1. Pre-departure route selection
In the past ten years, I have driven many times from Inner Mongolia, from Hulunbeier, Aershan, Manzhouli, Ergun, Dongwu Banner of Xilin Gol League in Eastern Mongolia, Keshiketeng Banner and Balin Right Banner in Chifeng, Wuhai and Bayan in Simon Naoer, I have been to Hohhot, Baotou, Ulanqab, etc. in China and Mongolia by car. This year’s route plan fills in several blank spots, namely Xiwu Banner and Duolun County of Xilinguole League, and revisited via Hexiketeng Banner .
2. Plan itinerary
D1 Beijing - Huairou - Fengning Datan Town - Duolun Lake
D2 Yumuchuan—Duolun County—Xilamulun Grand Canyon—Kishiketen Banner Jingpeng
D3 Jingpeng—Dada Line—Baiyinaobao—Re’a Line/Huanggangliang—Keshiketeng Stone Array—Xiwu Banner/Guruositai Nature Reserve
D4 Guruositai Nature Reserve—Xiwuzhumuqin Banner—Xilinhot City
D5 Xilinhot City—Pingdingshan—Taipusi Banner/Shitiao Mountain—Guyuan/Swan Lake
D6 Guyuan—Chicheng/Cold Valley Hot Spring—Beijing
3. Travel time
July 7th, 2019--July 12th, the entire journey was 2122 kilometers in 6 days, with 4 people on bicycles.
4. Itinerary
D1 (7.7): Duolun/cloudy and sunny, driving 472 kilometers
Itinerary: Beijing - Huairou - Fengning Beach - Duolun Lake
7.30 mileage 0 km, departure. First go to China University of Geosciences to pick up my companions, and navigate to Duolun Lake. There are 3 routes. We choose to take the Jingcheng Expressway, leave Beijing via Huairou, and pass the Fengning Datan route.
12.05 Take the Datan Exit and get off at the Capital Ring Expressway.
12.30 Dorren South exit.
Arrived at the Duolun Lake Tourist Reception Center at 13.30, consulted in the parking lot, the girl from the Bishuiwan Farmhouse took the initiative to introduce the situation, basically consistent with the strategy before the trip, and decided to stay at her home that day.
14.00 The mileage is 416 kilometers. I drove more than 20 kilometers from the north end of Duolun Lake to the south end. The Bishuiwan Farmhouse is located opposite the small town of Seine Bay. The standard room is 120 yuan per day. Put down your luggage and take a rest.
15.00 Drive to the nearby Hongqi Racecourse, Luanheyuan, play and take pictures, return at 16:00. Set dinner on 17.15, and ordered some local specialties, such as Harahai, Daihuang, and lake fish, etc., spending 190 yuan.
18.30 After dinner, drive 1 kilometer to the entrance of Duolun Lake, drive in, and go around the lake for about 40 kilometers. The clouds were thick that day, and the sunset was not photographed. The view of Duolun Lake is acceptable.
20.00 mileage 472 kilometers, back to the farmyard. It's hot here during the day and cool at night.
Tips:
1. No tickets are required after 18.30 in the Duolun Lake Scenic Area, and the sunset is around 19.30, so there is enough time.
2. There are many farmhouses near Seine Bay. If you live here, you can enter the scenic spot for free in the morning and evening, and you can also enter Luanheyuan National Forest Park (Yumu River) for free the next morning.
D2 (7.8): Duolun/Sunny, Xilamulun Grand Canyon/Showers travel 393 kilometers
Itinerary: Duolun Lake - Yumuchuan - Duolun County (Huizong Temple) - Xilamulun Grand Canyon - Jingpeng
6.45 Departure to Luanheyuan National Forest Park (Yumuchuan), the owner of the farmhouse introduced that no tickets will be charged before 7.30. The station is about 5 kilometers away from Yumuchuan. In the early morning, there is mist, and the scenery along the way is looming. After entering the scenic area, continue driving for about 7-8 kilometers to reach the suspension bridge. Along the way are wild elm forests and the Luan River flows slowly. There are no tourists, only we enjoy the quiet morning time.
Leaving the scenic spot at 8.20, ticket sales have started at the gate. Resident breakfast, 15 yuan/person.
Departure on 9.06, first refuel near Dahekou, the oil price is super cheap, 6.09 yuan/liter, an additional 315 yuan.
