12 Free Things to Do in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China

Discover 12 free things to do in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China. Includes short reviews, directions, pictures and other useful information as well as some (perhaps not so useful) personal ranting.

1. QingCheng Park

The first thing on my list of free things to do in Hohhot is QingCheng Park. There are a number of parks in Hohhot, I think this one is the biggest. It’s nice for a little walk around.

Getting to QingCheng Park

Bus numbers 26, 50, 76, 81 and 8 all go to Gong Yuan Xi Men 公园西门 which is the west side of the park.

Inside QingCheng Park

2. Old Town

I walked around to check out some of the temples and other religious sites but all the ones I came across where pay to get in. Not only does that mean that they don’t get on this lest of free things to do in Hohhot (because they aren’t free) but I am also reluctant to pay for religious sites unless I feel they are something really worth doing (such as Mati Si in Zhangye).

In any case, the surrounding area of Da Zhao Temple is good for a walk around. I assume it is called old town.

Getting to Old Town

I walked to it and although I am certain there are buses that go there, I didn’t not any. You can have a look on the map at the end of this post.

The streets around Da Zhao Temple. I am calling it old town.

3. River Walk

On the way back from the airport (because I went there a day early!) I noticed the river all lit up at night. The next day (on the way back to the airport) I snapped this picture from the bus. It looks like it would be a nice walk about if you have the spare time.

The river which is pretty close to the museum.

Getting to the River

Bus numbers K1 and 83 will drop you pretty close to it. It is beyond the museum.

4. Wholesale Market

It’s not very big for a wholesale market but if you are into shopping and/or just looking in markets then it is worth a squiz.

Getting to the Wholesale Market

Bus numbers 38, 59, K3 and 58 will go there. 光彩市场 Guang Cai Chi Chang is the name of the stop.

Front of the Wholesale Market

5. Food Street

I stumbled upon this when walking around at night. Loads of cheap restaurants and walking distance from the YiJu Commercial Hotel.

Getting to Food Street

Walk there from the hotel. In in the middle of the city. See the map at the bottom of this post.

This is just one food street I found in Hohhot. It is near Xin Hua Square and is marked on the map at the end of this post.

6. Xin Hua Square

I guess this is the equivalent of a People’s Square. A big concreted area where people go. They had some performances (singing and dancing) on the stage. I think it is more lively at night.

Getting to Xin Hua Square

Buses 1, K2, 18, 34, 60 and 201 go to it. The bus stop is 新华广场 (Xin Hua Guang Chang).

Xin Hua Square

They had this dancing and some singing at the time I was there.

7. Inner Mongolia Museum

A great free thing to do in Hohhot. This museum has four main exhibit areas including dinosaurs, the great plains (my favorite exhibition), underground and space.

The area where the museum is is quite large. On the right I think it is some kind of cinema (like Imax or something). On the left is the museum. There is a ticket booth where they give you a ticket to enter the museum which I figured was so they can track how many visitors entered, but then no-one checks it. Perhaps it is so people can keep it as a souvenir.

You can not take water into the museum.

Getting to the Inner Mongolia Museum

It took a couple of buses to get there but was well worth the effort.

Bus routes 16, 27, 72, 66 and 52 will take you to stop 博物院 (Bo Wu Yuan) which is in front of the museum. Bo Wu Yuan actually means museum.

If coming from the YiJu Business Hotel you can catch bus 102 to stop 内蒙古饭店 (Nei Menggu Fan Dian) and then swap to one of the above buses (I think it was the 72).

FYI – Nei Menggu is how you say Inner Mongolia in Chinese [Putong Hua (Mandarin)].

The museum is on the left as you look at this picture.

8. Mosque

I read many things saying that the Mosque is free to enter. I did not go into it so I can not confirm, but I did take this snap from the front.

The front of the mosque.

Actually, next to the mosque (to the left as you face it) there is another interesting temple type area which seems to be an Islamic temple but done in Chinese style.

I think these tell the history of the site.

I think is is an Islamic site but with Chinese influence.

The temple next to the Mosque.

Getting to the Mosque

Buses K3, 81, 102, 73, 8, 4, 6, 59, 24 and 21 all drop you at the Mosque. The stop is called 旧城北门 (Jiu Cheng Bei Men).

9. Pet Street

I stumbled upon this little street that seems to be selling pets (birds, dogs and other random animals). Animals in captivity breaks my heart a little but I guess some will be interested.

I’m not a fan of animals in captivity but I guess it is something that will always be.

Pet Street

Getting to Pet Street

From the Mosque go over this bridge, which can be found across the road from the Mosque.

This bridge is over the road from the mosque. Go over it to get to pet street.

The pet street is at the end of the bridge to the right.

10. Islam Street

I read some stuff on the internet about an Islam street and I saw a couple of places that could be it, but I’ve decided to say this one is because it is close to the Mosque and has lots of food, so if it isn’t the actual Islam Street then at least you get something out of it.

Actually, I think the road the hotel is on is Islam street, and perhaps this is Yellow street, or maybe they are the same thing.

Getting to Islam Street

It is next to the Mosque, almost directly across the road from the bridge that you cross to go to the pet street (#9 of the free things to do in Hohhot).

The food street located behind the Yiju Hotel links up to this street.

Yellow Street? Islam Street? Maybe neither, but good food resides here.

12. Horse Track

The last thing on my list of free things to do in Hohhot is the Horse Track. Now I’m not 100% sure about this one. To go there and look around is free, but I never actually went in, which might cost something.

I think it was worth the general look around if you have the spare time.

Took this through the fence. I think it might be a show as opposed to racing – or perhaps they race dressed like this.

I’m guessing dome traditional Inner Mongolian structures, possibly yurts.

Getting to the Horse Track

Bus numbers 26, 75, 80, 303, 13 and 24 go to the horse track. Get off at 赛马场 (Sai Ma Chang). I think 13 and 24 will leave from Xin Hua Square.

When you get off the bus walk towards this. It is the horse track.

Here’s a map showing most of the stuff on this list. Click to enlarge.

More Things to Do in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China

They may not all be free but there are lots more things to do in Hohhot. Visit my go to website for things to do while traveling to discover more things to do in Urumqi.

Well that’s it for this list of free things to do in Hohhot. Please add or correct stuff in the comments.

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