Hohhot Baita International Airport

Hohhot Baita International Airport (HET) serves Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Located 14 km east of the city center, it's the gateway to China's vast grassland frontier and Mongolian culture within China.

The airport has two terminals: T1 (domestic) and the newer T2. A regional hub connecting Inner Mongolia to the rest of China.

Key airlines: China United Airlines (major presence), Air China, China Southern, China Eastern, and various domestic carriers.

HET is east of Hohhot city:

• To Hohhot city center: 14 km, 25-40 minutes
• To Railway Station: 15 km, 30-40 minutes
• To Dazhao Temple area: 16 km, 30-45 minutes
• To Inner Mongolia Museum: 12 km, 20-35 minutes

Uber does not operate in China. Use Didi.

Taxis from the rank:

• To city center: ¥40-60 (~$5-8 USD)
• To Railway Station: ¥45-65
• Metered, reliable

Airport Bus

Airport buses connect to the city:

• Route: Airport → Railway Station → city center
• Journey time: 40-60 minutes
• Cost: ¥10
• Frequency: Every 30 minutes

Metro (Limited)

Metro service is limited in Hohhot. Bus or taxi recommended.

Type	Daily Rate	Notes
Covered	¥50/day	Terminal adjacent
Open	¥30/day	Short walk

HET has basic dining:

Terminals:

• Chinese restaurants
• Mongolian-influenced options
• Fast food
• Coffee shops

Try: Mongolian-style dairy products and mutton dishes.

Network: HET Airport WiFi

• Cost: Free
• Speed: Basic
• May require Chinese phone verification

VPN needed for Western services.

SIM cards from carrier counters:

• China Mobile, China Unicom
• Passport required
• Prices: ¥100-150 for prepaid with data

ATMs in terminals.

Currency: Chinese Yuan (¥/CNY). Approximately 7.2 CNY = 1 USD.

• Chinese souvenirs
• Inner Mongolian products (cashmere, dairy)
• Basic retail

First Class Lounge

• Access: Business class, airline status
• Amenities: Basic food, drinks

Limited lounge options; this is a regional airport.

Hotels in central Hohhot. Some chain hotels near the airport for early flights.

Hohhot is the gateway to Inner Mongolia—vast grasslands, Mongolian culture, and a unique frontier atmosphere within China:

Top attractions (with travel time from airport):

• Inner Mongolia Museum: 25 min—excellent introduction to Mongolian culture, dinosaurs
• Dazhao Temple: 35 min—Tibetan Buddhist temple, largest in city
• Five Pagoda Temple: 35 min—unique Buddhist architecture with five pagodas on one base
• Great Mosque: 35 min—over 400 years old, beautiful architecture
• Zhaojun Tomb: 45 min—ancient tomb of Wang Zhaojun

Grassland experiences (the main attraction):

• Xilamuren Grassland: 2 hours—most accessible, tourist-friendly
• Gegentala Grassland: 2.5 hours—more authentic experience
• Huitengxile Grassland: 2.5 hours—summer music festivals
• Activities: Horseback riding, yurt stays, Mongolian BBQ, traditional performances

What to experience on the grasslands:

• Yurt (Ger) overnight: Traditional felt tent accommodation
• Horseback riding: Essential grassland experience
• Mongolian BBQ: Whole roasted lamb
• Naadam festivals: Wrestling, archery, horse racing (July-August)
• Sunset watching: Endless horizons

Food & drink:

• Roast lamb leg (烤羊腿): Mongolian specialty
• Hand-grabbed mutton (手把肉): Boiled mutton eaten with hands
• Mongolian milk tea: Salty, buttery tea—acquired taste
• Airag: Fermented mare's milk (seasonal)
• Dairy products: Cheese, yogurt, milk skin
• Shaomai: Oversized dumplings, Hohhot style

Local tips:

• Book grassland tours: Organize through hotels or agencies
• Summer best: June-September for grasslands; winters are brutally cold (-20°C)
• Altitude: Hohhot is at 1,000m; grasslands higher—some visitors feel effects
• Chinese Mongolia: This is Inner Mongolia (China), not Mongolia the country
• Dual identity: Mongolian culture within Chinese governance
• Cashmere: Inner Mongolia produces quality cashmere—good shopping
• Limited English: Even less than typical Chinese cities
• Stars: Grasslands have incredible night skies
• The city name means "Blue City" in Mongolian
• Many ethnic Mongolians live here, though Han Chinese are majority now