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Hohhot

, the capital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in northern China, lies between Yinshan Mountain and the Yellow River. It is the most important city in Inner Mongolia and is home to 36 different ethnic groups. Notable among these are Mongolian, Han, Manchu, Hui, Tibetan, Dawoer, Elunchun, Ewenke and Korean. The city zone covers 17,224 square kilometers (6,650.19 square miles) with a population of 2.63 million. It administers 4 districts, 4 counties, 1 banner and 1 national level Economic and Technological Development Zone, including Yuquan District, Huimin District, Xincheng District, Saihan District, Tokto County, Horinger County, Qingshuihe County, Wuchuan County and Tolmud left Banner.

has a long history of over 2300 years. In the period of Warring States (476 BC - 221 BC), Zhaowuhou (340 BC – 295 BC) build the Ancient City. In Northern Wei period (386 – 557), Xianbei ethnic groups established a capital at Horinger County which was the first capital in the north grassland with the historical name of Shile. The city was renamed Fegzhou in Liao period (916 – 1125). In 1581 during Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644), Tolmud leader Altan Khan constructed a city in Yuquan District, named in Mongolian, and later renamed it to Guihua. In 1737 during Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911), the government built Suiyuan city, a strong garrison town, at the northeast of Guihua, then united the two cites as one naming it Guisui. In 1954, the city became the capital of Inner Mongolia and resumed the name of .

belongs to the temperate arid and semi arid continental monsoon climate with four distinct seasons. Significant temperature variations occur between day and night. The average annual temperature is 6 C (42.8 F). It is cold in winter with an average temperature of -10 C (14 F) and hot and rainy during summer with an average temperature of 15 C (59 F) to 26 C (79 F). The best time to visit is from April to October, while the best time to go to the grassland is from middle July to early September as the weather is pleasant at that time.

The city brings together specialties from all over Inner Mongolia, ranging from Mongolian silverwares, carpets, cashmere, camel hair products, traditional knives, decorative deer antlers, narrow-leaved oleaster curtain, oatmeal and various dairy products to fancy Mongolian costumes. Mongolian folk songs and wrestling are popular entertainments while ethnic delicacies and the friendliness of the local people add to the enjoyment of a stay here. Travelers can enjoy a wide variety of activities including horse riding, or maybe visiting the home of a herdsman's family or roaming over the vast grassland and of course there is the thrilling Nadam Fair.

is an ideal place to relax away from modern day pressure thanks to the magnificent natural beauty of the Gegentala and Xilamuren Grasslands as well as fantastic cultural sites such as the Dazhao Temple, Five-Pagoda Temple and the Xilituzhao Palace .

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