Recommended Scenic Spots in Chifeng for New Year’s Day Travel

Dalinor National Nature Reserve is situated in the western part of Hexigten Banner, Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia, approximately 90 kilometres away from Jingpeng Town, the seat of the Hexigten Banner People’s Government. The reserve spans three sums: Dalainor, Darhan Uul and Aqi Uul. Its northwestern border adjoins Xilingol Grassland Nature Reserve of Inner Mongolia; the southern section covers the eastern stretch of the Little Tengger Sandy Land; its western boundary follows the dividing line between Xilingol League and Chifeng City; and it lies around 80 kilometres west of Bayan Obo National Nature Reserve.

Geographically, the reserve ranges from 116°22′ to 117°00′ East Longitude and 43°11′ to 43°27′ North Latitude, covering a total area of 119,413.55 hectares.

As a vital migratory corridor and key gathering site for migratory birds in northern China, Dalinor National Nature Reserve is a comprehensive nature reserve dedicated to the protection of rare avian species and their diverse habitats, including lakes, wetlands, sandy lands, grasslands and woodlands. Unique physical and geographical conditions have fostered a renowned inland lake ecosystem on the Inner Mongolian Plateau. Lakes, rivers, marshes and wet meadows spread across the entire reserve, forming a crucial wetland ecosystem that accounts for 35.8% of the total reserve area and plays a dominant role in maintaining regional ecological balance and stability.

Vast, open grasslands stretch over basalt platforms and lacustrine plains in the reserve’s northwest, where typical chestnut soil steppe grasslands, the most representative grassland type on the Inner Mongolian Plateau, thrive. The Little Tengger Sandy Land in the reserve’s south features a distinctive elm sparse forest steppe, a rare landscape within the steppe zone. In the undulating sand dunes of the southeast, sand ridge vegetation interweaves with wetland flora; sparse forests, shrubs, meadows and marsh plants grow in concentric zonal patterns, forming a typical sandy steppe landscape.

To date, 160 bird species across 36 families and 16 orders have been recorded in the reserve. Among the nationally protected wild animals here, six bird species are listed as Priority Class A-1 in China’s Biodiversity Conservation Action Plan: black stork, red-crowned crane, white-naped crane, great bustard, Pallas’s fish eagle and yellow-billed egret. Three species fall under Priority Class A-2: common crane, demoiselle crane and whooper swan. Eleven species are classified as China’s endemic Class B species: tundra swan, black kite, Eurasian sparrowhawk, common buzzard, hen harrier, merlin, Eurasian scops owl, lesser kestrel and long-eared owl.

Wading and swimming birds dominate the reserve’s rare avian population. Every spring and autumn, thousands of whooper swans, hundreds of white-naped cranes, common cranes and demoiselle cranes stop over here, while dozens of great bustards inhabit and breed in this area year-round.

Boasting diverse ecosystems and abundant rare wildlife resources, the reserve features a north-to-south sequential landscape pattern: basalt platforms → lacustrine plains → low lake basins → aeolian sandy lands, matched with a corresponding orderly distribution of vegetation: plateau & lacustrine plain flora → wetland vegetation → sandy sparse steppe flora. Complemented by lake clusters centred on Dalinor Lake and mountain landscapes formed by Darhan Mountain and Anvil Mountain, the reserve provides varied ecological niches for rich biodiversity.

Verified biological resources within the reserve include 160 bird species, 15 rodent species, 21 fish species, 72 phytoplankton species, 36 zooplankton species, more than 20 benthic species and roughly 434 higher plant species, alongside several small mammal species.

Its distinctive natural scenery and abundant wildlife attract numerous domestic and international experts, scholars and nature lovers for scientific surveys, sightseeing and eco-tours, leaving every visitor with unforgettable memories. The reserve serves as both an important base for scientific research and an ideal destination for ecotourism. Stunning vistas unfold everywhere, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in the boundless charm of nature.