8:00 – 18:00

30 RMB per person

Location: Within Horqin Left Rear Banner, 200 kilometers away from Shenyang and 80 kilometers from downtown Tongliao

Spring and Summer

0475-8239021

The total highway mileage of Tongliao City reaches 6,939 kilometers, including 1,918 kilometers of asphalt pavement. There are 278 bridges with a total linear length of 6,774 meters. The highway density stands at 11.6 kilometers per 100 square kilometers, and Tongliao has achieved highway access to all townships. Four national highways, namely G111, G303, G204 and G204, run through the city with a combined length of 901 kilometers.

At present, an interconnected crisscross transportation network centered on Horqin District has taken shape. It connects all banners, counties and cities within Tongliao, extends to all towns and sums, and links externally to core cities including Shenyang, Changchun and Jinzhou, as well as coastal ports such as Tianjin, Dalian, Yingkou and Qinhuangdao.

Tongliao boasts an extensive railway network. Six railways — Jitong, Jingtong, Tongrang, Dazheng, Pingqi and Tonghuo — traverse the whole territory, covering more than 1,000 kilometers within the city limits. Tongliao Railway Station ranks among China’s 40 key national railway hubs. Upon completion of the ongoing secondary-class six-yard marshalling project, the station will become one of the country’s 14 major freight marshalling stations.

Tongliao Airport can accommodate medium-sized passenger aircraft. Same-day round-trip flights operate on the Ulanhot–Tongliao–Beijing–Hohhot route.

Deep within the sandy wilderness in the western part of the vast Horqin Grassland lies a 24-kilometer-long desert gully. Lush trees and blooming flowers blanket both the upper rim and lower bottom of the gully. Countless trickling springs converge into a long crystal-clear stream at the valley floor. The banks are overgrown with shrubs and grasses, where evergreen and deciduous trees grow side by side, mixed with arbors and bushes. Bright blossoms dot the green foliage, and clear brooks wind alongside pale sand. This spectacular desert wonderland, hailed as the Green Pearl of Horqin Sandy Land, is none other than Daqinggou National Nature Reserve.

Located in Horqin Left Rear Banner, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the reserve sits 200 kilometers from Shenyang and 80 kilometers from downtown Tongliao, covering a total area of 125,000 mu. It was founded with the approval of the People’s Government of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 1980 and upgraded to a national-level nature reserve in 1988. Its core protected resource is rare broad-leaved forest in arid regions.

The Greater and Lesser Qinggou Valleys run north to south across the reserve in a Y-shaped layout. The main gully stretches 24 kilometers, around 100 meters deep and 200 to 300 meters wide. To date, more than 700 plant species and over 170 animal species have been recorded here, forming a natural treasury of flora and fauna. Boasting deep valleys and dense woods with unique landscapes, it earns the reputation of an "Oasis in the Desert".

Daqinggou features extraordinary landforms and breathtaking vistas. The primeval forest at the valley bottom teems with exotic flowers and rare trees preserved in pristine natural beauty, an unrivaled sight amid the sand sea. Apricot blossoms bloom in May, mulberries ripen in June, and mountain hawthorns ripen in August; vitality radiates everywhere across the valley. In spring, hundreds of flowers burst into full bloom; in summer, dense foliage forms cool canopies; in autumn, maple leaves blaze like fire; in winter, mist and vapor linger above the ravine. A visit here offers a pure sense of returning to untouched nature.

Daqinggou enjoys an exceptionally pleasant climate, making it an ideal resort for sightseeing, summer escape and leisure vacations. When sweltering heat engulfs the 800-li sandy expanse in midsummer, the heat instantly fades the moment visitors step into Daqinggou, especially down at the valley bottom, leaving them refreshed and relaxed. In winter, while the northern land freezes over with drifting snow, the valley floor remains as warm as spring, with bubbling springs and patches of thriving green vegetation.

At Sancha Pass, a magnificent panorama unfolds before visitors’ eyes. Climbing up for a distant view, the Greater and Lesser Qinggou Valleys resemble two giant pythons converging in a V-shape here, shrouded in misty woodlands of grand imposing scale. Looking down to the valley bottom, neat emerald-green rice paddies nestle amid dark green forests, presenting a subtle charm reminiscent of regions south of the Yangtze River in northern China.

Situated in Horqin Sandy Land in the southern Xiliao River Basin, the reserve preserves precious mixed broad-leaved forests inside the gullies, while sand dune grasslands and sparse woodlands spread across the upper terraces. This creates a striking contrast against the boundless sand hills surrounding the area. The reserve hosts a complex array of plant communities, with 767 higher plant species recorded, including nationally protected flora such as Manchurian ash, Manchurian walnut and Gastrodia elata. Thanks to its special geographic location and thick forest cover, Daqinggou is known as a bright pearl embedded in the sandy sea.

Ancient towering trees fill the boundless forest expanse; exotic flowers and rare herbs carpet the woodland floor, while rare birds and wild beasts dwell among the trees. Springs gurgle at the valley bottom all year round, feeding an unfreezing stream that frequently cloaks the forest in mist. Though smaller in size, Xiaoqinggou boasts distinct lake and mountain scenery of its own. Where the two valleys converge at Sancha Pass, three waterways merge into one, stretching toward the horizon amid deep serene valleys with intoxicating picturesque scenery that leaves visitors utterly amazed.

Surrounded by rolling endless sandy grasslands, the reserve combines agreeable weather, unique landforms, abundant wildlife and unspoiled pastoral landscapes, attracting numerous tourists for summer getaways, leisure stays and scientific research, all reluctant to depart. After over a decade of large-scale development, the reserve has built comprehensive infrastructure for scenic development, transportation, accommodation, catering, shopping and entertainment, capable of receiving massive numbers of domestic and overseas tourists. Visitor arrivals have surged at an annual rate of approximately 20% over the past three years. The ancient and magical Daqinggou welcomes all nature lovers with its pristine natural and cultural landscapes, embracing them in its dreamlike gentle warmth.

Daqinggou offers distinctive tourist activities developed under strict ecological protection principles to preserve its original wilderness, including drift exploration, desert hiking, grassland horse racing and folk custom experiences. The reserve is divided into three scenic zones: the Daqinggou Overlook Zone, Sancha Pass Drift Exploration Zone and Xiaoqinghu Lake Resort Zone. A full tour takes two days. One-day tour itinerary: Overlook Daqinggou, admire forest scenery bathed in golden light, horse riding on green meadows, Mongolian-style hunting, primeval forest sightseeing, natural sand bathing beach. Two-day tour itinerary: River drift adventure, grassland folk music experience, desert exploration, angling at Xiaoqinghu Lake, grassland bonfire party, and more.

Featuring unique tourism programs developed without damaging local ecology and primitive scenery, Daqinggou provides activities such as drifting expeditions, wilderness walks, horse riding and simulated hunting.