Arxan Chaihe Tourist Area is located in Arxan City, Xing'an League, and Chaihe Town, Zhalantun City, Hulunbuir City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction and a comprehensive tourist area integrating volcanic landforms, forest grasslands, hot spring wetlands, and folk culture. The total area of the scenic area is approximately 13,168.7 square kilometers, with the core scenic area covering about 814 square kilometers. It boasts unique volcanic geological landscapes and is one of China's rare volcanic landform museums, with geological relics such as crater lakes, volcanic cones, and lava plateaus scattered throughout. Meanwhile, the forest coverage rate in the scenic area exceeds 80%, featuring diverse natural landscapes including grasslands, wetlands, and rivers. It is also rich in hot spring resources, among which the Arxan hot spring group is known as "divine spring and holy water". In addition, the scenic area integrates the cultures of ethnic minorities such as the Mongolian and Ewenki peoples, forming a tourist characteristic where nature and humanity complement each other.
Historical Culture
Historically, the Arxan Chaihe area has been a nomadic and hunting ground for ethnic minorities such as the Mongolian, Ewenki, and Oroqen peoples, with a long history of ethnic culture. As early as the Neolithic Age, there were traces of human activities here, and a large number of cultural relics such as stone tools and pottery have been unearthed.
In modern times, Arxan gradually developed due to the construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway, becoming an important transportation hub and border trade node. In the early 20th century, when Tsarist Russia built the railway here, it discovered the hot spring resources in Arxan. Subsequently, the development and utilization of hot springs gradually emerged, forming a unique hot spring culture.
The ethnic minorities in the scenic area still retain their traditional lifestyles and cultural customs. For example, the hunting culture of the Ewenki people and the Nadam Fair of the Mongolian people are important components of the scenic area's historical culture. Annual events such as the Arxan Azalea Festival and Ice and Snow Festival not only showcase the local natural landscapes but also inherit the traditional cultures of ethnic minorities, attracting many tourists to participate.
Main Attractions
Arxan Tianchi
Arxan Tianchi is one of the core attractions of the scenic area, located about 74 kilometers northeast of Arxan City. It was formed by a volcanic eruption about 300,000 years ago and is one of China's three major Tianchi (heavenly lakes). The Tianchi is 1,332.3 meters above sea level, with an elliptical surface, covering an area of approximately 13.5 hectares, an average depth of 204 meters, and a maximum depth of 373 meters. The lake water of Tianchi is as clear as a mirror, surrounded by volcanic cones and dense forests, presenting a spectacular scene. Unlike other Tianchi, Arxan Tianchi has no rivers flowing into or out of it, yet it can maintain a stable water level throughout the year, full of mystery. Tourists need to climb 998 steps along the wooden plank road to reach the viewing platform and overlook the entire Tianchi.
Santan Gorge
Santan Gorge is located in the Arxan Tianchi Scenic Area, being the upper reaches of the Halahe River, with a total length of about 3 kilometers. There are three ponds in the gorge in sequence: Woniutan (Lying Ox Pond), Hushitan (Tiger Stone Pond), and Yuexintan (Pleasant Heart Pond), hence the name "Santan Gorge". Woniutan has a calm water surface, shaped like a lying ox; Hushitan gets its name because the river is full of boulders resembling fierce tigers; Yuexintan has clear water, making people feel relaxed and happy. Both sides of the gorge are steep cliffs covered with primeval forests. The river meanders through the gorge, forming multiple waterfalls and deep pools, making it a great place for summer cooling and water scenery appreciation.
Shitanglin
Shitanglin is located about 25 kilometers northeast of Arxan City, being one of the most representative volcanic landform landscapes in the scenic area, covering an area of about 28.5 square kilometers. This is a lava plateau formed by the cooling and solidification of magma after a volcanic eruption, covered with volcanic geological relics such as fumarolic cones, lava mounds, and lava ridges, with jagged rocks of various shapes. In the cracks of the lava, plants such as creeping pines and junipers grow, forming a unique landscape of "stones in the forest and forests on the stones", known as "a bonsai garden in volcanic landforms".
