Hohhot
Encyclopedia
Hohhot is a city in north-central China and the capital of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, serving as the region's administrative, economic, and cultural centre.
The city was founded by Mongol ruler Altan Khan
in the late 16th century. It was chosen as the region's administrative centre in 1952, replacing Ulanhot. A city with a rich cultural background, Hohhot is known for its historical sites and temples and is one of the major tourist destinations of Inner Mongolia. It is also nationally known as the home of China's dairy giants Mengniu
and Yili, and was declared "Dairy Capital of China" by the China Dairy Industry Association and the Dairy Association of China in 2005.
The name of the city in Mongolian means "Blue City." The color blue in Mongolian culture is associated with the sky, eternity and purity; in Chinese, the name can be translated as Qīng Chéng , literally, "Blue/Green City."
around 1580. Altan Khan and his successors constructed temples and fortress in 1579, 1602 and 1727. The Tumed
Mongols
had long been semiagricultural there. Hui merchants gathered north of the gate of the city's fortress, building a mosque in 1693. Their descendants forms the nucleus of the modern Hui people
's district.
The Qing Dynasty
built a strong garrison town near Hohhot, supervising southwestern Inner Mongolia in 1735-39. In 1913, the government of the new Republic of China
united the garrison town and Hohhot as Guisi. With the occupation
of the Japanese Empire in 1937, the city was renamed Hohhot. After the World War II
, Prince
Demchugdongrub
's autonomous government in Hohhot surrendered to the Republic of China
.
Until 1954, Hohhot was referred to in Chinese
as Guisui (歸綏 pinying: Guīsuī, Wade-Giles
: Kweisui), which is the abbreviation of the two districts of the city:
The two sections later became Guihua District (歸化縣) of the Qing Empire, renamed to Guisui County (歸綏縣) in 1913, and upgraded to a city in 1950. It was the capital of the now-defunct Suiyuan Province. In 1952, under Inner Mongolian chairman Ulanhu
, the city became the capital of Inner Mongolia. Suiyuan was annexed to the Inner Mongolian autonomous region two years later.
The city has seen significant development since China's reform and opening
began. The city's far east side began development around 2000 and is now home to an artificial lake called Ruyi He, a large number of condominium
s, the municipal government, and most of the Autonomous Region's government buildings. The Hohhot City Stadium
was built on the city's north side.
, the population of Hohhot reached 2,866,615, 428,717 inhabitants more than in 2000 (the average annual demographic growth for the period 2000-2010 was of 1.63%). Its built up area is home to 1,980,774 inhabitants (4 urban districts).
The majority of the population of Hohhot are Han Chinese
, representing 87.16% of the total population in 2010. Most Han in Hohhot are descendants of people from Shanxi
who have settled in the area over the past several decades, or those who have migrated from Northeastern China and Hebei
province after the founding of the People's Republic of China
in 1949, supported by government initiatives at the time to promote the development of border regions. Having been integrated into mainstream urban society, most Mongolians in the city speak fluent Mandarin Chinese in addition to Mongolian
. However, younger speakers are moving towards speaking Mandarin amongst themselves as well. A significant portion of the population is of mixed ethnic origin.
The majority of Hohhot residents can converse fluently in Mandarin, but there exists a linguistic divide between "old-town" folk (comprising today's Huimin District), with a large Muslim Hui minority, who tend to converse in raw Hohhot dialect, a branch of the Jin language from neighbouring Shanxi
province. This spoken form can be difficult to understand for speakers of other Mandarin Chinese dialects. The newer residents, mostly concentrated in Xincheng
and Saihan District
s, speak Hohhot-based Mandarin, the majority also with a noticeable accent and some unique vocabulary. (See Hohhot dialect for further details)
Due to its relatively diverse cultural make-up, and despite its characteristics as a mid-sized Chinese industrial city, the Hohhot street scene has no shortage of ethnic minority elements. Tongdao Road, a major street in the old town area, is decorated with Islamic and Mongol exterior designs on all its buildings. A series of government initiatives in recent years have emphasized Hohhot's identity with ethnic minority groups, especially in increasing Mongolian-themed architecture around the city. All street signs as well as public transportation announcements are regulated to be in both Chinese and Mongolian.