At 9.40, drive 2 kilometers west from the gas station and turn right. There is a small road. The locals recommend this road to be the closest to Hexigten Banner Jingpeng, and it can avoid the toll point. We wanted to try it, but the result was miserable. We drove for 30 minutes After many kilometers, I suddenly saw the gate of Saihanba Scenic Area, which cannot be passed free of charge. It is said that a small road next to it can reach Keqi, but the road is under construction and cannot pass through. Had to return to G510 the same way. Since we are destined to return, we simply navigate Huizong Temple and go to Duolun County.
11.20 Arrive at Huizong Temple, a historically famous temple with a large square, and part of the temple has been restored.
I left at 11.50 and went across the street to find a spring cake private kitchen for lunch.
12.45 Gaode map navigates to the entrance of Xiangshui Reservoir, which is the west entrance of Xilamulun Grand Canyon.
The mileage of 14.50 is 784 kilometers. It reaches the entrance of Xiangshui Reservoir and enters the canyon. The road is winding and winding, basically along the Xilamulun River. I feel that the scenery of the Grand Canyon is average, maybe it is more beautiful in autumn.
16.30 Exit the east gate of the Grand Canyon, navigate Jingpeng, continue along the Xilamulun River, and there is a fork in the Jingshan line. To the left is Jingpeng, and to the right is Ulan Butong. We turned left to the Sutra Shed.
16.50 Arrive at Jingpeng, 220 yuan for refueling. The whole toll fee is 45 yuan.
17.20 The mileage is 865 kilometers, and I found a hotel at random, 200 yuan, the most expensive in the whole journey, and the conditions are very poor. Jingpeng seems to be building roads and infrastructure throughout the city, and it is dirty everywhere. I just have dinner in a small restaurant nearby, and the taste is average.
Tips: You can navigate to the Xilamulun Grand Canyon by setting the entrance of the Xiangshui Reservoir on the Gaode map. Summer scenery is average.
D3 (7.9): Keqi / Qingxiwuqi between clouds / 333 kilometers on a sunny day
Itinerary: Jingpeng—Dada Line—Re’a Line/Huanggangliang—Kexiketeng Stone Array South Gate—Guruositai Reserve
8.15 Depart after breakfast at the hotel, navigate Baiyinaobao sandy spruce, pass the Jixi line, transfer to the Da line (at 32 kilometers), and enter the prairie.
9.50 Go along the Dada Line to Baiyinaobao Scenic Area, because in 2013, Dali Lake, Dada Line, Baiyinaobao, Ashhatu Stone Forest, and Re'a Line have all passed through. This is a revisit of the old place, and the paid scenic spots will not be entered again. Stop at Baiyinaobao for a while, continue forward for about 10 kilometers to Jiri Gacha and return. Turning to the mine line at the gas station, there was a shower on the way, and the road was also very beautiful, with grasslands, birch forests, and wild flowers in bloom.
11.30 Arrive at Re'a Line, turn right for about ten kilometers to Huanggangliang Forest Park, there is a parking lot, get off for a tour, the weather is a bit gloomy at this time.
12.10 End the tour, navigate to find nearby restaurants, the nearest restaurant is Huanggang 2029, about 1 km south. The restaurant business is good, the taste is acceptable, and the dishes are large.
Leaving the restaurant at 13.10, continue to drive south along the Re-A line for about 5 kilometers and return. Navigate to the South Gate of Stone Forest.
14.00 Arrive at the south gate of the Stone Forest and take pictures outside. Now the Ashatu Stone Forest has been renamed Keshigten Stone Array Scenic Spot. 15.15 left. About one kilometer south from the south gate, there is a fork in the road. Choose the direction of Linxi, and then go to the Linda first-class highway after walking for a while. The road condition is very good for more than 20 kilometers. After that, there is a long section of road construction until Mongolia Khan City.
16.55 Arrive near Mongolia Khan City, Mongolia Khan City is on the left side of the road, we choose to turn right, enter the county road, walk along the grassland path, the scenery is getting better and better. Drive about 35 kilometers along the prairie path,
17.40 The mileage is 1198 kilometers, arriving at Forest Gege Resort, about 2 kilometers away from the entrance of the nomadic tribe scenic spot. The accommodation is a yurt, a room for 4 people, with a bathroom. Sanitation was better than expected. Surrounding the resort is the endless prairie. As the sun sets, the white yurts are dotted with green grasslands, which is really beautiful.
