Top Hulunbuir cultural activities and Soft outdoor adventures

These are just a few of the many hand-on cultural activities that you can experience during a Hulunbuir trip. Each activity provides a unique insight into the Mongolian culture, and you will come away with a deeper appreciation for this rich and vibrant culture.

Building Mongolian yurt in Hulunbuir

• Type: Cultural Immersion/ Art & Architecture
• Duration: Around 3 hours-half day
• Location: Hulunbuir

Yurt Structure

Ger, which means yurt in Mongolian, is a moveable circular dwelling made of a lattice of flexible poles and covered in felt or other fabric. Traditional ger is white with a red door. With a gently sloping roof, the crown of a ger is partially open, allowing ventilation of air and for the chimney to penetrate the structure. From at short as 30 minutes to around 3 hours, ger can be quickly assembled, dismantle, and loaded onto horses, camels, or ox carts. Easily portable, adaptable, incredibly warm in winter and ventilate in the hot summer, and resistant to the grassland winds. For thousands of years, ger is the ideal home for nomadic people in this inhospitable environment.

Mongolian Yurt

Today, only small numbers of nomadic herders still live in this type of traditional dwelling in Inner Mongolia, since they need to move several times a year in search of grazing lands. In this journey, your team will have the opportunity to set up a small ger. If you don’t mind the living condition, ger stay can also be part of the pastoral charm of Inner Mongolia.

Chanasan Makh making

• Type: Cultural Immersion/ Food
• Duration: 2 hours
• Location: Hulunbuir

Chanasan Makh Making

Chanasan Makh is a simple traditional dish of Mongolian nomads. This can be a strengthening meal before a long journey. A whole sheep or goat is cut into handy chunks together with bones and boiled in water. Salt is then added. This dish is consumed using only a knife. Sometimes it is served with sauces or sprinkled with pepper. The head of the family or guest of honor gets the first and largest portion. Interestingly, nomads fire their stoves with cakes of dried dung from their herds.

In this session, you will have the opportunity to prepare Chanasan Makh under the guidance of local nomads and taste this special flavor in a unique way.

Experience the Spirit of Naadam

• Type: Cultural Immersion/ History/ Art
• Tour Length : a day
• Location: Hulunbuir

Lama reciting scriptures 

The Naadam Festival is more than just a sporting event; Typically held in July and August, when the grasslands are at their most beautiful. it is a living representation of Mongolian culture, history, and identity. Whether you're a culture enthusiast, an adventure seeker, or simply looking for a unique travel experience, attending Naadam offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to immerse yourself in the traditions of the Mongolian people.

The Naadam Festival is the most significant and grand traditional event in Mongolia and Inner Mongolia, often referred to as "the Three Manly Games" as it features competitions in horse racing, wrestling, and archery. This festival is a vibrant display of Mongolian culture, bringing together local communities and travelers for an unforgettable experience.

Wrestling

In addition to the traditional Naadam Festival held in July and August, the Hulunbuir Grassland · Morigele River Scenic Area also hosts the "Ice and Snow Naadam" every winter. Visitors can take part in winter sports, enjoy traditional Mongolian song and dance performances, and savor authentic Mongolian cuisine, immersing themselves in the rich ethnic culture.

Local Ethnic Groups Visiting Hulunbuir

Visiting the Oroqen people

• Type: Cultural Immersion/ Art & Architecture/ Nature & Wildlife
• Duration: 2 hours
• Location: Hulunbuir

Oroqen people

Oroqen is one of China’s smallest ethnic groups with only a few thousand people remaining. Once lived as nomadic hunters, today, merely a few licensed ones are allowed to use rifles during hunting season in the daytime. Influenced by their lifestyle, their clothing is made of animal skins.

Nowadays, rather than staying in a tepee-like tent covered with birch barks or hides, Oroqen people move out of the forest into cities and towns. Oroqen women have amazing skills in embroidering patterns of animals and making objects from birch bark. During this short journey, we will visit an Oroqen artisan in town. Admire her as she turns birch bark into a small container with her marvelous skill. Then, with your creative mind, dot your patterns on the birch bark and color it. This can be a lifetime experience.