Food specialty in the area is mostly focused on Mongolian cuisine and dairy products. Commercially, Hohhot is known for being the base of nationally renowned dairy giants Yili and Mengniu
. The Mongolian drink suutei tsai ("naicha" 奶茶 in Chinese, "milk tea" in English), which has become a typical breakfast selection for anyone living or visiting the city. The city also has rich traditions in the making of hot pot
and shaomai
. There is also a large selection of Korean and Muslim restaurants, in addition to cuisine from other regions of China.
Ethnic groups in Hohhot, 2000 census.
BSk), marked by long, cold and very dry winters, hot, somewhat humid summers, and strong winds, especially in spring. The coldest month is January, with a daily mean of −11.6 °C, while the July, the hottest month, averages 22.6 °C (72.7 °F). The annual mean temperature is 6.73 °C (44.1 °F), and the annual precipitation is approximately. 400 millimetres (15.7 in), with more than half of it falling in July and August alone. Hohhot is a popular destination for tourists during the summer months because of the nearby Zhaohe grassland
s. More recently, due to desertification, the city sees sandstorms
on almost an annual basis.
from Beijing to Baotou
, and is served by two railway stations: Hohhot Station and Hohhot East Station. Trains to Beijing link to destinations to the south and the northeast
. The most prominent rail link with Beijing is the overnight K90 train, which has served the Hohhot-Beijing line since the 1980s and is referred to colloquially as the "9-0" by locals. Westbound trains go through Baotou and Lanzhou
. There are also rail links to most major Inner Mongolian cities and to Ulaanbaatar. Because the quickest trip from Beijing takes around eight and a half hours despite the close distance of the cities, plans for high-speed rail
has been discussed for years, but construction has been consistently postponed.
Hohhot's Baita International Airport
(IATA:HET) is about half an hour from the city centre by car. It has direct flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Wuhan, Hong Kong etc., and to Ulaanbaatar
, Mongolia
. Long distance buses connect Hohhot to outlying counties, the cities of Baotou, Wuhai
, Ordos
, and other areas in Inner Mongolia.
The city's public transit system is composed of nearly one hundred bus routes and a large fleet of taxicabs, which are normally green. The bus fare is 1 yuan. The taxi fare begins at 6 yuan.
Hohhot's major north-south thoroughfares are called "Lu" and its east-west thoroughfares are called "Jie". This is roughly equivalent to dividing roads into "street" and "avenue" designation according to direction, a practice used in some North American cities. The largest elevated interchange is near the site of the city's Drum Tower, after which it is named. Several major streets are named after Inner Mongolian leagues; among these, Hulun Buir, Xilin Gol and Xing'an run north-south, while Ulan Chaab runs east-west.
An expressway built in 1997 links Hohhot with Baotou
, then known as the Hubao Expressway. In recent years this expressway has been expanded eastwards to Ulaan Chab
and Zhangjiakou
, and onto Beijing
as part of the Jingzang Expressway
. The city is en route of China National Highway 110
, which runs from Yinchuan to Beijing
. China National Highway 209
begins in Hohhot and is southbound towards southern China, with its southern terminus in Guangxi
. Hohhot is connected to its northern counties through the Huwu Highway, which was completed in 2006. Previously travel to the northern counties consisted of lengthy navigation through mountainous terrain.
High Schools located in Hohhot include:
The city was founded by Mongol ruler Altan Khan
Altan Khan
Altan Khan , whose given name was Anda , was the ruler of the Tümet Mongols and de facto ruler of the Right Wing, or western tribes, of the Mongols...
in the late 16th century. It was chosen as the region's administrative centre in 1952, replacing Ulanhot. A city with a rich cultural background, Hohhot is known for its historical sites and temples and is one of the major tourist destinations of Inner Mongolia. It is also nationally known as the home of China's dairy giants Mengniu
Mengniu
China Mengniu Dairy Company Limited is a manufacturing and distribution company of dairy products and ice cream in the People's Republic of China...
and Yili, and was declared "Dairy Capital of China" by the China Dairy Industry Association and the Dairy Association of China in 2005.
The name of the city in Mongolian means "Blue City." The color blue in Mongolian culture is associated with the sky, eternity and purity; in Chinese, the name can be translated as Qīng Chéng , literally, "Blue/Green City."
History
Hohhot was founded by Altan KhanAltan Khan
Altan Khan , whose given name was Anda , was the ruler of the Tümet Mongols and de facto ruler of the Right Wing, or western tribes, of the Mongols...
around 1580. Altan Khan and his successors constructed temples and fortress in 1579, 1602 and 1727. The Tumed
Tümed
The Tümed are a Mongol subgroup. Most engage in sedentary agriculture, living in mixed communities in the suburbs of Huhhot. Part of them live along Hulun Buir, Inner Mongolia...
