Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
After checking in and having lunch, start at Hulunbuir Museum for about 1½ hours. It’s a good first look at the region’s history and the many cultures of the grasslands; visitor arrangements and hours can change, so check locally or ask your hotel before setting out. Allow roughly ¥0–30 per person, depending on current admission and any special exhibitions. A taxi from central Hailar is usually the easiest option and should take around 10–20 minutes, depending on where you’re staying.
Take a taxi or walk on to Genghis Khan Square for an easy 45-minute leg-stretch. It’s spacious and relaxed, with room for the children to run around after the museum; there’s no admission charge. From there, continue into Hailar old town for an unhurried evening walk of about an hour. Browse the local shops and snack stalls as you go, and keep the pace flexible—this is a pleasant first taste of town rather than a must-see checklist.
For your first meal, try Little Sheep (小肥羊) in central Hailar for Mongolian-style hot pot, ordering a mix of sliced lamb, vegetables, noodles, and a mild broth for the children. Budget about ¥70–150 per person; check the nearest branch and current hours on a local map app, as locations can change. Hot pot is leisurely, so allow around 1½ hours, then take a taxi back to your accommodation if everyone’s ready to call it a night.
After the 2–3-hour drive from Hailar, head to an Xinihe-area grassland pasture for an easy walk and time to take in the open steppe. Ask your driver or host which areas are safe to enter: some pasture is private land, and livestock may be nearby. Plan on about 1½ hours, and bring water, sun protection, and a light layer—the wind can pick up even in late August.
Have lunch at a family-run dining yurt near the pasture or your lodging. Ask your host to arrange it in advance, and confirm what’s included and the price before ordering; allow about an hour and budget roughly ¥50–120 per person. Lamb and local dairy are common, but check whether dishes can be adjusted for the children’s tastes.
Ask your driver to choose a safe, accessible grassland viewpoint near Xinihe for a relaxed 45-minute photo stop; don’t pull over on the road or wander onto unmarked land. Then continue to your Xinihe-area lodging and keep the rest of the afternoon unplanned. Ask your host about a safe nearby spot for sunset and arrange dinner locally, since options and service hours can be limited outside town.
Leave Xinihe after breakfast in your pre-arranged car, allowing 4–5 hours plus a couple of comfort and snack stops; ask your driver to confirm the route and road conditions before setting off. With a morning departure, you should reach Manzhouli around early afternoon. Keep water and snacks handy for the children, and build in some flexibility rather than trying to make up time on the road.
First stop at Manzhouli Railway Station in the city centre: take about 30 minutes to admire its distinctive exterior and snap a few photos. Then take a taxi to Manzhouli Matryoshka Square in the western part of town, allowing roughly two hours. It’s a large Russian-themed attraction, so check the day’s opening hours, ticket prices, and which exhibits or rides are operating before heading over; these can vary by season. If the family is ready for a break, save time for a drink or snack on site.
Return by taxi to central Manzhouli for dinner at Lubuli Russian Restaurant (卢布里西餐厅), a well-known choice for Russian-influenced dishes; budget roughly ¥80–180 per person and check the nearest branch and wait times locally. After dinner, stroll Zhongsu Pedestrian Street for about 45 minutes to see its illuminated architecture and browse the shops. It’s an easy-going end to a travel day, and you can take a short taxi ride back to your hotel if the children are tired.
Leave Manzhouli after breakfast in your pre-arranged car, allowing roughly 3.5–4.5 hours of driving plus stops. Ask your driver to check road conditions and agree on a couple of comfort breaks; with children, keep water and snacks handy. Aim to arrive in Ergun early enough to visit the wetland before dinner, and ask your hotel about the best drop-off and ticket arrangements.
Head to Ergun Wetland Scenic Area on the outskirts for about two hours. Follow the boardwalks to the viewpoints for wide river-valley and wetland panoramas; it’s an easy outing, though there are steps and exposed stretches, so bring hats and water. Allow roughly ¥50–100 per adult for entry and any shuttle, and check current prices and operating hours locally, as these can vary by season. A taxi or your driver can take you between the city and the entrance.
After the visit, return to central Ergun for a simple bowl of regional noodles at a local noodle restaurant. Expect about ¥30–70 per person; ask your hotel or driver for a nearby favorite, since small restaurants can change hours and menus. Finish with a relaxed 45-minute Ergun riverside walk near the center, then turn in early—tomorrow’s drive is easier after a good night’s rest.
Leave Ergun after breakfast for Hailar; allow about 3–4 hours including a rest stop, and keep water and snacks handy for the children. Ask your driver to drop you at Hailar National Forest Park and confirm whether they can wait nearby or return at an agreed time. The park is south of central Hailar, a welcome change from the open steppe: give yourselves around two hours among the larch and pine trees. Check current hours and admission locally before setting out, as seasonal arrangements can change.
After the park, head into central Hailar for a late lunch at the Hailar market—look for a busy stall or small eatery serving dumplings, noodles, or grilled dishes. Budget roughly ¥25–60 per person, and expect to spend about an hour. Then take a taxi or have your driver drop you at Hulunbuir Ancient City for an easy 1–1½-hour wander through its recreated historic-style streets and shops. It’s a relaxed stop rather than a formal museum visit; check on-site opening times, especially if you arrive later in the afternoon.
Stay in central Hailar for a Mongolian barbecue dinner. Choose a lively local restaurant and order a mix of grilled meat and vegetables for sharing; allow about 1½ hours and budget roughly ¥60–130 per person. Ask your hotel to recommend a currently popular spot nearby—restaurant names and opening hours can change, and a local recommendation is often more reliable than an old listing.
Start at Hailar World Anti-Fascist War Memorial Park in northern Hailar and allow about two hours. The site’s wartime history is substantial, so take your time with the exhibits and leave room for questions from the children; some displays may be intense for younger visitors. Opening hours and admission can vary by season—ask your hotel to check before you go. A taxi from central Hailar is the easiest option; agree on a pickup time or arrange a return ride, as taxis may not be waiting nearby.
Head back to central Hailar for a relaxed 45-minute stop at a Hailar café. Look for one around the central shopping streets, where you can settle in for drinks and pastries; budget about ¥25–55 per person. Afterward, spend about an hour at a Hulunbuir ethnic handicraft or specialty-food shop nearby. Compare a few keepsakes, and check ingredient and storage labels before buying snacks to take home. Use a taxi between stops if the family is tired, or keep the walk short by choosing a shop close to the café.
End the trip at a Hailar family-style dumpling restaurant in the city center. Order a few dumpling varieties to share, along with familiar local dishes, and allow about an hour; expect roughly ¥35–80 per person. If you’re choosing a restaurant on the spot, ask your hotel to point you to a well-reviewed dumpling place nearby and confirm it’s open—meal hours and business schedules can shift.
No packing list attached yet.