight in the yurts (check the yurt picture for reference).
 
Day 2 Hulun Buir Grassland / Hailar / Ergun (Erguna) / Russian Town
* Free time to enjoy the beautiful grassland in the morning.
* Drive whithin 1 hour through the grassland to Erguna, hometown of Genghis Khan (1162-1227), Mongol conqueror of most of Asia and of East Europe to the Dnieper River.
* After lunch, drive to the Erguna wetland for a walk on the plank road.
* Take a side trip to a Russian village, a beautiful and peaceful place which has similar scenery to Shiwei (which was listed in 2007 as one of ten most beautiful townships of China, but is getting touristy now). The silver birch forest, up-and-down paddy fields along the slope, and Russian style wooden houses and window decorations. 
* Stay overnight at a Russian style guesthouse. 
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Day 3 Russian Town / Ergun Wetland / Hailaer / Fly out
* Explore the Russian Ethnic Township and have a home visit to Russian Chinese family.You may encounter some elders who are descendants of Russians.
* Return to Hailar and visit the National Forest Park.
* Drive back to Hailar in the evening and fly out.

Hailar– Beijing by air  around 21:00-23:00