Ulan Butong, the "natural gallery" in China's Inner Mongolia

Published : 05/11/2025

Princess Lake shimmers like a blue sapphire

Once a royal hunting ground during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 AD), Ulan Butong (烏蘭布統) is located in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and it was sealed off for hundreds of years without any human footprints.

Today, it is a popular filming area renowned both domestically and internationally.

Many famous Chinese TV dramas like Princess Pearl (《還珠格格》), The Legend of the Condor Heroes (《射雕英雄傳》), The Legend of Miyue (《羋月傳》) were shot here, earning it the name "outdoor film studio".

In late autumn, the over 30,000-hectare Ulan Butong landscape looks like a palette of colours as the flowers and plants fall in autumn.

Among Ulan Butong's stunning landscapes, Princess Lake (公主湖) is undoubtedly the highlight. On clear days, the lake manifests a deep blue colour like gemstones, mysterious and enchanting.

The region near Princess Lake is filled with lush aquatic grass, colourful coniferous forests, robust birch trees and the autumn sunset. With the trees' reflections on the tranquil lake surface, it can be described as a sanctuary.

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The tribal scenery and fleeting changes at Hamaba Slope

Next, let's visit the Hamaba Slope (蛤蟆壩) in the birch gulley forest district of Ulan Butong.

In the literal sense, Hamaba Slope means the "Toad Dam". But don't let the name "Toad Dam" scare you away. Although it's named after a "toad", in reality, the scenery here surpasses the dazzling "Swan Lake".

Read more: Travel in Xinjiang Hemu Village: Autumn landscape as beautiful as a colourful oil painting

Hamaba Slope is surrounded by high land and valleys, with a stream flowing through. From a distance, the scenery is a blend of hills and mountains, old vines, trees, roaming cattle and sheep, creating a series of picturesque landscapes infused with the charm of rural life.

Every autumn, the Toad Dam of Ulan Butong becomes a pilgrimage site for photography lovers. Because of its unique landscape, small bridges, streams, farmhouse smoke and red leaves covering the mountains become excellent subjects for photographers.

Why don't you bring a long lens to capture the colourful scenery of Hamaba Slope into a beautiful postcard?

Horse farm at ancient battlefield area of Ulan Butong  

Coming to Ulan Butong, how can one miss the opportunity to ride a horse and feel the majesty of a Mongolian warrior?

About 20 km away from Hamaba Slope is the Red Mountain Army Horse Farm (紅山軍馬場), one of the top scenic areas within the Ulan Butong Mulan Paddock (木蘭圍場).

It is said that during the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Kangxi commanded the Qing army to fight foreign enemies here. Therefore, the Red Mountain Army Horse Farm has a great reputation in domestic and foreign tourist brochures.

The horse farm is surrounded by lush hillsides, and there are hundreds of horses on site to welcome guests, allowing visitors to experience the fun of horse riding or capturing photos on horseback.

If you're lucky, you may even be able to watch the impressive sight of a thousand horses galloping, which will undoubtedly leave unforgettable memories.

Taste the special roasted lamb leg and Mongolian milk tea

Traveling of course includes tasting local food! Everyone visiting Ulan Butong must try the roasted lamb leg and Mongolian milk tea.

The locals wash fresh lamb legs, soak them in cumin, Sichuan pepper, pickled chilli, and rice wine. After marinating for a certain period, the leg is roasted over an open fire to ensure that the lamb is fragrant and tender.

There is also unforgettable Mongolian milk tea. Locals use brick tea to make milk tea, then mix it with fried rice to drink. The tea has a rice aroma, which is somewhat like Hakka pounded tea, and is very special.

As deep autumn arrives, why not plan a grassland adventure in Ulan Butong?

Read more: Autumn trip to admire the poetic Yantian Lake Prairie in Hunan