4-Day Beijing Xilinglo Glassland Shangdu Mongolia Culture Tour

Early morning Pick up from your hotel in Beijing in the early morning and head to Duolun. Duolun County is an ancient county under the administration of Xilin Gol League. It administrates 2 townships, 3 villages with a population of 300, 000 people with ethnic groups composed of Han Chinese, Hui, Uygur, Tibetan etc. Animal husbandry is its main business including cattle cattle, horse and donkeys. Its farming includes wheat, potatoes and more. It has an abundant historical sites and temples.

Then further drive to the Site of the Yuan Dynasty Upper Capital (Shangdu or Xanadu) 元上都遗址 for a visit. In 1260, Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan, established the summer capital at Upper Capital, about 20km northeast of Plain Blue Banner (Zhenglan Qi). When the Yuan Dadu Capital was founded at Yanjing (present Beijing City) in the year of 1264, the imperial system of inspection tour between the two capitals was formed. Upper Capital and Dadu (Grand Capital) became two alternate capitals for the Great Yuan Dynasty, spanning the 108-year reign of 11 emperors in succession.

In this period the Yuan empire controlled a vast territory and thrived, becoming a great power and ushering the new era of the Chinese ancient history and the world history of nomadic nations. Marco Polo, his father and uncle arrived in Shangdu (Xanadu), in 1275 when Marco Polo was at the age of 21. Marco Polo met Kublai Khan soon after arriving in Shangdu.

Enjoy Jinlianchuan Prairie 金莲川草原 (part of the world famous Xilingol Grassland) on which the Yuan Dynasty Upper Capital was built. There are yellow flowers and many other kinds of unknown flowers all over the mountains and plains. The Jinlianchuan Prairie is the most beautiful grassland in Inner Mongolia. It is rich in edible and medicinal plants such as the fern, day lily.

Then further move on to Shangdu (Xanadu) Museum (元上都遗址博物馆) 5km south of the site of Xanadu. It is a two-story building with four exhibition halls, a video room, the antiques room and arts & crafts sections. The museum is focused on the Yuan Dynasty culture, Shangdu (Xanadu)as well as Zhenglan Qi as the main body. The museum has a rich collection of valuable antiques in Yuan Dynasty in addition to the collections from local government and the Inner Mongolia Association of antiques and artifacts.

Hotel in Duolun: Yes

Early morning Pick up from your hotel in Duolun, and first head Dolon-nuur Lake,a placid grassland lake. Then further drive to Taipusi Qi (太仆寺旗)-the site of the famous former Royal Racecourse. Taipusi Qi has a picturesque tourism zone known as "Taipusi Qi Royal Racecourse" (太仆寺旗御马苑) which is well known for its memerizing Gongbaolage Grassland (part of the world famous Xilingol Grassland).

Arriving at Gongbaolage Grassland (贡宝拉格草原), you will receive a welcoming ceremony - you will be warmly welcomed by the local Mongolians colorfully dressed. They will present each of you a silver cup of wine and Hada ( white or blue silk scarves which are tokens of greetings in Inner Mongolia ).

After lunch, you will watch the wrestling and horse racing performances.

Yurt in Gongbaolage Grassland**:** Stay overnight at a Two sharing yurt

After breakfast, drive back to Duolun County（多伦). You will visit Huizong Temple (汇宗寺). Huizong Temple was originally built in Duolun by the Kangxi emperor in 1711, and it was staffed by monks from the 120 banners of Mongolia. In the past Duolun (Dolonnor) was also nicknamed "Lama miao", or "Lama temple," named after the many temples located there. One of the two famous temples is Huizong Temple ( Koke Monastery ).

Then move on to Shanxi Guild Hall (山西会馆).In Qing Dynasty, Emperor Kangxi, under the request of the dukes in Mongolia, permitted the merchants from inland China to set up business channels here in Duolu and gave preferential policies to the inland merchants who would do business in Duolun. Thus, numerous businessmen from Beijing, Shanxi, Shaanxi and Shandong flooded Duolun that formed a large team of businessmen traveling in Mongolia. Today, its glorious past could be found from the well preserved Shanxi Guild Hall.

Stay overnight at Duolun County.

Hotel in Duolun: Yes

After breakfast, drive back to your hotel in Beijing.