赤峰市

Why this place

Chifeng means 'red mountain'. It is where the Hongshan culture made the earliest jade dragons in China about 5,000 years ago — a find that pushed back the history of Chinese jade-working dramatically. The countryside is grassland, forest and volcanic rock.

What to see

• The Hongshan culture sites and the jade dragons in the local museum
• Ar Horqin Banner — pure grassland and the remains of the Khitan Liao dynasty
• Ashatu Stone Forest, granite pillars on the grassland, and Dali Lake nearby

What to eat

• Mongolian mutton, dairy and tsampa-style roasted grain
• Finger millet and buckwheat from the mountain counties

Best time

June–September