Ulanhada Volcanic Geopark

Ulanhada Volcanic Geopark in Inner Mongolia is a product of Quaternary volcanic activity. There are more than 20 volcanoes in the park, which are the only volcanic group found on the southern edge of the Inner Mongolia Plateau that erupted in the Holocene (10,000 years ago). It gathers grassland volcanic groups, lava landforms and barrier lake landscapes, and is known as a natural "Volcano Museum".

Highlights of Ulanhada Volcanic Geopark

Volcano No. 3

As a landmark of the Ulanhada Volcanic Group, Volcano No. 3 is named for its shape, like an alchemist's furnace. It is the most visitor-friendly volcano in the entire geopark. With a base diameter of about 700 meters, a height of 80 meters, and a crater 180 meters in diameter and roughly 30 meters deep, it takes on a round "super bowl" shape. Standing at the top, you can clearly overlook the magnificent view of the complete volcanic cone structure interwoven with the surrounding grasslands. The scenic area has built a wooden boardwalk specifically for it—they can easily reach the top in just 10 minutes without expending much energy. The red phone booth at the foot of the mountain is a classic Internet-famous check-in spot. It creates a strong visual contrast with the gray-black volcanic rocks, allowing you to take sci-fi photos full of "Mars vibes" effortlessly. Besides, it is only 2 kilometers away from the Volcano Herdsman Campsite; you can see its outline right after opening the tent, making it the top choice for many tourists.

Volcano No. 5

Famous for its "most well-preserved shape", this volcano graced the cover of Chinese National Geography in 2015 and is the most representative conical landscape in the volcanic group. It has a perfect conical shape with smooth and graceful lines. From an aerial perspective, it looks like a huge "straw hat" inlaid on the grassland. Compared with Volcano No. 3, climbing Volcano No. 5 is slightly more difficult—you need to use both hands and feet to climb the natural rocks. However, the view from the top is unparalleled: you can look far into the distance at the "beaded" wonder formed by several connected volcanoes, taking in the unique landform combining volcanoes, grasslands and lakes. Sunrise is the best time to visit here. Amidst the rolling sea of clouds, the sun shines on the volcanic cone, contrasting with the green grassland below. The scene is highly visually striking, making it a must-visit spot for photographers.

Volcano No. 6

Famous for its exposed black basalt columns and unique cross-sectional landscape, this volcano has its internal structure fully revealed due to historical manual mining. Rock layers of different colors are as distinct as a "layered cake," recording the temperature and oxidation process during the ancient volcanic eruption. It is known as the "world's largest full-cross-section volcano." It is an excellent spot for shooting "Mars-themed photos." You can rent spacesuits at the foot of the mountain; paired with the afternoon sun or the glow of sunset, it creates a strong sci-fi atmosphere. Occasionally, you can smell a faint sulfur scent, which adds a sense of realism to geological exploration. Visitors can drive around the volcano to appreciate the texture of basalt and the incomplete beauty of the volcanic cone from different angles, and feel the marks left by both nature and human activities.

Volcanic Grassland Starry Sky & Camping Experience

The Ulanhada Volcanic Group has no light pollution around it, so it is a rare great stargazing spot in North China. On summer nights, the Milky Way stretches clearly across the sky—you can see the bright starry river with your eyes, and even use your mobile phone's long exposure to take star trail photos. Unique accommodation is available at places like the Volcano Herdsman Campsite. The grassland here is 26,000 square meters, and sixty tents are spread across it. There are transparent-domed star-gazing tents and parent-child tents good for families, and you can check in just with a bag. From the tent, you can enjoy the volcanic outline. At dawn, open the curtain to watch the Milky Way. In the early morning, wait for the volcanic sunrise while listening to birds sing. At night, you can join bonfire parties or eat grassland BBQ. Let yourself be in the mix of nature and culture, and feel the unique charm of the volcanic grassland.

Educational Value

As one of China's rare dormant volcanic groups, the Ulanhada Volcanic Group completely preserves the remains of the entire process from volcanic eruption to the formation of basalt columns and lava plateaus after cooling. The "layered rock" cross-section of Volcano No. 6 clearly shows the rock layers formed in different eruption periods, helping visitors understand "how volcanic activities shape landforms" in a direct way. The crater structure of Volcano No. 3 can assist in understanding abstract geological concepts such as "volcanic cones, craters and volcanic vents", making it an "outdoor laboratory" for geography and geology subjects.

Activities to do at Ulanhada Volcanic Geopark

Astronaut Walk Experience： Visitors can walk around the crater in spacesuits. Combining geological popular science knowledge, they can simulate space scenes and take part in themed interactions like "interstellar travel and Mars walk", thus experiencing the wonderful feeling of "landing on Mars" in an immersive way.

Volcano Climbing： Volcanoes No. 3, No. 5 and No. 6 in the park are all open to visitors. A walking path has been built on Volcano No. 3 for easy climbing. Volcano No. 5 keeps its original form, while Volcano No. 6 is good for taking "space photos". Visitors can choose to climb different volcanoes based on their preferences and physical strength, and enjoy the unique volcanic landforms and the surrounding grassland scenery.