Hulunbuir Educational Tour

Fly into Hulunbuir's Hailar Airport, then drive to your hotel to check in. Evening brings special Mongolian food to enjoy, and if you'd like, you can explore alone—the airport's just 15 minutes from downtown.

At dawn, you will wear a traditional Mongolian deel vest and head to a private ranch along the Morin Gol River—known as "the world's most serpentine waterway." Its twisting course stretches across the endless steppe like a sleeping dragon. Make authentic Mongolian milk tea, then fly colorful kites into the cloud-dappled sky. Build teamwork in lively soccer games or tug-of-war. Learn Mongolia's ancient Bökh wrestling, and grasp its spirit of grit and honor. Hunt for hidden grassland treasures, and cherish moments nuzzling newborn lambs—pure, fleeting warmth.

Morin Gol River

Bökh wrestling

After leaving the Mogule River, visit Shangkuli Ranch. The name "Shangkuli" means "pocket" in Evenki, shaped like a pocket due to its mountain-enclosed shape. The ranch sits where the Daxing'anling forest meets Hulunbu Grassland, with very rich black soil that has lots of nutrients, perfect for growing crops. Even if signals are spotty, the views are amazing. You can learn to plant oilseeds and black wheat, discovering how to care for crops. Stroll through nearby birch forests—you might spot quick reindeer adding life to the quiet woods.

Shangkuli Ranch

Observe the growth of black wheat.

Night falls, and everyone gathers to do traditional things: grind soybeans for tofu, make chilli sauce, steam buns, prepare vermicelli. Busy and working together, you will feel the cozy traditional life. When done, an open-air movie screen goes up under bright stars. A gentle breeze blows; you can eat sweet fruits, enjoying the nice time. At night, stay in a star-gazing tent with a clear roof. Lying in bed, see the vast starry sky—twinkling stars feel within reach as they drift into sweet dreams, with starlight around.

Making tofu

Star-gazing tent

Your Journey's Rewards:

Explore nomadic culture by the Morigele River, learn about agricultural practices in the transition zone of Shangkuli Sahan Ranch, and get close to unique ecological landscapes.

Educational Focus:

How do the natural environment and lifestyle of the Morigele River area and Shangkuli Sahan Ranch influence the local culture and production methods?

Takeaway:

The winding Morigele River lets nomadic life thrive by giving good conditions. Nomads show their smarts in adapting to grasslands through activities: making milk tea, doing bokh (wrestling), and gathering cow dung to cook hand-held meat. Shangkuli Sahan Ranch sits where Greater Khingan Range forests and Hulunbuir grasslands meet. Being one of the world’s three rich black soil regions, it has farming ways that fit, like growing rapeseed and brown wheat. Forest and grassland ecosystems living together here bring about things like meeting reindeer in birch forests and making traditional foods—tofu, vermicelli—showing how farm and forest cultures mix.

Thought Challenge:

How to balance keeping and updating nomadic and farming cultures in Morigele River and Shangkuli Sahan Ranch as modernization happens?

Put on a unique Mongolian vest and head to Erguna Wetland. It lies northwest of the Greater Khingan Mountains and east of the Argun River, a clean wetland with Asia's richest life among high-latitude, low-altitude native woody wetlands—called "Asia's Top Wetland." A professional guide will show you its ecological secrets as you explore. You'll also learn about Labu Dalin, Erguna City's old name, which means "plain under sharp peaks" in Evenki. Once home to many ethnic groups, this 10-square-kilometer area now has 11 minorities, like Mongolians, Russians, and Manchus.

Erguna Wetland

Go to Shiwei Border River, where Shiwei Port sits at the eastern end of the Argun River's middle reaches—the China-Russia border. It became a National Category-1 Port in 1989, approved by China's State Council. Reach the charming riverside town of Shiwei, at the Greater Khingan Mountains' northern foot along the Argun River's right bank, and feel its strong Russian vibe. It faces Russia's Olochi village across 83.36 km of border. Home to 523 households (1,409 people), it has nine ethnic groups; 51% are ethnic Russians or Sino-Russian descendants. Take a boat to the Argun River's middle. From there, watch daily life in the Russian village opposite—you'll clearly see big differences in architecture and customs between the two banks.