Mongols
Mongols
Mongols ) are a Central-East Asian ethnic group that lives mainly in the countries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. In China, ethnic Mongols can be found mainly in the central north region of China such as Inner Mongolia...
had long been semiagricultural there. Hui merchants gathered north of the gate of the city's fortress, building a mosque in 1693. Their descendants forms the nucleus of the modern Hui people
Hui people
The Hui people are an ethnic group in China, defined as Chinese speaking people descended from foreign Muslims. They are typically distinguished by their practice of Islam, however some also practice other religions, and many are direct descendants of Silk Road travelers.In modern People's...
's district.
The Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
built a strong garrison town near Hohhot, supervising southwestern Inner Mongolia in 1735-39. In 1913, the government of the new Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
united the garrison town and Hohhot as Guisi. With the occupation
Mengjiang
Mengjiang , also known in English as Mongol Border Land, was an autonomous area in Inner Mongolia, operating under nominal Chinese sovereignty and Japanese control. It consisted of the then-Chinese provinces of Chahar and Suiyuan, corresponding to the central part of modern Inner Mongolia...
of the Japanese Empire in 1937, the city was renamed Hohhot. After the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Prince
Prince
Prince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
Demchugdongrub
Demchugdongrub
Prince Demchugdongrub was the leader of a Mongol independence movement in Inner Mongolia. He was the chairman of Mengjiang, a Japanese puppet state in World War II....
's autonomous government in Hohhot surrendered to the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
.
Until 1954, Hohhot was referred to in Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
as Guisui (歸綏 pinying: Guīsuī, Wade-Giles
Wade-Giles
Wade–Giles , sometimes abbreviated Wade, is a romanization system for the Mandarin Chinese language. It developed from a system produced by Thomas Wade during the mid-19th century , and was given completed form with Herbert Giles' Chinese–English dictionary of 1892.Wade–Giles was the most...
: Kweisui), which is the abbreviation of the two districts of the city:
- Guihua (歸化, arch. Kwei-hwa): Southeastern old section, business district, established by Altan Khan around 1580.
- Suiyuan (綏遠): Northeastern "New Town", government district. Established in the 17th century by the ManchuManchuThe Manchu people or Man are an ethnic minority of China who originated in Manchuria . During their rise in the 17th century, with the help of the Ming dynasty rebels , they came to power in China and founded the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which...
s.
The two sections later became Guihua District (歸化縣) of the Qing Empire, renamed to Guisui County (歸綏縣) in 1913, and upgraded to a city in 1950. It was the capital of the now-defunct Suiyuan Province. In 1952, under Inner Mongolian chairman Ulanhu
Ulanhu
Ulanhu was the founder of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in China, Ulanhu had the nickname of "Mongolian Khan" during his political career.-Career:...
, the city became the capital of Inner Mongolia. Suiyuan was annexed to the Inner Mongolian autonomous region two years later.
The city has seen significant development since China's reform and opening
Chinese economic reform
The Chinese economic reform refers to the program of economic reforms called "Socialism with Chinese characteristics" in the People's Republic of China that were started in December 1978 by reformists within the Communist Party of China led by Deng Xiaoping.China had one of the world's largest...
began. The city's far east side began development around 2000 and is now home to an artificial lake called Ruyi He, a large number of condominium
Condominium
A condominium, or condo, is the form of housing tenure and other real property where a specified part of a piece of real estate is individually owned while use of and access to common facilities in the piece such as hallways, heating system, elevators, exterior areas is executed under legal rights...
s, the municipal government, and most of the Autonomous Region's government buildings. The Hohhot City Stadium
Hohhot City Stadium
Hohhot City Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Hohhot, China. It is currently used mostly for football matches. This stadium holds 60,000 people. This stadium built from May 2005.-Footnotes:...
was built on the city's north side.
Culture and demographics
According to the 2010 CensusSixth National Population Census of the People's Republic of China
The Sixth National Population Census of the People's Republic of China, also referred to as the 2010 Chinese Census, was conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China with a zero hour of November 1, 2010....
, the population of Hohhot reached 2,866,615, 428,717 inhabitants more than in 2000 (the average annual demographic growth for the period 2000-2010 was of 1.63%). Its built up area is home to 1,980,774 inhabitants (4 urban districts).
