Hulun Lake

As the largest lake in Inner Mongolia and China’s fifth-largest freshwater lake, Hulun Lake lies in the western Hulunbuir Grassland, spanning regions like Xin Barag Left Banner and Xin Barag Right Banner. It has a vast water surface, and grasslands and wetlands surround it, so it has rich ecological diversity. Migratory birds use it as a key stopover—you can see large flocks here in spring. In summer, the lakeside scenery and water activities are there for visitors to enjoy. In winter, people can look forward to the frozen lake surface and unique ice fishing.

Highlights of Hulun Lake

Mammoth Tourism Scenic Area

It is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction with plenty of tourism resources. The "largest mammoth sculpture group"—certified by Shanghai Great World Guinness—is here, covering 870,000 square meters. The 15-meter-tall mammoth sculptures have raised trunks and make people feel amazed like in prehistoric times. Jinlong Lake is inside the scenic area. It has a calm view, and willow trees sway by it—great for taking photos. Also, visitors can take a sightseeing train through the area, ride a carousel in the amusement park, look at old train locomotives in the Steam Locomotive Museum, or have scientific fun in the Children's Science and Technology Museum.

Hulun Lake Golden Coast

A classic landscape where grassland meets a lake. The crystal-clear water and fine sand attract visitors to sunbathe or enjoy water activities like jet skiing and boating in summer. In autumn, it's perfect for capturing stunning "golden grassland sunset" views. After 16:00 daily, local fishermen sell fresh whitefish at the entrance, which can be cooked on-site. The area is also a key Asian wetland, home to 260 bird species, including red-crowned and demoiselle cranes. The "Crane Observation Deck" on the west side offers the best birdwatching. Every Saturday at 16:00, a live Barga Mongolian wedding performance takes place, where visitors can wear traditional robes and join rituals like the "fire worship" ceremony.

Birdwatching at Wulan Nuor Wetland

Wulan Nuor Wetland

Wulan Nuor Wetland, a key part of Hulun Lake, is known as a "paradise for birds." Every spring and autumn, tens of thousands of migratory birds gather here to rest, feed, and breed. Visitors can spot graceful swans gliding on the water, flocks of wild geese soaring across the sky, and various songbirds flitting through the reeds. Strolling along the wooden boardwalks, surrounded by swaying reeds and the melodic calls of birds, feels like stepping into a living ecological painting.

Ice Fishing in Winter

Hulun Lake

Hulun Lake has held an Ice Fishing Festival since 2009, opening up the whole ice fishing process to the public. During the festival, visitors can watch the grand ice fishing scene on site—seeing tractors driving on the ice, pulling a 100-meter-long net out of the ice hole, and catching a net full of fat fish. Besides, Hulun Lake Scenic Area uses tools, utensils, vehicles, machinery and other equipment to present the ice fishing scene on the ice. Local fishermen also explain the ice fishing process on site, helping visitors understand the ice fishing culture more deeply.

Educational Value

The Zhalainuoer area on the western side of Hulun Lake has yielded significant archaeological finds, including the "Zhalainuoer Man" skull fossil (approximately 11,000 years old) and mammoth fossils (dating back 10,000-40,000 years), providing concrete evidence of human activity in this region tens of thousands of years ago, when humans coexisted with prehistoric giants like mammoths. At the Zhalainuoer Museum in the Mammoth Tourist Area, through fossil specimens and reconstructed scenes, visitors can understand "how ancient humans relied on Hulun Lake's water and fish resources for survival" and "how climate change impacted the evolution of both human civilization and species." These exhibits help establish "the historical logic of human-nature coexistence."

Activities to do at Hulun Lake

Wetland birdwatching： The Crane Observation Deck on the western side of Wulan Nuor Wetland offers the perfect birdwatching spot in the entire wetland area. During the annual migration season, large numbers of rare cranes, including red-crowned cranes and demoiselle cranes, gather here.

Winter Activities: In winter, there are many snow and ice activities at Hulun Lake. Visitors can try exciting ones like ice dragon boats, big rainbow slides, crazy octopus boats and snowmobile drifting. They can also enjoy traditional winter fun—such as ice biking, horse-drawn sleighs, curling, snow tubing and ice spinning tops.