Hulunbuir in brief

Hulunbuir, the largest prefecture-level city in China, is located in the eastern part of China's large northern province of Inner-Mongolia. Its area of 263,000 square kilometers making it the size of Shandong province and Jiangsu province put together. To the east of the city sits Heilongjiang province, to the west rests Mongolia and to the north lays Russia, this city is a key junction between Russia, Mongolia and China and sharing a borderline of 1732 kilometers. In Hulunbuir there are 8 opening ports, among of which the Manzhouli is the biggest land port in China.

Many say that the landmass of China is shaped like a rooster which has lead many locals to joke that if China is a rooster then Hulunbuir is a pearl on the head of a rooster. Indeed Hulunbuir is home to several amazing different ecosystems, pine forests, large pristine lake and the grasslands. The famous Hulunbuir grassland, which is one of the four largest grasslands in the world, is the most remarkable feature of this region and is often referred as the most beautiful grassland in the world. Hulunbuir is also rich in culture with the indigenous people having a history that stretches back several thousands of years, many of their earliest and precious artifacts are still in the city today, persevered in almost perfect condition.

Although in recent years the local government administration has focused much of its efforts in promoting Hulunbuir as a tourist destination trade still remains the most important component of the local economy. However the region has in recent years won some accolades for being a premium tourist destination including a place on the prestigious list of China's 20 most desirable destinations. Hulunbuir is considered so beautiful because it has lush forests and beautiful untouched ecosystem that lie undisturbed by the booming commerce of neighboring prefectures.

Dialect in Hulunbuir

Dialect in Hulunbuir is diverse. Many of the original inhabitants of Hulunbuir arrived from Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning, so the dialect in Hulunbuir is influenced by the languages in northeast China.

Traditional Festivals in Hulunbuir

Yimue Festival

The Yimue Festival in Mongolian translates as the "festival of the abundant harvest" and occurs on the 22^nd of May, it involves a large feast and the slaughter of animals in the hope that gods will bring a bountiful harvest.

Mikuolu Festival

The Mikuolu Festival is a celebration held by the nomadic Evenki herders living in the Morigele River Basin. It is held at second half of every May, hoping that the warmer months will bring good fortune to the herders.

Sebin Festival

The Sebin Festival translates as the "Happy and Auspicious Festival" and is a celebration held again by the Evenki People on June 18^th, traditional dance and song is performed. It is held to chase evil spirits away.

Bonfire Festival

Every year on the 18^th of June the Oroqen people hold this bonfire festival as a tribute to their most sacred Fire God, in the hope he will eradicate all evil from their life, there are strict taboos surrounding this festival; no knives are to be used, no water is to carried near the fire and excrement is used to fuel the fire.

Climate in Hulunbuir

The northern forest regions of Hulunbuir are best visited from the middle of May through to late September when forests burst into life in May and fields of wild flowers bloom. The planes south of the city are ideal to travel between July and September. For travelers hoping to enjoy winter landscapes November to February is the best times to travel. The period from March 15^th through to June 15^th is the back-burning seasons and travelers must apply for a special permit to enter most areas of the city.

Transportation in Hulunbuir

Rail

Hulunbuir is connected by rail with the main rail-line running from Harbin in Heilongjiang, rail connections also extend west deeper into Inner-Mongolia, connections to neighboring Mongolia are also available.

Air

Hulunbuir has two civil airports, Hailaer Dongshan Airport and Mazhouli Xijiao Airport. The Hailaer Dongshan Airport has launched flights from Hulunbuir connect to Beijing, Shenyang, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Shanghai, Dalian, Sanya, etc.

Cuisine

Hulunbuir is home to typical northern-Chinese cuisine, rice, congee, steamed-bread, noodles are all staples. Specialties include milk-tea, lamb, Mongolian and Russia fusion cuisine is also available.