Visiting the Evenki people

• Type: Cultural Immersion/ Art & Architecture/ Nature & Wildlife
• Duration: 2 hours
• Location: Hulunbuir

The Evenki People

On this trip, we will visit the Evenki people living deep in the birch forest with their semi-wild reindeer who spend all winter away in the forest. This group of people in Inner Mongolia exists either as hunters or reindeer herders. The Evenki people and reindeer have a close relationship with each other. Reindeers are dependent on herders as the herders provide them with salt and protect them from predators and biting insects. While the herders rely on their reindeer for milk, fur, and sometimes transport. Reindeer’s milk is used to make cheese and bake bread. Evenki never slaughter their reindeer. They only use hide and eat the meat after its death from natural causes.

Today, almost all Evenki people have given up the forest life to settle in modern cities, with only a few Evenki still following the traditional lifestyle. Visit their tepee-shaped tents, feed the reindeer that wander around the settlements with moss, and try your hand at making ‘sunflower’ from reindeer’s fur. This might be a magical experience and a trip of a lifetime.

Handmade Wool Felt Crafting

• Type: Cultural Immersion/ Art
• Duration: 2 hours
• Location: Hulunbuir

Immerse yourself in the ancient Mongolian craft of wool felt-making in Hulunbuir, where herders have transformed sheep’s wool into functional art for centuries.

Experience the traditional art of wool felt crafting in Hulunbuir, where you can create unique handmade pieces using natural sheep’s wool. Under the guidance of local skilled artisans, learn to card raw fleece, layer it with soapy water, and roll or press it using time-honored techniques like wet felting or needle felting. Create intricate patterns inspired by nature from shaping and pressing to dyeing and decorating. This hands-on activity is perfect for children and adults alike, offering a fun and educational way to explore Mongolian craftsmanship while gaining a deeper appreciation for the nomadic heritage of the grasslands.

Experience the Hospitality of the Herder's Home in Heishantou

• Type: Cultural Immersion/ Art /Architecture/ Nature & Wildlife
• Duration: 2 hours
• Location: Hulunbuir

Step into the traditional lifestyle of the herders in Heishantou, a picturesque spot on the grasslands of Inner Mongolia. Stay with local families in their cozy yurts, where you can immerse yourself in the authentic nomadic way of life. Enjoy hearty meals made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and learn about the region's rich customs and traditions. Engage in daily activities like milking cows, making traditional dairy products, and even riding horses across the endless grasslands. This experience offers a unique opportunity to connect with nature, understand Mongolian culture, and enjoy the warmth and hospitality of the herding families.

There are more cultural activities that we can add to your trip based on your requests and interests. Create your own Inner Mongolia trip now >>

Soft outdoor adventures

Traditional Mongolian dance: Mongolian dance is an important part of the culture, and you can learn some of the traditional dances during your trip. You can dress up in traditional Mongolian clothing and perform the dances with the locals.

Sheepskin making: Sheepskin is an important material used in the Mongolian culture. You can learn how to make a sheepskin rug or blanket and learn about the techniques used in the process.

Hiking: Explore the vast grasslands, forests, and wetlands of Hulunbuir on foot. Popular hiking destinations include Ergun Wetland Reserve, Hulun Lake National Nature Reserve, and Arxan National Forest Park.

Rafting: Take a thrilling rafting trip down the winding rivers of Hulunbuir, such as the Hailar River or the Genhe River.

Cycling: Rent a bike and explore the beautiful countryside of Hulunbuir at your own pace. Scenic cycling routes include the Ergun Wetland Reserve and the Hulun Lake National Nature Reserve.

Horseback riding: Experience the nomadic lifestyle of the local people by taking a horseback riding tour on the grasslands.

Camping: Pitch a tent and spend a night under the stars on the vast grasslands of Hulunbuir. Many local tour companies offer camping tours.

Skiing: Visit Hulunbuir in the winter months and hit the slopes at the local ski resorts, such as Hulun Buir Shangzhi Ski Resort.

Wildlife watching: Hulunbuir is home to a variety of wildlife, including wild horses, reindeer, and migratory birds. Take a guided tour to spot these animals in their natural habitats.

Interested in any of these activities? Contact us and plan your Inner Mongolia tour based on your requests >>

Customize Your Unique Hulunbuir Tour

If you are interested in one of the Hulunbuir itineraries mentioned above, please contact us, and we will be happy to customize it and provide a quote tailored to your preferences.

Alternatively, if you would like to customize your Hulunbuir Tour, please visit our inner-Mongolia Tour Customized Center. We assure you that you will receive a reply within 24 working hours.

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