Town of Shiwei

Town of Shiwei in Winter

Evening nears—head to Enhe, a storybook village on the China-Russia border between the Argun River and the Greater Khingan Range. This pretty spot, China’s only ethnic Russian township, sits just across the river from Russia. Over 80% vegetation keeps it unspoiled, great for real cultural experiences. Visit local Russian homes: see their nice Mukeleng(log cabins), try traditional foods like rye bread, sour cream, pickled cucumbers, and feel the community’s famous warm welcome.

Enhe's Mukeleng

Your Journey’s Rewards:

Find out how grasslands and wetlands work ecologically, try nomadic and farming ways, and get what cross-border cultural mixing is really about.

Educational Focus:

How did the natural environment and human activities shape the diverse cultures and ecosystems in the Hulunbuir region?

Takeaway:

The looping Morigele River fed nomadic life. Using cow dung for fuel and herding show how nomads adapted to grassland ecology, with their customs rooted in living well with nature. Shangkuli Ranch sits where forest meets grassland; its rich black soil supports farming—growing rapeseed and brown wheat—and reindeer-raising, mixing farm and forest cultures. Erguna Wetland’s ecology connects to local growth, and Labudalin started because of its resource benefits. Sino-Russian border areas like Shiwei and Enhe have unique cultures. Enhe, a Russian ethnic township, blends Chinese and Russian elements, from being close by and past exchanges.

Thought Challenge:

How to ensure that the protection of natural ecosystems and traditional cultures in border and grassland areas goes hand in hand with their sustainable development?

Hike along the Khur River, called "spring-like river" in Mongolian and "winding river" in Russian. A main tributary of the Argun River, it flows through forests and wetlands, with thick birch and pine groves on both sides. The curving river cuts a unique "Taiji Bend" through hilly land. Try forest rafting downstream to enjoy cool waters. Along the way, check out hunting relics of the Evenki and Oroqen. The Evenki once lived by hunting, with great skills and birch bark craft—have a go at making traditional items like special wind chimes to take home.

Khur River in Autumn

The Evenki people raise reindeer and live in tents

Go to the local Equestrian Culture Museum to see how Mongolian horsemanship has changed over time. When touring the stables, pros will show you how to care for horses properly—you can even feed them. Then head to Heishantou's certified riding center. Skilled Mongolian instructors, who are good at archery and riding, will patiently teach you basic horsemanship. Start with simple control, then learn to make the horse walk, trot, circle and change direction. You will become confident "Mongolian junior riders" and feel the excitement of galloping on the grassland.

Local stables

The Mongolian kids are riding horses

Stay in a yurt at night, experience the unique architecture of Mongolia, and enjoy delicious Mongolian cuisine.

Local yurt

Your Journey’s Rewards:

Learn more about the Khur River’s ecology, find out about Evenki and Oroqen hunting ways, see why Mongolian horse skills matter culturally, and pick up basic horse-riding abilities.

Educational Focus:

How do natural environments shape the formation of diverse ethnic cultures?

Takeaway:

The Khur River’s forests, wetlands, and rolling land (with "Taiji Bend") create a special ecosystem that shapes how Evenki and Oroqen live. Their hunting ways—fitted to local resources—and birch bark craft grow right out of this nature. For Mongolians, grasslands and herding lands build a close tie with horses. Horsemanship here isn’t just a skill but a key to their culture, showing clearly how nature shapes life and traditions.

Thought Challenge:

How can we inherit and protect these unique cultures in modern society?

Prepare to pack up your luggage and set off on your journey home, filled with a bountiful harvest.