Ordos is located in the southwest of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, surrounded by the Yellow River in the west, north and east, and the Great Wall in the south. It is connected with the Loess Plateau and adjacent to Ningxia, Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces. This ancient and magical land is boosted with diverse landforms, including lush grasslands, undulating plateaus, as well as expansive deserts, sandy lands and oases combining golden sand and green plants. Besides the splendid natural scenery, the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan is located here, as well as the environmental Kangbashi New Area, the peculiar Ordos Museum, the grand mansion of living Buddha and the splendid Hetao culture await your exploration.
Over two thirds of tourists who visit Ordos are aiming for the Kubuqi Desert. Some people may not understand what is interesting about the "harsh" desert tour. But there are many ways to have fun in the desert -- listen to the symphony of sand, enjoy the wonderful combination of golden sand and green plants, and see the unique scenery of desert lakes and oases. Of course, there are more than deserts here. Genghis Khan mausoleum is also in this area, as well as the Ordos Museum shaped like a giant black boulder, the largest music fountain in the world in Kangbashi District and the Ordos Grassland with a broad vision, etc. For more details about Top Attractions & Things to Do in Ordos >>
Kubuqi Desert, the seventh largest desert in China, is a masterpiece of nature, which provides you with the most authentic desert scenery and complete desert entertainment.
As one of the hottest scenic areas in Kubuqi Desert, Yemingsha is suitable for adults, adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts. It’s the best place to try jeep-safari, desert camping, camel riding and sand sliding, etc.
Xiangshawan is the most popular scenic area in Kubuqi Desert. It’s the earliest developed scenic area, so amusement facilities are complete, also known as the “Disneyland in the Desert”.
Qixing lake scenic area is a demonstration area of desert greening and ecological. The scenic area combines diverse natural scenery of deserts, lakes and oases, making it a good destination for family travel and vacation.
Genghis Khan Mausoleum is a cenotaph of Genghis Khan. The scenic area is a must for understanding the culture and life journey of Genghis Khan. The biggest highlight here is the Genghis Khan Fiesta.
Kangbashi District is the best place to explore the urban landscape of Inner Mongolia nowadays. The urban design is scientific and artistic. Highlights in the district include local museums, libraries, squares and theaters, etc.
Kangbashi Fountain Square is the world's largest square music fountain. It has created many miracles in the history of fountain construction. At the opening ceremony of the Asian Art Festival, it served as the first show, perfectly displaying the charm of "water".
Shaped like a giant black boulder, the Ordos Museum is a comprehensive museum integrating the collection, display and research of history and culture in Ordos city. It is the landmark building of Ordos.
Wulan Living Buddha Mansion is a monastery building group integrating Mongolian, Tibetan and Han architectural styles. It’s the place where the 12th Wulan Living Buddha lives, studies and promotes Buddhism.
Ordos Grassland, located in Hangjin Banner, is a perfect place to feel the hospitality of the Mongolian people and appreciate the local customs and practices. Ordos Wedding, Zhama banquet and campfire party are unmissable highlights.
Being praised as the “Dunhuang on the Grassland”, there are hundreds of grottoes around Mount Sumerthuarzhai in the scenic area. Visitors may see elaborately carved Buddha statues and colorful murals here.
Salawusu Desert Canyon, well known as "The Largest Desert Canyon in China", is a great place for photography. Besides the stunning natural scenery, it’s also the birthplace of the brilliant Hetao Civilization.
There are a lot of things to do in ordos. You can have fun in the desert by trying sand sliding, camel riding, jeep-safari, camping and hiking; Explore local history by visiting museums and attractions with great historical significance; Watch the music fountain shows and enjoy the splendid night scenery of Kangbashi District...
The golden sand dunes, which are tens of meters high, stretch long and boundless in Kubuqi Desert. The superior topographic conditions make it a perfect place to experience the exciting desert off-road driving.
Desert Camping
Camp overnight in the desert would be the experience of a lifetime! When night falls, set up the camp and light up the fire at the hinterland of the desert. After the exciting bonfire party, you may enjoy the quietness and peace under the starry sky...
Desert Hiking
Thanks to the unique bowstring shape and good location, Kubuqi Desert is one of the best deserts to hike through in China. There are hiking routes various from light hiking to deep hiking, which is suitable for hikers of all levels.
Camel Riding
Riding a camel on golden dunes is an experience that you must try when visiting deserts. Sitting between the humps, listening to the camel bells, looking at the vast desert, you can't stop marveling at the vicissitudes of this world.
Genghis Khan Culture Exploring
Want to learn more about the life journey of the great Mongolia emperor who unified Mobei and established the empire of Mongolia? Why not visit the Mongolia History and Culture Museum and Ordos Museum, etc to explore.
Music Fountain Shows
If you are planning to stay overnight in Kangbashi District, don’t miss the show of the largest scale music fountain in the world. The fountain show starts at eight o’clock every night, a perfect display of the tension and rendering power of water.
Every midsummer, many places in Ordos hold the grand Naadam Festival. During the festival, you may see Mongolian men and women gathered at the festival venue to compete fiercely in horse riding, archery and wrestling.
Ordos has a typical temperate continental climate, with dry and cold winters and warm and humid summers. The coldest month is January (average temperature around -11°C) and July is the hottest month (average temperature around 23°C). The annual rainfall is different between the east and the west, ranging from 350mm to 270mm.