Azalea Lake
Azalea Lake is located about 92 kilometers northeast of Arxan City, being a barrier lake formed by a volcanic eruption blocking the river, with an area of about 128 hectares. The lake gets its name from the azaleas blooming by the lake every spring. From May to June each year, the pink azalea flowers and the blue lake water complement each other, creating a stunning scenery. The northwest bank of the lake is a volcanic cone, and the southeast bank is a large wetland, inhabited by various waterfowl. In summer, you can fish and boat by the lake; after the lake freezes in winter, the ice is crystal clear, making it a good place to enjoy ice scenery and carry out ice activities.
Chaihe Moon Tianchi
Chaihe Moon Tianchi is located in Chaihe Town, Zhalantun City, Hulunbuir City, about 100 kilometers away from Arxan Tianchi. It gets its name because the lake surface is round like a full moon, and it is also known as the "sister pond" because it faces Arxan Tianchi from a distance. The Moon Tianchi is 1,185 meters above sea level, with an area of about 31 hectares, an average depth of 10 meters, and a maximum depth of 20 meters. Compared with Arxan Tianchi, Moon Tianchi is more secluded, surrounded by primeval forests, with a well-preserved ecological environment, making it an ideal place for photography and leisure sightseeing.
Cuisine
Arxan Wild Vegetable Feast
Arxan Wild Vegetable Feast is a characteristic cuisine of the scenic area, made from pure natural wild vegetables growing in the local mountains and forests. Common wild vegetables include artemisia selengensis, dandelion, fern, daylily, etc. These wild vegetables are simply cooked, either cold, stir-fried, or made into soup, with a fresh taste and rich nutrition, having a strong mountain flavor. This cuisine can be tasted in farmhouses and restaurants in the scenic area, being an excellent choice to experience the local original ecological diet.
Hand-Held Meat
Hand-held meat is a traditional food of the Mongolian people in the Arxan area. It uses locally raised beef and mutton, which are boiled in clear water and eaten with salt or wild leek flowers. The meat is tender and juicy, retaining the original flavor of the meat, reflecting the bold dietary style of the Mongolian people. In the yurt restaurants in the scenic area, tourists can enjoy hand-held meat while watching Mongolian song and dance performances, feeling the strong ethnic customs.
Roast Lamb Leg
Roast lamb leg is a popular food in the scenic area. It uses high-quality local lamb legs, which are marinated and then slowly roasted over charcoal fire until the outer skin is golden and crispy, and the meat is tender. The roasted lamb leg is fragrant, and can be eaten with seasonings such as cumin and chili, with a rich taste. This dish is suitable for sharing among many people and is a common choice for gatherings in the scenic area.
Hot Spring Egg
Hot spring egg is a characteristic food made using Arxan's hot spring resources. Fresh eggs are put into hot springs, and the constant temperature of the hot springs (about 60-80℃) is used to slowly simmer the eggs. The egg white is in a semi-solidified state, and the yolk is completely solidified, with a smooth and tender taste and rich nutrition. This food can be tasted in the restaurant of Arxan Hot Spring Resort, being a unique flavor combining local resources.
Tickets
Ticket price is 278 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "阿尔山旅游景区" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours of the scenic area are adjusted according to the season: from April 1 to October 31, the opening hours are 7:00-17:00; from November 1 to March 31 of the next year, it is the winter tourist season, with some attractions open, and the opening hours are 8:30-16:00. Among them, Arxan Tianchi may be temporarily closed in winter (from November to March of the next year) due to deep snow. For specific opening conditions, please pay attention to the official notice of the scenic area.
Tour Route
On the morning of the first day, arrive in Arxan City and head to the Arxan Tianchi Scenic Area. Climb the steps to enjoy the full view of Tianchi, which takes about 2.5 hours. Then visit Santan Gorge and admire the water scenery along the canyon plank road, taking about 1.5 hours. At noon, have a meal at a restaurant near the scenic area, tasting foods like hand-held meat, which takes about 1 hour.
In the afternoon, go to Shitanglin to visit the volcanic landform landscape, which takes about 2 hours; then go to Azalea Lake to enjoy the lake scenery (you can watch azaleas in spring), which takes about 1.5 hours; return to Arxan City for accommodation in the evening, and visit Arxan Railway Station (Russian-style building) on the way, which takes about 30 minutes.