The majority of the population of Hohhot are Han Chinese
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
, representing 87.16% of the total population in 2010. Most Han in Hohhot are descendants of people from Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
who have settled in the area over the past several decades, or those who have migrated from Northeastern China and Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
province after the founding of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
in 1949, supported by government initiatives at the time to promote the development of border regions. Having been integrated into mainstream urban society, most Mongolians in the city speak fluent Mandarin Chinese in addition to Mongolian
Mongolian language
The Mongolian language is the official language of Mongolia and the best-known member of the Mongolic language family. The number of speakers across all its dialects may be 5.2 million, including the vast majority of the residents of Mongolia and many of the Mongolian residents of the Inner...
. However, younger speakers are moving towards speaking Mandarin amongst themselves as well. A significant portion of the population is of mixed ethnic origin.
The majority of Hohhot residents can converse fluently in Mandarin, but there exists a linguistic divide between "old-town" folk (comprising today's Huimin District), with a large Muslim Hui minority, who tend to converse in raw Hohhot dialect, a branch of the Jin language from neighbouring Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
province. This spoken form can be difficult to understand for speakers of other Mandarin Chinese dialects. The newer residents, mostly concentrated in Xincheng
Xincheng District, Hohhot
Xincheng District is a district of Hohhot, the capital of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China....
and Saihan District
Saihan District
Saihan District is a district of Hohhot, the capital of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.-References:*...
s, speak Hohhot-based Mandarin, the majority also with a noticeable accent and some unique vocabulary. (See Hohhot dialect for further details)
Due to its relatively diverse cultural make-up, and despite its characteristics as a mid-sized Chinese industrial city, the Hohhot street scene has no shortage of ethnic minority elements. Tongdao Road, a major street in the old town area, is decorated with Islamic and Mongol exterior designs on all its buildings. A series of government initiatives in recent years have emphasized Hohhot's identity with ethnic minority groups, especially in increasing Mongolian-themed architecture around the city. All street signs as well as public transportation announcements are regulated to be in both Chinese and Mongolian.
Food specialty in the area is mostly focused on Mongolian cuisine and dairy products. Commercially, Hohhot is known for being the base of nationally renowned dairy giants Yili and Mengniu
Mengniu
China Mengniu Dairy Company Limited is a manufacturing and distribution company of dairy products and ice cream in the People's Republic of China...
. The Mongolian drink suutei tsai ("naicha" 奶茶 in Chinese, "milk tea" in English), which has become a typical breakfast selection for anyone living or visiting the city. The city also has rich traditions in the making of hot pot
Hot pot
Hot pot , less commonly Chinese fondue or steamboat, refers to several East Asian varieties of stew, consisting of a simmering metal pot of stock at the center of the dining table. While the hot pot is kept simmering, ingredients are placed into the pot and are cooked at the table...
and shaomai
Shaomai
Shumai, also called pork dumplings, is a traditional Chinese dumpling served in dim sum.-Popular Chinese varieties:In the Qing Dynasty, the fillings varied by season: spring- garlic chives, summer- mutton and pumpkin, autumn- crab meat, winter- mixed seafood.Many varieties have been created as the...
. There is also a large selection of Korean and Muslim restaurants, in addition to cuisine from other regions of China.
Ethnic groups in Hohhot, 2000 census.
