The Site of Xanadu, located on Jinlianchuan Prairie and the north bank of the Shandian River, is 12 miles (20 kilometers) northwest to the center of Zhenglan (Xulun Hoh) Banner of Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia in north China. Xanadu, Shangdu in Chinese, was the capital of China in the early years of the Yuan Dynasty (1271 - 1368). Established in 1256, this metropolis, created by the Mongols, a nation on horseback, is considered the archetype combination of farming and nomadic culture. Xanadu’s prominent position in history is as famous as the ancient city of Pompeii in Italy. The present Site of Xanadu, including the general layout and precious relics, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2012, and has now become a most sought-after destination.

The Mongol Empire was the largest known in the history of the world, and covered most of modern-day Eurasia. In 1255, Kublai Khan, the grandson of Genghis Khan (the founder of the Mongol Empire), became governor of the prized fertile plains previously held by the Western Xia (Inner Mongolia). He started to build a city in 1256, and the project was completed in 1259. Kublai Khan ascended the throne there in 1260, and named the place Kaiping City. In 1264, it was renamed Xanadu (also Shangjing or Bianjing), and later served as the political, economic, military, and cultural center in northern China. During the following Yuan Dynasty, the Great Capital (Dadu) was created in today’s Beijing. From then on, Xanadu became a secondary capital and an imperial summer resort. Every year from March to September, the emperor and his ministers would handle the daily affairs there.

The ancient prosperity of Xanadu disappeared due to warfare and revolt, leading to the end of the Yuan Dynasty. The ancient city walls still tower over the foundations, and the differing layouts of houses can still be recognized implicitly today.

Passing through the entrance, you will see a huge bronze statue of Kublai Khan. Electric power carts are available for reaching the first gate; Mingde Gate, where you will pass through the flower district of Jinlianchuan Prairie.

Layout of Xanadu
The city of Xanadu was composed of three nested, square enclosures - the inner Imperial Palace, the larger Imperial City, and the Outer City as the outermost defense. It was 2,242 yards (2,050 meters) from east to west, 2,313 yards (2,115 meters) from south to north, and the girth was about 9,843 yards (9 kilometers). The city walls of the Imperial Palace and the Imperial City were built using bricks and stones, while the Outer City walls were composed mainly of soil.

It is recorded that 110,000 people lived there at the city’s height of power, with 60 government offices, and 160 ancestral temples and joss shrines in the city. Post roads led in all directions, resulting in a traffic hub connecting central and northern China.

The Outer City was separated by a soil wall in the west. The imperial garden named “Bei Yuan”, a place for animal hunting, lay to the north, where rare birds, beasts, flowers and trees abounded. The famous “Zongmao Hall” was built for the holding of “Ma Yan,” a splendid banquet for the handling of government affairs. In the south were offices, temples, and workshops.

The Mongols’ rectangular Imperial City was located in the southeast of the Outer City. Streets were neatly and symmetrically built, and there were many associated offices and temples. Qianyuan Temple and Huayan Temple were situated in the northwest and northeast corners respectively. The site of the southern Mingde Gate is still there today.

The Imperial Palace of Xanadu was half as large as the Forbidden City in Beijing. It was located a bit north to the center of Imperial City. All the main palaces, pavilions, government offices were built, and over 30 remnants of halls were discovered within the palace compound. These included the sites of the Crystal Palace, Hongxi Hall, Muqing Hall, and Da’an Pavilion. Da’an Pavilion, in the center of this palace, was the most significant building in the city, and also the symbol of Xanadu. In the north was the site of Muqing Hall. From the remains of the huge base, as tall as the wall, you can imagine the grandeur of this once largest building in the Imperial Palace. This palace boasted three gates with Yutian Gate in the south as the most important, for any imperial decree had to be announced there at first.

Guangxiang Areas
Outside of the Outer City, there were four “Guangxiang Areas” where residents and merchants lived, for they were not allowed to live in the city. In the north were military camps; in the south, busy trade areas full of shops, taverns, and inns; in the west, markets selling sheep and horses, and commercial districts; and in the east, reception areas for missions who wanted to go to court.

To the northwest of the city, a canal designed by the scientist Guo Shoujing in Yuan Dynasty is still there. It is the only irrigation work being completely preserved though the grasslands of northern China.

Legendary Xanadu played a very important role in Chinese history, international diplomacy, and commerce. It was prosperous in the Yuan Dynasty, with merchants from around China, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, coming to make deals of varieties of goods such as metal wares, pottery, and luxuries consumed by aristocrats. Many envoys were receipted in the city. Marco Polo, an Italian traveler and businessman, was paramount in introducing Chinese goods and culture to the rest of the world. His famous book ‘Travels of Marco Polo’ describes his 17 years spent in China, including the special experience in Xanadu.

