Arxan
阿尔山 · Arxan, Hinggan League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
A land of volcanoes and hot springs in the southwest of the Greater Khingan Range: crater lakes called Tianchi, the Shitanglin lava field and vast forests; inscribed as a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2017.
Know before you go
- Trampling or carving the fragile moss on the volcanic rocks
- lighting fires in the forest
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Stories & people
Stories & people
History
A century of hot springs
Arxan's hot springs were formally developed from the third year of the Qing Xianfeng reign (1853), and after the fall of the Qing their fame had spread to Russia, Mongolia and Japan. In 1933 the Japanese army built a sanatorium here, the Yamato Hotel, piping spring water indoors for bathing; in 1948 the Chinese People's Liberation Army set up a military sanatorium, and the All-China Federation of Trade Unions later also ran a sanatorium base here.
Source: Chinese Wikipedia: Arxan
History
From town to city
Arxan was once a town under Horqin Right Front Banner. In 1949 a forestry sub-bureau moved here and was renamed the Arxan Forestry Sub-bureau, and forestry became a mainstay of local life. The Arxan Economic Development Zone was set up in 1992, and in June 1996 the State Council approved the founding of the county-level city of Arxan.
Source: Chinese Wikipedia: Arxan
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Arxan City lies in the northwest of Hinggan League, Inner Mongolia, in the southwest of the Greater Khingan Range, bordering Mongolia to the west. Its name comes from the Mongolian "Halun Arxan", meaning "hot holy water" — a reference to its hot springs. Its mineral springs fall into four types, cold, warm, hot and very hot, and are billed as the world's largest hot-spring group; on about 1 square kilometer of woodland near the Mineral Spring Museum in town alone there are 52 spring outlets, ranging from 1°C to 48°C. Repeated Quaternary volcanic activity left crater lakes and lava landforms here: Arxan Tianchi is ringed by birches; Tuofengling Tianchi lies about 37 km from the gate of the national forest park; Shitanglin was formed by magma flowing after eruptions; Santan Gorge still holds ice and snow in June; and Dujuan (Azalea) Lake is lovely in every season. In May 2017 the Arxan geopark joined the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network. Forest covers more than 80 percent of the city.
Local customs
Hike the boardwalks around Tianchi and Santan Gorge, soak in the hot springs, see the golden forests after the autumn frost, and enjoy snow, ice and hot springs in winter.
Etiquette & taboos
Etiquette & taboos
Don’t DON'T
- Trampling or carving the fragile moss on the volcanic rocks
- lighting fires in the forest
Locals appreciate DO
- Stay on boardwalks and trails
- ask permission before photographing local residents
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- The sights are scattered and far apart, so plan on two days
- day-night temperature differences are large, so bring a windproof jacket
- roads ice over in winter, so watch your footing.
- Arxan is about 250 km, or 4 to 4.5 hours, by car from Ulanhot
- Arxan Yi'ershi Airport is about 20 km from town, and trains run toward Baicheng and Shenyang, with specific schedules subject to official information. June to September suits summer escapes and hiking
- the forests are most beautiful after the autumn frost, and autumn is considered the best season
- winter ice, snow and hot springs have their own charm, but it is extremely cold.
Photos
Photos
Sources & verification notes
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