| Ethnicity | Population | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Han Chinese Han Chinese Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the... |
2,115,888 | 88.42% |
| Mongol | 204,846 | 8.56% |
| Hui Chinese | 38,417 | 1.61% |
| Manchu Manchu The Manchu people or Man are an ethnic minority of China who originated in Manchuria . During their rise in the 17th century, with the help of the Ming dynasty rebels , they came to power in China and founded the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which... |
26,439 | 1.10% |
| Daur | 2,663 | 0.11% |
| Korean | 1,246 | 0.05% |
| Miao Miao people The Miao or ม้ง ; ) is an ethnic group recognized by the government of the People's Republic of China as one of the 55 official minority groups. Miao is a Chinese term and does not reflect the self-designations of the component nations of people, which include Hmong, Hmu, A Hmao, and Kho Xiong... |
443 | 0.02% |
Subdivisions
The city is administratively at the prefecture-level, meaning that it administers both its urban area and the rural regions in its vicinity. The administrative area includes 4 counties, 4 districts, and a county-level banner; they are further divided into 20 urban sub-districts, and 96 townships. The data here represented is in km² and uses data from 2010 Census.| Map | # | English Name | Simplified | Traditional | Pinyin | Area | Population | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Proper | ||||||||
| 1 | Huimin District Huimin District Huimin District is a district of Hohhot, the capital of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.-References:*... |
回民区 | 回民區 | Huímín Qū | 175 | 394,555 | 2,255 | |
| 2 | Xincheng District Xincheng District, Hohhot Xincheng District is a district of Hohhot, the capital of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.... |
新城区 | 新城區 | Xīnchéng Qū | 700 | 567,255 | 810 | |
| 3 | Yuquan District Yuquan District Yuquan District is a district of Hohhot, the capital of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.-References:*... |
玉泉区 | 玉泉區 | Yùquán Qū | 270 | 383,365 | 1,420 | |
| 4 | Saihan District Saihan District Saihan District is a district of Hohhot, the capital of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.-References:*... |
赛罕区 | 賽罕區 | Sàihǎn Qū | 1,013 | 635,599 | 627 | |
| Rural | ||||||||
| 5 | Togtoh County Togtoh County Togtoh County is a county in west-central Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China, located on the north bank of the Yellow River at which point that great river turns out of the Ordos Loop toward the south. It is under the administration of the regional capital of Hohhot, to the northeast,... |
托克托县 | 托克托縣 | Tuōkètuō Xiàn | 1,417 | 200,840 | 142 | |
| 6 | Wuchuan County | 武川县 | 武川縣 | Wǔchuān Xiàn | 4,885 | 108,726 | 22 | |
| 7 | Horinger County Horinger County Horinger is a county of Inner Mongolia, China. It is under the jurisdiction of Huhhot.-Transport:*China National Highway 209*Inner Mongolia Provincial Highway 210*Fengzhun Railway-Economy:... |
和林格尔县 | 和林格爾縣 | Hélíngé'ěr Xiàn | 3,401 | 169,856 | 50 | |
| 8 | Qingshuihe County Qingshuihe County Qingshuihe County is a county of Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China, bordering Shanxi province to the south and east. It is the southernmost county-level division of the regional capital of Hohhot, which lies more than to the north.... |
清水河县 | 清水河縣 | Qīngshuǐhé Xiàn | 2,859 | 93,887 | 33 | |
| 9 | Tumed Left Banner Tumed Left Banner Tumed Left Banner is a banner of west-central Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China. It is under the administration the regional capital of Hohhot, which is some distance to the east-northeast.-References:*... |
土默特左旗 | 土默特左旗 | Tǔmòtè Zuǒ Qí | 2,712 | 312,532 | 115 | |
Geography and climate
Located in the south central part of Inner Mongolia, Hohhot is encircled by the Daqing Shan (大青山, lit. Great blue Mountains) to the north and the Hetao Plateau to the south. The city features a cold semi-arid climate (KöppenKöppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
BSk), marked by long, cold and very dry winters, hot, somewhat humid summers, and strong winds, especially in spring. The coldest month is January, with a daily mean of −11.6 °C, while the July, the hottest month, averages 22.6 °C (72.7 °F). The annual mean temperature is 6.73 °C (44.1 °F), and the annual precipitation is approximately. 400 millimetres (15.7 in), with more than half of it falling in July and August alone. Hohhot is a popular destination for tourists during the summer months because of the nearby Zhaohe grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
s. More recently, due to desertification, the city sees sandstorms
Dust storm
A dust / sand storm is a meteorological phenomenon common in arid and semi-arid regions. Dust storms arise when a gust front or other strong wind blows loose sand and dirt from a dry surface. Particles are transported by saltation and suspension, causing soil to move from one place and deposition...
on almost an annual basis.
Transportation
Hohhot lies on the Jingbao RailwayJingbao railway
The Beijing-Baotou Railway or Jingbao Railway is a 833 km railway from Beijing to Baotou, Inner Mongolia in China. It is a very important route in northwestern China....
from Beijing to Baotou
Baotou
Baotou is a mid-sized industrial city in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. Governed as a prefecture-level city, its urban areas are home to a population of approximately 1.78 million, with a total population of over 2.65 million accounting for counties under...
, and is served by two railway stations: Hohhot Station and Hohhot East Station. Trains to Beijing link to destinations to the south and the northeast
Northeast China
Northeast China, historically known in English as Manchuria, is a geographical region of China, consisting of the three provinces of Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang. The region is sometimes called the Three Northeast Provinces...