Admission  Fee CNY 30
CNY 10 (electric power carts, from the entrance of the site to the Mingde Gate)
(It takes about 15 minutes to walk to the gate.)
Transportation Take a train from Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia to Zhenglan Banner Station, which is 16 miles (25 kilometers) to the site of Xanadu, and then charter a car (about CNY 150 for a round trip) to get there.

Full Name: Xilingol League (Xilinguole Meng)

Chinese Name: 锡林郭勒盟 (xī lín guō lè méng)

Population: 1,009,000 

Area: 202,580 square kilometers (78,217 square miles)

Nationalities: Mongol, Han

Administrative Division: 1 county: Duolun; 9 qis: Abag (Abaga) Qi, Sunite Zuo Qi, Sunite You Qi, Dong Ujimqin (Wuzhumuqin) Qi, Xi Ujimqin (Wuzhumuqin) Qi, Taibus (Taipusi) Qi, Xianghuang Qi, Zhengxiangbai Qi, Zhenglan Qi; 2 county-level cities: Xilinhot (Xilinhaote), Erenhot (Erlianhaote) 
Note: Qi (or Banner) is a county-level administrative organ in Inner Mongolia's political divisions. League or Meng is an administrative unit in Inner Mongolia consisting of several qis (or banners).

Seat of the League Government: 30, Nadamu Da Jie, Xilinhot City

Useful Telephone Numbers: Tourist Complaints: 0479-8237932
                                         Weather Forecast: 121
                                         Zip Code Inquiry: 184

Bank of China Xilinhot Branch: 6, Tuanjie Da Jie, Xilinhot City

China Post Xilingol Branch: Xilin Dajie, Xilinhot City

Location: Situated in the central region of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Xilingol League is bounded on the north by Outer Mongolia in the neighborhood of Zhangjiakou and Chengde of Hebei Province in the south. Within Inner Mongolia, it borders Wulanchabu in the west, Chifeng, Xing'an and Tongliao in the east.

History: Early in the Shang Dynasty (16th -11th century BC), nomad tribes moved to this area. It was always inhabited by ethnic minorities from Northern China and was governed by regimes established by these minorities. The Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC) founded shires to administer the region temporarily. As the secondary capital of the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), Xinlingol was an important central city at that time.

Physical Features: Its terrain slopes downward from the south to the north. Low mountains and hills in the southern and eastern regions of Xilingol are offshoots of the western extension of the Daxing'anling Mountains and the eastern extension of the Yishan Mountains. The land is flat in the northern and western regions with some hills and lava mesas scattered around.

Climate: Xilingol enjoys a typical temperate semi-arid continental climate featuring strong wind, aridity and chilliness. Spring and autumn are short, and winter is long. There is no summer heat, and annual average temperatures are around 0℃-3℃ (32℉-37.4℉).
     
When to Go: Recently, sandstorms have occurred more frequently in spring and autumn. Therefore, June to August is the best season to visit Xilingol.

Special Local Products: Mongolia mushroom, Russian olive, mutton, beef

Attractions:
Xilingol is the nearest pasturing area to the Beijing and Tianjin areas. Grand grasslands, relics of dinosaur and ancient residence of Kublai are main attractive scenic spots in Xilingol.

Xilingol Grassland is the most representative grassland in a temperate climatic zone in China. It is a national grassland nature reserve, being a fabulous destination to ride on horseback freely and experience the country life of a nomad.

Xilingol was a homeland for dinosaurs hundreds of millions of years ago. Dinosaur National Park in Erenhot City is a national 4A level scenic spot famous for its abundant and rare dinosaur fossils. Nowadays, this park establishes a special exhibition museum in order to display the relics of dinosaurs. Besides, the largest and most intact dinosaur fossil was discovered in Sunite You Qi. This well-known source of dinosaur fossils is the desolate area 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) northeast of Erenhot.

The Site of Xanadu was the capital of the Mongol Empire in the early Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). First established in 1256, the prominent position of Xanadu in history is as famous as the ancient city of Pompeii in Italy. In 2012, this place was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Travel Tips:
People living in the pasture area of Inner Mongolia like eating mutton and dairy. For drinks, they like Mongolian milk tea, yoghurt and koumiss (fermented milk).

Xilinhot Airport is situated in the western part of the city of Xilinhot, operating daily flights to Beijing, Hohhot and Halaer (center area of Hulunbeier City) as well as some provisional tourist flights to other big cities.

The four railways in Xilingol stretch to the capital city of Inner Mongolia and to almost all the vital towns inside the league, connecting the railway system in Outer Mongolia. There are also three national highways and eight provincial highways that make up the backbone of its road transportation.

Xilinhaote Bus Station is the transportation hub of Xilingol. It is located on Nadamu Da Jie. Near the railway station at the junction of provincial highways No.101 and 207, the western station mainly operates buses to places inside Inner Mongolia.