There is a Mongolian song and dance performance for dinner, and there is a male singer who sings a long tune very well. After the meal, there is a bonfire party and fireworks, which is very lively.
Tips: Guruositai National Nature Reserve is located in the mountains 70 kilometers south of Balagale Gaole Town, West Ujimqin Banner, Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia, with a total area of 147.63 hectares. It belongs to the end of Xiaoxing'an Mountains and is a national nature reserve.
D4 (7.10): Driving 272 kilometers on the day of Xiwuqi/cloudy and sunny
Itinerary: Guruositai National Nature Reserve—Xiwu Banner—Xilinhot City
It was dawn at 4 o'clock in the morning, and I went out to shoot the sunrise. The early morning in the hinterland of the grassland is cool.
7.00 Resort breakfast, 20 yuan/person, there are white porridge, salty porridge, milk tea, very rich, a combination of Han and Mongolia. After breakfast, walk around and check out.
Depart at 8.00, drive to Guruositai National Nature Reserve, enjoy the beauty of nomadic tribes, birch forest, Banla Mountain and the original ecological grassland landscape along the way.
After driving for about 2 kilometers, the sheep and horses grazing leisurely by the roadside suddenly started running fast. We were suspicious when a helicopter crashed past in the sky. We got off the car to take pictures. The sheep and horses had already run away. After the plane passed, The herd of sheep and horses slowly dispersed and returned to normal. After a while, the plane circled back again, and we had the opportunity to take pictures of galloping horses. Entering the scenic spot, the first is the nomadic tribe, you can take a battery car up the mountain to see the scenery. We didn't stop, we continued to move forward, not far away was the Birch Forest Scenic Area,
A wild birch forest with different postures. The scenic spot covers an area of 1,000 hectares. There are birch forests, rolling sand dunes, Diyangol River flowing by, and ancient elm trees growing in the sand. Going through the birch forest, there is a road sign. Turn right to Haiqing Dam, and turn left to Yaolu Narihan Mountain, also known as Banla Mountain. Because the mountain is shaped like the half of the mountain after being cut with a knife and an axe, it is named Banla Mountain. What is amazing is that the hill hangs alone in a grassland, the left side is a gentle slope to the top of the mountain, and the right side is like a sharp knife splitting, suddenly turning into a cliff. A small river meanders in front of the mountain.
9.20 We followed the trail and climbed to the top of the mountain. The mountain road was relatively steep when we approached the top of the mountain. Climbing high and looking far away, the field of vision is extremely wide, and you can have a panoramic view of the grasslands, sheep and the Balagar River under the mountain.
10.10 Go back down the mountain and drive towards Haiqing Dam.
10.30 Arrive at Sandaowa fire checkpoint, there are roadblocks blocking the oncoming car from entering the scenic spot, get off the car and consult with the people on the other car, the landscape of Haiqingba is dominated by hills and strange rocks, so we decided to give up.
On the way back, I encountered a fork in the road, and the guide sign marked Brainstem Baolage Gacha, which was selected as one of the top ten most beautiful villages by CCTV in 2015. But the locals told us that in the past there were gravel roads, and the road conditions were not very good, so we didn't go in.
11.30 Back from Guruositai National Nature Reserve on the same road, I saw Mongolian Khan City again, drove in to check, it was equivalent to a resort, and the entertainment facilities were relatively complete, then left, and navigated to Xiwu Banner.
12.30 The mileage is 1321 kilometers, and it reaches Xiwuqi. Refueling is 320 yuan (7.19 yuan/liter), and lunch is at a small roadside restaurant. 13.30 No stop after meal, navigate Xilinhot City.
15.40 The mileage is 1470 kilometers. After arriving in Xilinhot City, I navigated Beizi Temple, looked for a hotel nearby, and found Hengtai Hotel, which was renovated in 2019. It is very clean and the standard room is 148 yuan. Next door is a Mongolian restaurant.
17.30 Walk to Beizi Temple. Now Beizi Temple is not open to the public. You can climb Aobao Mountain behind the temple. Afterwards, walk to Fresh Lamb Restaurant for dinner, recommended, and spend 300 yuan.
Tips: There are three scenic spots in the Gurigestai National Nature Reserve: nomadic tribes, birch forest, and Yaoluhai Rihan Mountain (Banla Mountain). Our tour time is only half a day. If you have enough time, it is recommended to stay longer .