. The most prominent rail link with Beijing is the overnight K90 train, which has served the Hohhot-Beijing line since the 1980s and is referred to colloquially as the "9-0" by locals. Westbound trains go through Baotou and Lanzhou
Lanzhou
Lanzhou is the capital and largest city of Gansu Province in Northwest China. A prefecture-level city, it is a key regional transportation hub, allowing areas further west to maintain railroad connections to the eastern half of the country....
. There are also rail links to most major Inner Mongolian cities and to Ulaanbaatar. Because the quickest trip from Beijing takes around eight and a half hours despite the close distance of the cities, plans for high-speed rail
High-speed rail in China
High-speed rail in China refers to any commercial train service in the China with an average speed of or higher. By that measure, China has the world's longest high-speed rail network with about of routes in service as of June 2011 including of rail lines with top speeds of...
has been discussed for years, but construction has been consistently postponed.
Hohhot's Baita International Airport
Hohhot Baita International Airport
Hohhot Baita International Airport is an airport in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China . It is the largest airport in Inner Mongolia and lies east of downtown Hohhot...
(IATA:HET) is about half an hour from the city centre by car. It has direct flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Wuhan, Hong Kong etc., and to Ulaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatar
Ulan Bator or Ulaanbaatar is the capital and largest city of Mongolia. An independent municipality, the city is not part of any province, and its population as of 2008 is over one million....
, Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
. Long distance buses connect Hohhot to outlying counties, the cities of Baotou, Wuhai
Wuhai
Wuhai is a prefecture-level city and regional center in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. It is located on the Huang He between the Gobi and Ordos deserts...
, Ordos
Ordos
-Places:*Ordos Loop of the Yellow River, a region of China*Ordos Desert, in Inner Mongolia*Ordos City, city and district in Inner Mongolia*Ordos International Circuit, a race track in Ordos City.-People:...
, and other areas in Inner Mongolia.
The city's public transit system is composed of nearly one hundred bus routes and a large fleet of taxicabs, which are normally green. The bus fare is 1 yuan. The taxi fare begins at 6 yuan.
Hohhot's major north-south thoroughfares are called "Lu" and its east-west thoroughfares are called "Jie". This is roughly equivalent to dividing roads into "street" and "avenue" designation according to direction, a practice used in some North American cities. The largest elevated interchange is near the site of the city's Drum Tower, after which it is named. Several major streets are named after Inner Mongolian leagues; among these, Hulun Buir, Xilin Gol and Xing'an run north-south, while Ulan Chaab runs east-west.
An expressway built in 1997 links Hohhot with Baotou
Baotou
Baotou is a mid-sized industrial city in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. Governed as a prefecture-level city, its urban areas are home to a population of approximately 1.78 million, with a total population of over 2.65 million accounting for counties under...
, then known as the Hubao Expressway. In recent years this expressway has been expanded eastwards to Ulaan Chab
Ulaan Chab
Ulaan Chab is a region administered as a prefecture-level city in south-central Inner Mongolia, North China. Its administrative centre is in Jining District, which was formerly a county-level city. It was established as a prefecture-level city on 1 December 2003, formed from the former Ulanqab...
and Zhangjiakou
Zhangjiakou
Zhangjiakou, also known also by several other names, is a prefecture-level city in northwestern Hebei province of North China, adjacent to Beijing to the southeast. Its administrative area has a population of 4.35 million, and covers...
, and onto Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
as part of the Jingzang Expressway
G6 Beijing–Lhasa Expressway
The Beijing-Tibet Expressway , commonly abbreviated to Jingzang Expressway , also known as Beijing-Lhasa Expressway or China National Expressway 6, is part of the Chinese national expressway network and is planned to connect the nation's capital, Beijing, to the capital of the Tibet Autonomous...
. The city is en route of China National Highway 110
China National Highway 110
China National Highway 110 runs from Beijing to Yinchuan, via Hohhot and Baotou, in Inner Mongolia. It heads northwest from Beijing to Zhangjiakou then heads straight west, and runs to approximately 1,100 kilometres....
, which runs from Yinchuan to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. China National Highway 209
China National Highway 209
China National Highway 209 runs from Huhhot, Inner Mongolia to Beihai, Guangxi province. It is3,435 kilometres in length and runs south from Huhhot towards Shanxi province, Henan province, Hubei province, Hunan province, and ends in Guangxi province.Despite the "National Highway" designation, G209...
begins in Hohhot and is southbound towards southern China, with its southern terminus in Guangxi
Guangxi
Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...
