Chaihe Scenic Area

The Chaihe area extends along the valley of the same name east of Zalantun city, offering a combination of forested walking trails, riverside scenery, and access to some of the old-growth taiga that distinguishes this part of Inner Mongolia from the grasslands to the west. The terrain is gentler here than at Pobuqi Gorge, making it more accessible for families and less strenuous hiking.

Horse riding is available at several ranches along the valley floor, and the combination of open river meadow and forest backdrop makes for a very different experience from the treeless grassland rides offered elsewhere in Inner Mongolia. The area is within easy cycling or taxi distance from central Zalantun.

things to do sight nature
A story
The Chaihe area sits at the boundary between two distinct ecological zones — the Mongolian steppe to the west and the Manchurian forest to the east. This transition zone supports an unusually diverse range of plant species, and the Soviet-era logging camps that once operated here have left ghost-town settlements in the forest that some travellers find more interesting than the scenery.