Play at Chunkun Mountain, Eat at Liusangou, Stay at the Foot of the Mountain

I've been browsing many Chunkun Mountain guides over the past few days, all from previous years. Today, I'm sharing a brand new 2024 version of Chunkun Mountain travel guide.

Before coming to Chunkun Mountain, the first thing to prepare is — warm clothes. If you haven't brought them, the rental shops at the foot of the mountain will be thrilled. The temperature on Chunkun Mountain is much lower than at the base, and the microclimate often brings sudden rain, making it even colder. This is essential for us. Remember, remember! The level of warm clothing: windbreakers, down jackets, thick thermal pants are necessary. Also, bring a sun-protective jacket. If you hit a sunny day, this is the closest point to the sun in Baotou, and the sun can burn your skin. Prepare sunscreen, sunglasses, and such items.

Now that we've covered gear, let's talk about transportation. There are two routes from Baotou to Chunkun Mountain. One is via Yinhao Town — a bit longer but no toll fee of 15 yuan. The other is via Xishi Town, with a toll of 10-15 yuan (via Guyang) or 30 yuan (via Shiguai). From Hohhot, the most convenient route is the main road. Another option is from Wuchuan, passing through Huaishuo into Yinhao Town, then into Chunkun Mountain. All are fairly convenient. Watch out for falling rocks and oncoming large trucks along the way. This is a tourist road, somewhat narrow. Pure electric cars are not recommended due to lack of charging stations (though one is under construction at the foot of the mountain in Liusangou).

After an hour or two of travel, you've arrived at Chunkun Mountain. Now we have two choices: go up the mountain first or eat first. If you come early, head straight up. The ticket this year is 80 yuan, up from 50 yuan in previous years. The 30 yuan increase includes a very photogenic attraction — the Sky Mirror, extremely picture-perfect. Let me show a few photos (images from the internet, will delete if infringement).

Alright, after three hours of fun, it's time to eat. There is a Mongolian yurt restaurant at the top of Chunkun Mountain where you can dine directly. But if you're on a budget, I suggest going down the mountain. Walk 500 meters to a farmhouse restaurant, part of the collective economy of Damiao Liusangou Village, called Damiao People. They have only a dozen dishes, but every single one is delicious beyond compare. The stewed pickled cabbage is amazingly tasty — just thinking about it makes my mouth water. The portions are generous. Try the stir-fried Chunkun Mountain mushrooms, stir-fried local free-range eggs with cured pork, local Chunkun Mountain hand-grabbed lamb, and Zhameng mixed soup made with local Zhameng flowers. It's incredibly fragrant. The owner is an interesting person; chat with him, and he'll share many money-saving tips and local product selection methods. That brings me to my second point: eat at Liusangou, eat at Liusangou, eat at Liusangou.

In the evening, stay at a guesthouse at the foot of the mountain. Options include rooms for 2-4 people, large Mongolian yurts for 8-10 people, and guesthouse rooms for 5 people. Karaoke, mahjong, Werewolf, "Hinder Your Heart, Hard to Open" and other board and card games are available. If you rent the whole courtyard, the owner throws in a free roast lamb — perfect for team building or hosting friends.

At night, bonfire, fireworks, and roast lamb are all arranged seamlessly. This is the fun travel guide I've prepared for you to Chunkun Mountain. You must come and see it!