. Hohhot is connected to its northern counties through the Huwu Highway, which was completed in 2006. Previously travel to the northern counties consisted of lengthy navigation through mountainous terrain.
Education
Universities located in Hohhot include:- Inner Mongolia UniversityInner Mongolia UniversityInner Mongolia University, located in the city of Huhhot, Inner Mongolia, Northern China, is a university in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China, under the authority of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regional government....
- Inner Mongolia University of AgricultureInner Mongolia University of AgricultureThe Inner Mongolia University of Agriculture is a university in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia.It was established in 1958.-References:...
- Inner Mongolia Normal UniversityInner Mongolia Normal UniversityInner Mongolia Normal University is a university in Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China under the authority of the Autonomous Region government. It is located in Hohhot, the capital city of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region....
- Inner Mongolia University of TechnologyInner Mongolia University of TechnologyInner Mongolia University of Technology is a university in Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China, under the authority of the Autonomous Region government. It was founded in 1951 and was originally known as the Suiyuan Higher Technical School and then the Inner Mongolia Polytechnic Institute ...
- Inner Mongolia College of Medicine
- Inner Mongolia College of Finance and Economics
- Hohhot College of Education
- Hohhot College of Police
High Schools located in Hohhot include:
- Hohhot No.2 Middle SchoolHohhot No.2 Middle SchoolHohhot No. 2 Middle School is a high school renowned throughout Inner Mongolia, China. It was formerly sponsored by General Fu Zuoyi, a member of the Kuomintang, also known as the Chinese Nationalist Party...
- Affiliated Middle School to Inner Mongolia Normal University
Artifacts
There are over 50 sets of murals in southeastern Hohhot, including a "Horse-tending Image" (牧馬圖). Over 50 pre-modern Buddhist temples and towers.Landmarks
- Tomb of Wang ZhaojunZhaojun TombThe Zhaojun Tomb , located by the Da Hi River nine kilometers south of Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, the People's Republic of China, is said to be the resting place of Wang Zhaojun, a commoner woman from the Chinese Han Empire who married a Xiongnu Chanyu...
: Located to about nine kilometers to the south of the center of Hohhot. It is said to be the resting place of Wang ZhaojunWang ZhaojunWang Qiang , more commonly known by her style name Wang Zhaojun was the consort of the Xiongnu chanyu Huhanye...
, a commoner woman from the ChineseChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
Han Empire who married a XiongnuXiongnuThe Xiongnu were ancient nomadic-based people that formed a state or confederation north of the agriculture-based empire of the Han Dynasty. Most of the information on the Xiongnu comes from Chinese sources...
king, ChanyuChanyuChanyu , was the title used by the nomadic supreme rulers of Middle and Central Asia for 8 centuries, starting...
. . - Temple of the Five Pagodas: Constructed in 1732 with architecture very similar to that of Indian temples. In its walls there are more than 1,500 figures of Buddha.
- Da Zhao TempleDa Zhao TempleIh Ju or Da Zhao Temple is a Buddhist monastery in the city of Hohhot in Inner Mongolia in north-west China. It is the largest temple in the city and is located in a narrow alley west of Tongdao Nan Jie....
: A Buddhist monastery constructed in 1579, the oldest in the city. - Inner Mongolia MuseumInner Mongolia MuseumThe Inner Mongolia Museum is a regional museum in the city of Hohhot in Inner Mongolia, in north China.This museum was founded on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, in 1957...
: Main exhibits include dinosaur fossils, historical artifacts of nomadic peoples, and the cultural life of modern nomadic peoples.
Sister Cities
| City | State | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Ulaanbaatar Ulaanbaatar Ulan Bator or Ulaanbaatar is the capital and largest city of Mongolia. An independent municipality, the city is not part of any province, and its population as of 2008 is over one million.... |
 UlaanbaatarUlaanbaatar Ulan Bator or Ulaanbaatar is the capital and largest city of Mongolia. An independent municipality, the city is not part of any province, and its population as of 2008 is over one million.... |
 MongoliaMongolia Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest... |
| Ulan Ude |  BuryatiaBuryatia The Republic of Buryatia is a federal subject of Russia . Its capital is the city of Ulan-Ude. Its area is with a population of 972,658 .-Geography:... |
 RussiaRussia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... |