兴安盟

Why this place

Hinggan League is in the far northeast of Inner Mongolia, where the Greater Khingan forest starts. It is the region where Genghis Khan's Mongol homeland meets Manchurian forest, and it holds one of the best alpine-style landscapes in Inner Mongolia.

What to see

• Arxan — the hot springs and the volcanic crater lake of Tianchi in the Khingan range
• The Greater Khingan forest belt, mixed larch and birch
• Ulanhot, the league capital, and its Mongolian cultural sites

What to eat

• Mongolian mutton and forest mushrooms
• Wild berries and pine nuts from the Khingan forest

Best time

June–September, and late September for autumn colour