On the next morning, depart from Arxan City to Chaihe Moon Tianchi to enjoy the scenery of Tianchi, which takes about 2 hours; have lunch in Chaihe Town at noon, tasting the local wild vegetable feast, which takes about 1 hour; visit attractions such as Tongxin Tianchi and Tuofengling Tianchi around Chaihe in the afternoon, which takes about 3 hours; return to Arxan City in the evening to end the trip. The total playing time is about 2 days, allowing you to fully appreciate the natural landscapes such as volcanic landforms, lakes and wetlands in the scenic area.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Starting from Ulanhot City, Xing'an League, drive along S203 Provincial Highway to Arxan City, with a total distance of about 280 kilometers and a driving time of about 4.5 hours; starting from Zhalantun City, Hulunbuir City, drive along S302 Provincial Highway to S203 Provincial Highway to Arxan City, with a total distance of about 360 kilometers and a driving time of about 6 hours; starting from Arxan City to Chaihe Town, drive along S203 Provincial Highway to X313 County Road, with a total distance of about 110 kilometers and a driving time of about 2.5 hours. The charging standard for parking lots in the scenic area is 5-10 yuan per time.
- Train: Arxan Railway Station has trains to and from Ulanhot, Baicheng and other places. For example, train K7593 (Ulanhot-Arxan) departs at 7:10 daily and arrives in Arxan at 12:08, with a hard seat ticket price of about 40 yuan; you can take a taxi from Arxan Railway Station to the scenic area, with a driving time of about 20 minutes and a fare of about 30 yuan.
- Tourist special line: Ulanhot City Passenger Station has daily buses directly to Arxan City, with departure times at 8:00, 10:00, and 14:00, a driving time of about 5 hours, and a fare of 60 yuan per person; Arxan City Passenger Station has buses to Chaihe Town, departing at 9:00 daily, with a driving time of about 3 hours and a fare of 40 yuan per person.
- Chartered car: It is convenient to charter a car to travel in Arxan City. The daily cost of a 5-seat car is about 500-700 yuan, which can be flexibly arranged according to the itinerary, suitable for traveling with many people.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Arxan Tianchi: One of China's three major Tianchi, 1,332.3 meters above sea level, with an area of 13.5 hectares. It requires climbing 998 steps to view, famous for its mysterious stable water level and spectacular volcanic lake landscape, with a visiting time of about 2.5 hours.
- Shitanglin: Covering an area of 28.5 square kilometers, it is the most typical volcanic lava landform landscape in China, covered with geological relics such as fumarolic cones and lava mounds, with a unique "stones and forests coexisting" landscape, with a visiting time of about 2 hours.
- Azalea Lake: A 128-hectare barrier lake, with stunning scenery when azaleas bloom in spring (May-June). Water activities can be carried out in summer, and the ice scenery is charming in winter, with a visiting time of about 1.5 hours.
Travel Suggestions
- It is recommended to spend 2-3 days for the tour, which allows you to deeply experience different types of landscapes such as volcanic landforms, hot springs, and forests. If you want to experience winter ice and snow activities, you can arrange 3-4 days.
- The best travel seasons are May-June (to watch azaleas), July-August (to avoid the heat and enjoy forest and grassland landscapes), and December-February (to enjoy winter ice and snow landscapes). The scenery in autumn (September-October) is also beautiful, but the temperature is low.
- Most of the scenic area is mountainous with complex terrain, so it is recommended to wear comfortable hiking shoes; in summer, you need to carry sun protection products and mosquito repellent; in winter, the temperature can be as low as -30℃, so you need to wear full sets of warm equipment.
- Arxan is rich in hot spring resources. After the tour, you can experience hot spring baths in hot spring hotels in Arxan City to relieve fatigue. The price of hot spring hotels is about 300-800 yuan per night.
Matters Needing Attention
- Visiting Arxan Tianchi requires climbing 998 steps, which consumes a lot of physical strength. The elderly and children should proceed with caution. It is recommended to carry drinking water and common medicines with you.
- The lava landform in Shitanglin Scenic Area is complex, and some areas have no obvious roads. You need to tour along the designated wooden plank road and are prohibited from entering undeveloped areas without permission.
- The ecological environment in the scenic area is fragile. Picking flowers and plants, littering are prohibited to protect the natural landscape; smoking in forest areas is strictly prohibited to prevent fires.
- In winter, some roads in the scenic area are covered with snow and ice. When driving, you need to install snow chains and drive carefully; some attractions may be temporarily closed due to weather reasons, so you need to check the latest scenic area announcements before traveling.
- Catering and accommodation facilities in the scenic area are mainly concentrated in Arxan City and Chaihe Town, with few service points in the core scenic area. It is recommended to prepare food and drinking water in advance.