Holiday in Bayan Nur

What makes Bayan Nur special as a destination?

Bayan Nur (Mongolian for "rich lake") is a prefecture city in the Autonomous Region of Inner Mongolia, located on the northern bank of the Yellow River in the Hetao Plain — one of the oldest agricultural regions in China, which has been made fertile for over 2,000 years through an elaborate irrigation system. The Hetao Plain is often referred to as "the land beyond the Great Knee," as the Yellow River forms a huge loop to the north here. The Yinshan Rock Art (Yinshan Yanhua) is Bayan Nur's most significant cultural heritage: Over 10,000 petroglyphs on the rock walls of the Yinshan Mountains document the lives of nomadic peoples over a period of 6,000 years — hunting scenes, animals, celestial bodies, and ritual representations. The rock art is among the largest open-air galleries in the world and is nominated for the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Wuliangsuhai Lake is one of the largest freshwater lakes in northern China and an important wetland: Thousands of migratory birds, including rare swan geese and cranes, rest here on their way between Siberia and Southeast Asia. Boat trips through the extensive reed landscapes are possible. The desert landscape north of the city extends to the Ulan-Buh Desert. Camel riding, desert camping under the starry sky, and visits to Mongolian nomadic communities in their yurts (Ger) offer authentic experiences far from mass tourism.