D5 (7.11): Xilinhot sunny/showers Guyuan showers/clear, driving 349 kilometers on the day
Itinerary: Xilinhot City—Pingdingshan—Taipusi Banner/Shitiao Mountain—Guyuan
7.30 Breakfast at the Boller Hotel next to the hotel, yogurt cakes and cheese cakes are delicious. Check out after meal.
8.40 mileage 1470 kilometers. Set off and navigate Pingdingshan.
9.40 When you arrive at Pingdingshan Scenic Area, you can directly navigate to the parking lot at the foot of the mountain. The scenic spot is currently being repaired, and tickets are free. Pingdingshan, also known as Belik multi-step lava platform, where the mountains are nestled against each other, large and small are arranged in an orderly manner, but the top is as flat as a knife, forming a strange scene. At present, there is a scientific plank road in the scenic spot to climb to the top of the mountain. When I passed by Arshan in 2010, I just took a look at it from a distance. This time I don’t want to miss it again. Standing on the top of the flat mountain and seeing the uncanny craftsmanship of nature with my own eyes is also a worthwhile trip.
11.00 Leaving Pingdingshan, navigating Taipusi Banner, continuing to take a section of National Highway 207, and getting on the expressway at the Huitenghe toll station. There was a sudden heavy rain. The original plan was to have a light meal in the service area while sheltering from the rain, but the 3 service areas passing by did not provide food and beverages. Service, had to drive carefully all the way, but fortunately the rain stopped soon.
13.30 Baochang North Expressway, we are greeted by blue sky and white clouds, the expressway toll is 66.5 yuan.
13.40 mileage 1742 kilometers. When you arrive in Baochang, refueling costs 320 yuan (7.09 yuan/liter), and you can eat braised noodles in an iron pot at a roadside shop for 44 yuan. After dinner, navigate to Shitiao Mountain, which is only 5 kilometers away from Baochang Town.
14.50 Arrive at Shitiao Mountain. Shitiao Mountain was once selected as the cover of China National Geographic Magazine, and it is a geological wonder formed by volcanic eruption. It is on the mountain behind the village, you can drive there, but there is no road near the foot of the mountain (about a few hundred meters), so it is best to park your car on the side of the road and not drive in. Shitiao Mountain looks ordinary to the naked eye, but the photos are very beautiful.
Leave at 15.30 and navigate to Guyuan.
16.30 Arrive at Guyuan County, the whole county seems to be under construction, and there are construction sites everywhere. It's still early to see the time, navigate Swan Lake, the distance is 8 kilometers. When we arrived at the gate of the Swan Lake Scenic Area, it was raining again, so we did not enter the scenic area, so we returned to the county seat and navigated to the VIP Building Hotel.
17.50 miles 1819 kilometers. Stay at the VIP Building Hotel, the standard room is 80 yuan. A few years ago, when I passed by Guyuan, I had lunch at Qiaoxi Restaurant. I found that there was a branch of Qiaoxi Restaurant, Yinqiao Restaurant, not far from our residence. I went in and had a look. The amount of food is relatively large. Consumption is 203 yuan.
D6 (7.12): Guyuan/Chichengqing, driving 303 kilometers that day
Itinerary: Guyuan - Chicheng/Hangu Hot Spring - Chicheng County - Beijing
Breakfast near 8.30, check out, set off, navigate Chicheng, take S241.
10.00 Arrive in Chicheng, clean and beautiful than Guyuan. Pass through the county seat and navigate Hangu Hot Springs. I used to live here in 2013. Tickets are now charged, 20 yuan per person. We just walked around outside, the weather was fine, blue sky and white clouds, and we soaked our feet in the hot springs on the side of the road. We left at 11.30 and had lunch at Hongweizhou next to the Drum Tower. The location is good and the taste is good. The 4 tables eating at the same time are all Beijingers. Chicheng is really the back garden of Beijing.
12.50 Back to Beijing after lunch. Take the S241 first, go to the expressway in Shacheng, and refuel 220 yuan halfway. The toll fee is 47.5 yuan. Send companions to the University of Geosciences.
At 16.40, the mileage is 2122 kilometers, and when we arrive home, this trip has come to a successful conclusion.
5. Expenditure Details
Gasoline fee: 1375 Toll fee: 256 Accommodation fee: 1446 Meal fee: 1977
Total: 5054 yuan (4 people)
Beijing, May 20, 2020
