Location: Hohhot
Top Things to do in Hohhot
Top Restaurants in Hohhot
What to do and see in Hohhot, China: The Best Places and Tips
Hohhot (Mongolian: Mongolian script: Kökeqota, Mongolian Cyrillic: Хөх хот Höh hot /xɵxˈxɔtʰ/; Chinese: 呼和浩特; pinyin: Hūhéhàotè), abbreviated Hushi (Chinese: 呼市; pinyin: Hūshì), formerly known as Kweisui (traditional Chinese: 歸綏; simplified Chinese: 归绥; pinyin: PRC Standard Mandarin: Guīsuí, ROC Standard Mandarin: Guīsuī), is the capital of Inner Mongolia in North China, serving as the region's administrative, economic and cultural center. Its population was 2,866,615 inhabitants at the 2010 census, of whom 1,980,774 lived in the built-up (or metro) area made up of 4 urban districts.
Restaurants in Hohhot
1. Inner Mongolia Museum
Overall Ratings
4 based on 138 reviews
Reviewed By Suning C
This is a good place to see dinosaur bones and fossils from the area. There are some good exhibits on the human history from the PRC perspective. Not everything has English captions but certainly enough to get a good sense of what you are seeing. Take your passport to get free entry. If you spend ant time in Hohhot you should visit the museum.
2. Dazhao Temple
Overall Ratings
4 based on 109 reviews
Reviewed By WWTraveller26 - China
This is one of the most beautiful Buddhist temples in China, well preserved, with some rare statutues and a living monastery with monks still chanting. You might catch a prayer if you are lucky as we were. There are some magnificent statues, including the ten foot silver Sakyamuni, an exquisite white Buddha and a blue faced Buddha I haven't seen anywhere else.
A great way to spend an afternoon and good value for cny 35.
3. Hohhot Five-Pagoda Temple (Wuta Si)
Overall Ratings
4 based on 64 reviews
This pagoda is quite unique in Mongolia. The style is from Indian Buddhism. Although it is called the "1000-Buddha Pagoda", there are actually some 1563 carvings of Buddha on its exterior walls. Inside the Pagoda there is, sadly, nothing at all - it was all stripped-out and destroyed in the Cultural Revolution. However, the empty interior has been used to display an ancient stone-carved Mongolian Map of the Cosmos - on Buddhist principles. Another copy of it is outside, set in the walls of the Pagoda grounds.
Reviewed By WWTraveller26 - China
This is a calm and peaceful little temple quite similar to other Buddhist temples all over China, except that you can see influences of Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism and the Mongol script all coexisting. Quite a nice vibe, but not a must see. Entrance is free and there aren't too many tourists, so a great place to cover in the afternoon.
4. Hohhot Mosque (Great Mosque)
Overall Ratings
4 based on 47 reviews
Reviewed By M M - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
This was one of my favorite places when I lived in Hohhot. It's actually surrounded by amazing restaurants and bakers, which is a big part of the appeal. You must try the sweets! I remember these little balls with a core of mashed dates, covered in crushed peanuts. Also great La Mian, freshly roasted chestnuts, etc.
One thing that stood out to me was the people. The Chinese are a bit rough up there (Mongols are fine), but the Chinese will stare at you with blank faces for many minutes. It's a bit disconcerting. But the Hui people were incredibly friendly! The Chinese will treat you like you have three heads, but the Hui always treated me like family. At first they would be a bit guarded, but after I greeted them in Arabic they instantly became warm. With one baker I frequented, his elderly mother always gave me free sweets. I took to calling her grandmother.
5. Xilitu Zhao Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 19 reviews
Reviewed By yfylou - Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Before entering this temple building, there are strict rules to observe e.g. no photography inside the temple. I was told that this temple is the oldest and largest lama temple in Hohhot. It is restored and well known for its beautiful ancient structure and still active today. Before you walk out of the temple, spin the 'prayer wheel' and make a wish. Who knows your wish might come true!
6. Islam Style Street
Overall Ratings
4 based on 28 reviews
Reviewed By rosie38c - Ware, United Kingdom
I really liked the mix of culture, had only seen it in Xi'an previously and loved the many food shops lining the street. If you have some time to spend in the city definately make the time for a wander. The locals are really friendly.
7. Zhaojun Tomb
Overall Ratings
4 based on 37 reviews
Reviewed By willitfitinmycase - Hebden Bridge, United Kingdom
This site is just over 10 miles from Hohhot and is dedicated to Zhaojun who is famous for marrying a tribal chief and bringing peace among the nationalities.
You can climb to the top of the earthen pyramid built above her grave and view the farmland around the site.
There is also a museum on the site, which houses copies of original bronze pieces found in the area.
Also a tea room with regular bell ringing Performances. We just missed a performance as we ended our tour at the tea room, and it was too long to wait until the next performance, so I would recommend that you check out the times at the start of your tour.
8. Neimenggu Bowuguan (Inner Mongolia Museum)
Overall Ratings
4 based on 18 reviews
Reviewed By Sonia M - Beijing, China
This is the same as the other "Inner Mongolia Museum"
As a museum lover, this one was fantastic for several reasons--free entry (somewhat of a rarity in China), amazing cafeteria food (sadly or impressively, at this cafeteria, I had the best Mongolian food of my whole stay in Hohhot), super modern (the architecture and the little robots inside), and super interesting (particularly the dinosaur exhibit, the exhibits about Mongolian landscapes, and the 2nd floor exhibits on Mongolian culture and history). I suggest supplementing your visit with listening to Crashcourse History's podcast on Genghis Kahn. We visited the museum, then went on an organized tour (with Anda Guesthouse) to the grasslands and desert, and going to the museum first was definitely a good idea because it gave us good preparation and knowledge for the tour. In sum, amateur paleontologists and Mongolian history aficionados, welcome! Don't forget to try the food, seriously.
9. Inner Mongolia Racecourse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14 reviews
Reviewed By Andrew M
The racecourse seemed to be closed and under repair when I visited. It is right across from the Baogang Haide Hotel, and we had a lovely view of it, so decided to walk across to it the next morning. The architecture is mongol traditional, and the buildings are painted mostly in blue and white, althogh the maon building was very colourful. There are quite a few statues of horses outside the main building.
I was hoping to see Mongolian racehorses grazing, but was disappointed as the gates to the main stable area were closed. If you are staying closeby, it is a good opportunity to take photos of the buildings, and Genghis Khan Park is a 5 minute walk away. I hope we will see a race on our next visit.
10. Saishang Old Street
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 22 reviews
Reviewed By Scentedlotus - Australia
Hohhot is a city crowned by yurt like blue domes,which sit like turquoise cabachon crystal jewels atop its modern skyscrapers.. On the streets below another tale unfolds ,which whispers on its winds a story of its glorious past... Creaking carts loaded down with fruits are transported along the cobbled roads by lop eared donkeys, massive white Buddhist stupas stand majestically overlooking this modern city.....yet easily discovered,if sought out, are old markets and ancient temples. The Five Pillar pagoda surely its most wonderous of treasures. When in China, it is a most rewarding venture to pass through the crumbling outposts of the Great Wall and experience Inner Mongolia
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