Summer and autumn (from June to October) are good seasons to visit Ordos. But comparatively speaking, grasslands are more pleasant and cooler than deserts in summer, and autumn when the temperature goes down, the crispy and clear days are the best time to have fun in the deserts. For those historical and cultural sites in Ordos, they are suitable for visiting all year around.
Desert Dressing Tips: In summer and autumn, the sunlight is strong in the daytime and the temperature drops rapidly at night. So travelers are recommended to wear long sleeves and sweat absorption clothes when traveling in summer, and bring necessities like sun cream, sand-proof mask, lip balms, sunglasses and topees, etc. In autumn, you need to add extra clothes during the night to prevent yourself from catching a cold. Repellent and pills for carsick, etc. are also essentials for visiting deserts.
Know more details about Ordos Weather, Temperature & Best Time to Visit >>
Ordos, located in the central west of Inner Mongolia, boards Baotou in the north and Hohhot in the east. It’s about 270 km away from Hohhot downtown, about 100 km away from the city center of Baotou and over 1330 km away from Hulunbuir. Ordos is connected with other hot destinations in Inner Mongolia and China by (bullet) train, air and highway. However, most tourist would not take Ordos as their first stop in Inner Mongolia, and they would choose to transfer from Hohhot - the capital or Hulunbuir - the most popular tourist destination in Inner Mongolia.
Taking bullet trains and driving are 2 most common ways to get to Ordos from Hohhot. If you just want to visit highlights in downtown areas, the most convenient and time-saving way to transfer between two cities is by bullet trains, which only takes 1.5-2 hours and there are over 5 runs every day. However, there are many attractions between Hohhot and Ordos and far away from the urban area, such as Huitengxile Grassland, Kubuqi Desert (Yemingsha, Xiangshawan...), Mausoleum of Genghis Khan and Ordos Grassland, etc. In this cases, booking private car services, driving while playing becomes a better way to explore all unmissable sites in the central area of Inner Mongolia. Check more about How to Get from Hohhot to Ordos >>
There is no direct train or flight connecting Ordos with Hulunbuir (Hailar). So those who would like to visit Kubuqi Desert or the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan before/after exploring Hulunbuir can make a transfer at Hohhot. There are over 15 direct flights from Hohhot Baita Airport to Hulunbuir Dongshan International Airport every day, which takes about 2.5 hours. Then you can take cars or (bullet) trains to reach Ordos.
There are 2 major urban districts in Ordos, Kangbashi District (康巴什区) and Dongsheng District (东胜区). The distance between the center area of the two districts is about 28 km, which takes 40-60 minutes by taxi/car. For accommodation, most people would choose to stay in Dongsheng District - the old downtown center of Ordos, which is about 180 km (driving distance) to Yemingsha, 60 km (driving distance) to Xiangshawan and 60 km (driving distance) to Genghis Khan Mausoleum Scenic Area.
The only way to get to Yemingsha Scenic Area from Ordos is by booking a private car service beforehand. The driving distance between Yemingsha Scenic Area and Dongsheng District is about 180 km, which takes around 2.5 hours. Jeep-safari is the most popular way to get around and explore the scenic area. Besides, you may also try camel riding, sand sliding, ziplining and camping in the scenic area.
Dongsheng District in Ordos is about 60 km north from Genghis Khan Mausoleum Tourist Area, which takes at least 1 hour to get there by car/taxi. For budget independent travelers, you may also take a coach/tourist bus at Dongsheng Bus Station or Ordos Square to reach the scenic area. The whole journey takes about 1.5-2 hours.
To check more transfer info, please see How to Get to and around Ordos >>
There are all kinds of hotels for you to choose from in Dongsheng District and Kangbashi District in Ordos, from luxury hotels to economic hotels and hostels with a good environment and living conditions. Besides, you may also find economy hotels, hostels and other special accommodation (desert resorts, grassland yurts and camps, etc.) in and around scenic areas such as Kubuqi Desert (Xiangshawan, Yemingsha, Qixing Lake...), Genghis Khan Mausoleum Tourist Area and Ordos Grassland, etc. Feel free to tell your needs and requirements to our professional travel consultants. Check more detailed information about Ordos Accommodation: Where to Stay in Ordos & Recommended Hotels >>
As one of the major cities in central Inner Mongolia, Ordos boosts rich and diverse tourism resources from natural and city landscapes to historical and cultural sites. To help you have a better and clearer understanding of the location, distribution, highlights and transfer information of Ordos, we here collect the useful Ordos China Map, Ordos Provincial Map, Ordos Attractions Map, etc. all maps are in English and downloadable for your travel! Check all the latest Ordos Maps 2024!
Ordos China Map
Ordos Attractions Map
Ordos Districts Map
If you want to keep travelling before/after Ordos, there are some awesome destinations in Inner Mongolia for your exploration. You can pay a visit to the capital of Inner Mongolia - Hohhot, the most beautiful grassland in Hulunbuir, majestic Badain Jaran Desert, and the antique Wudangzhao temple in Baotou, etc. Check more about Top Cities and Destinations in Inner Mongolia >>
China is vast and diverse. You can choose your favorite destination among more than 70 tourist destinations and regions. The following are 4 popular destinations you may be interested in. Check all destinations in China.
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