Baotou (Chinese: 包头 Bāotóu, Mongolian: Buɣutu qota) is a city on the Yellow River (Huáng Hé) in Inner Mongolia. The metropolitan area has a population of over two million.
Understand
The largest city in Inner Mongolia, Baotou used to be an arid region inhabited by Mongolian herders and their sheep. The town that has since grown up has four main parts
- Donghe — the old part of town and lies to the east
- Qingshan — part of the new city
- Jiuyuan
- Kunqu (Kandulun) — major part of the new city and is the main shopping and entertainment area with all the western restaurants near Baobaidalou (a large walking street and shopping area)
The new city is bisected by Gangtie St, a large road that goes from the east in Qingshan to the west in Kunqu.
Get in
By plane
- Baotou Donghe Airport (Baotou Erliban Airport, Baotou Hailanbu Airport, 包头东河机场, 包头二里半机场, 包头海兰泡机场, IATA: BAV), 40.5635°, 109.9976°, +86-0472-4616100. Has flights from major Chinese cities, including Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Wuhan, Xi'an, and Yulin, as well as Ulaan Bataar and a few other international destinations. 2018-11-19
By train
There are two main train stations. There is high-speed rail but only inside Inner Mongolia (1hr to Hohhot). A night train to Beijing takes about 12 hours and ¥110-150 (seat) or ¥300-450 (soft sleeper).
By bus
- Baotou Long Distance Bus Station (包头长途客运总站), 40.5787°, 109.9961°. Destinations include Beijing (about 10 hours), Dongsheng (about 3 hours), and Hohhot (about 3 hours) 2018-11-19
Get around
See
- Baotou Museum (包头博物馆), 25 A'erding Street, Hondlon District (昆都仑区阿尔丁大街25号) (bus nos. 1, 22, 42, 43, 52, C2), 40.640795044914°, 109.83481751364938°, +86 0472 5317616. 09:30-16:30 (winter), 09:00-17:00 (summer), no entry in last 30 minutes. Free 2022-11-20
- Baotou Rare Earths Museum (包头稀土博物馆), Baotou Research Institute of Rare Earths, 36 Huanghe Avenue, Jiuyuan District (九原区黄河大街36号包头稀土研究院) (take bus no. 43), 40.625016°, 109.863800°. China's first and only rare earths museum. 2022-11-19
- Northern Weapon City (兵器公园). An outdoor park with a collection of mainly artillery pieces manufactured by hometown arms maker Northern Heavy Industries Group. CNY 8 2020-10-05
Outer districts
- Wudangzhao Lamasery (五当召; Wǔdāngzhào), 40.7908°, 110.3078°. 08:00-18:00. Largest and best preserved Tibetan Buddhist lamasery in Inner Mongolia. ¥60 2019-09-06
- Guyang County Section of the Great Wall.
- Shiguai District Section of the Great Wall.
- Nanhai National Wetland Park (南海湿地景区, 包头黄河国家湿地公园), 40.5587°, 110.0281°. 08:00-21:00. A protected wetland, scenic area, amusement park, and final approach route for the airport. ¥20, no ticket sales after 18:30 2018-11-19
Do
Buy
Eat
Try Mongolian hot pot with mutton, especially in the winter. Any mutton dish is worth trying as they raise sheep up in the mountains.
- Little Sheep Restaurant (小肥羊大厦; Xiǎoféiyáng Dàshà), 9 Wulandao, Kun District (昆区乌兰道9号; Kūnqū Wūlándào) (near Baotou Hotel), +86 472 5137998. This is the flagship restaurant of this world wide hot pot chain.
Drink
Sleep
Budget
- Baotou Golden Snail Hotel (包头金蜗牛酒店; Bāotóu Jīnwōniú Jiǔdiàn), D1 Pedestrian St, Jiuyuan District (九原区步行街D1; Jiǔyuánqū Bùxíngjiē). Small rooms with free internet. No breakfast available. Listed rates for doubles from ¥159, discounted from ¥95
- Hengwei Holiday (Qingshan Branch) (包头恒为假日酒店 (青山分店); Bāotóu Héngwéijiàrì Jiǔdiàn (Qīngshān Fēndiàn)), 8 Gangtie Ave, Qingshan District (青山区钢铁大街8号; Qīngshānqū Gāngtiědàjiē), +86 472 2885588. Rooms with free internet. Restaurant and cafe available. Listed rates for doubles from ¥168, discounted from ¥113, including breakfast
Mid-range
- Qingshan Hotel Baotou, 1 Yingbin Rd, Qingshan District, +86 472 3331199.
- Tianwaitian Hotel Baotou, 50 Hudemulin Avenue, Qingshan District, +86 472 3137766.
Splurge
- Shangri-La Hotel Baotou (包头香格里拉大酒店; Bāotóu Xiānggélǐlā Dàjiǔdiàn), 66 Minzu East Rd, Qingshan District (青山区民族东路66号; Qīngshānqū Mínzúdōnglù), +86 472 5998888, slbt@shangri-la.com. Large rooms with free internet, satellite tv, minibar, coffee equipment, safe, bathrobes and hair dryer. Business center, currency exchange, ticket office, night club and indoor swimming pool available. Chinese and Western restaurants as well as room service. Listed rates ¥1,688-2,286, breakfast ¥101 but included for more expensive rooms
Go next
- Desert resorts and whistling sand dunes are about 50 km south of the city in Dalad Banner, part of Ordos City