Hailar
Hailar is the largest city in the Hulum Buir Prefecture and located in northern Inner Mongolia. The city and surrounding country becomes very cold in winter,easily reaching -30 F. Even in October, the temperature can seem very cold. The region at this time is drab and uncolorful, as the grasslands turn greenish brown or are covered with snow.
The best and most famous grasslands are here. As far as the eye can see an ocean of grasslands. Flkat with minor variations. But I think the grasslands out of UlanHot are more pretty. Not as flatr. More mountains and streams. More broken up.
If you are here to see the grasslands or visit ManZhouLi your best bet is to come between July and September, when the grasses are usually green. It is still worthwhile bringing a good jacket though, since even in the hottest days of summer, night temperatures drop quickly.
The city had been a center of action for wandering Mongolian herdsmen. Plants used to line both the sides of Hailar River. Perhaps the most interesting feature of the city is the ethnic diversity. There are 25 different resident minority groups in Hailar, including Mongol, Hui and less common ones such as the Manchurians, Koreans, Ewinki, Elunchun, and Dauer peoples. They dress line anybody in Hailair. Try the Dauer grass soup. It has an important history in famine.
The outskirts have the Hulun Lake and the border town of ManZhouLi crowded with Russians carrying shopping bags filled with cheap Chinese goods. To the north of Hailar lies the best part of Inner Mongolia, easily reached by bus and taxi.
Hailar has trains, busses, taxis, and an airport. However, "soft sleeper" train tickets are at times 100% impossible to get. 100% impossible. Although officially they go on sale 10 days before departure, scalpers buy all them up so there are none left.
There are daily flights between Beijing and Hailar that take about two hours. From Hailar you can fly most places in China including Hohot.
Hailar Airport is just 7 km away from the city of Hailar proper. Hailar is divided into a "new" city and an "old" city. I yhink the olad city is better, but you deceide.
The train line goes through the city, linking it with Beijing, Harbin, Hohhot, Baotou and ManZhouLi. Schedules and prices change quickly. "Soft sleeper" is best for long journeys, but sometimes impossible to get. A "soft sleeper" train ticket is about the same for a taxi of the same distance.
Busses are great for travelling in Inner Mongolia
Hailar is a small city. Although taxis are available, walking is the best means of transportation. There are many sights in Hailar including the Russian market, the Japanese tunnels, the grasslands, the local market, and the like. Allow about two full days in Hailar, max.
Hailar is a town with a new section and an old section. The new section was built to appear modern, but much of the old city was razed to make way for it. The old part is more interesting. Hailar is more of a last outpost than anything.
You should head out of Hailar.There are some things to be sure, but not many. It is a place to go to Banks, use ATM's, get supplies, arrange a car, buy soap,
eat at good restaurants, get nice Mongolian clothes, and so on. Remember there are no ATM's in the country, country banks sometimes will not change even US cash
and cash is absolutely needed.There is a nice street to walk and look at all the KTV places!!!!!!
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Temperature:
About 5 to 10 degrees F. cooler than Beijing. Hailar is a Northern city with bright light, an altitude of about 700 meters and a population of 273,650.
Summers are very hot and you need a/c. Winters are very cold. Many stores, hotels, and restaurants close in the winter.
The prices for everything rises dramatically in the summer as the season is so short. If some one quotes you a price, it is good only on that date.
Taxi from Airport:
About 20 minutes from airport. Run fast, as taxis dissappear fast. Don't worry. Nara has many friends who can send a car if needed.
Sights to See Near City:
Japanese Caves/Tunnels
The Japanese Tunnels are close to Hailar. A car/taxi takes about 20 minutes.
They were built in the 1930's and were used by the Japanese when they infiltrated China.
Hailar was one of the most important areas in China. Hailar is a buffer between Russia and China. Russia rushed to help the Chinese when the Japanese were in Hailar.
The Japanese built a huge base in Hailar, one of three huge bases in Northern China. They were serious about coning to China.
This is one of the best museums in China. It is new. Everything is in Chinese. You will use the translator. Lots of pictures outside, but pictures not allowed inside.
For history buffs, this is a famous area. But it is beautiful nature. The best parts are where you are gong, away from the cities.
You will visit many of the famous places the Japanese came to in China including Hailar, Aershan, and ManZhouli.
Hailar was the Westernmost post of the Japanese Army in China. Unit 2646 was the main unit, but a semi secret Unit 543 engaged in human experiments. The most famous in Unit 731 in Harbin, but Hailar had it share of human suffering at the hands of the Japanese experiments. The INTERNET has documentation and the War Crimes Tribunal excerpts. The Soviet Army attacked the tunnels here and you can see this. The Japanese proposed to the Soviets that they would stop their thrust from Hailar if the Soviets would not interfere in Northern Manchuria.
Other places you can see.
Mongolian Tent Factory
Mongolian Clothes Factory
They make to order. Beautiful Mongolian clothes. You can order on the first day and pick up on the last day.
Big Shopping Center
There is a wonderful shopping center about a 10 minute walk away. It is huge. You can get anything. There is a great food court on the fifth floor where there is a plethora of food for cheap prices, You can even get hamburgers (taste ?) and popcorn. A huge plate of fried rice with many things inside is Rmb 5.0. A big plate of mutton is Rmb 10.0. A bottle of beer
is Rmb 3.0. This place is a huge combination of Department Store, supermarket, many smaller shops, a fur nature floor, a food court, and much more. Basically it is a Safeway and Wal-Mart combined.
Russian Market
Antiques of both Mongolian and Japanese occupation
There are good restaurants in the area. There is a new restaurant that has a good selection of Western food including pizza. There is a KFC, good noodle places, and of course many Chinese and Mongolian restaurants. There is a KFC
There are 5 star hotels, 4 star, 3 star, and no star. The no star private hotels are best.
There are many incredible places near Hailar. Guide books say no, but they are wrong. You will be with Mongolians for most of the trip. Not always, but this is a tour of Mongolia (Inner), even though you are in China.
Hailar is in the heart of the fabulous Hulum Buir grasslands. Here, in the outskirts, people value a good horse more than a fancy car.
We can bring you to a real old typical Mongolian restaurant. We will eat. You can eat to if you want, otherwise you can bring bread, jam, and butter. Corn. Hamburgers. etc.
In the close city of ChenQi there is a one of a kind restaurant ( Mongolian spoken). Gone in five years. Here you can meet children eating meat. If you ask them what kind of meat they are eating, they will say they do not know!!!
We can easily bring chicken hamburgers and French fries if you do not want to eat the local food.
Food quantities in the North are huge. Just huge. Never will you go hungry. Never.
Remember, Hailar is the jumping off point for the grasslands. The grasslands have bugs that live on the animals and grass. If you don't like bugs or dirt, tell us before the trip so we can stay in a different Mongolian Tent with no (no fewer) bugs. This is usually a tourist Mongolian tent. The same holds true for Hailar. Although it in general is clean, cockeroaches can sometimes be seen outside the hotel. If you don't like this, we can get a 3, 4, or 5 star hotel without the cockroaches. Of course you will pay more for these accomodatios. The domestic tourists like 4 star hotels, but 3 star are fine.
One client we had did not know that Mongolian tents were different. He said "They are the same, yes?" It was only when he learned that tourist Mongolian tents are made for domestic Chinese tourists did he understand. One girl did not like Hailar. Too much like a city. I like Hailar. Evereyone is different. If you like creature comforts, spend the night in Hailar or a "Tourist" Mongolian tent.
Updated: 12/26/2010