Exploring Ordos: A Travel Guide to Ikh Aobao and the Prince's Mansion

Ikh Aobao 📍Address: G210 (Ikh Zhao Street), Kangbashi District, Ordos City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region 🎫Tickets: Free 🕙Opening Hours: Open all year round, 24/7 Ikh Aobao, known as "China's First Aobao," stands 57.4 meters tall and covers an area of 2,289 square meters, exuding grandeur. The upper section features a giant Sulide, a stone-built conical aobao, and a viewing platform offering panoramic views of Kangbashi. The lower section includes a sacrificial platform that can accommodate around 15,000 people. This sacred site is a place of prayer for the grassland people and holds profound cultural significance. ✅Recommended Activities: Ascend the 162-step pilgrimage path to experience the sacred atmosphere; enjoy the city and grassland views from the viewing platform; walk clockwise around the aobao three times to make a wish. ❗Important Notes: During sacrificial ceremonies, avoid drinking alcohol, smoking, or using foul language. Those who have experienced a family death within 100 days or have a newborn less than a month old should not participate. The Prince's Mansion 📍Address: Prince's Mansion Square, Alatanxire Town, Ejin Horo Banner, Ordos City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region 🎫Tickets: Check prices on-site or via official platforms 🕙Opening Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM (last entry at 4:00 PM) The Prince's Mansion is the only well-preserved royal residence in Ordos' seven banners and one district. Built during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, it combines Mongolian, Han, and Tibetan architectural styles. Covering over 2,100 square meters, the mansion features a courtyard layout with main halls, corridors, and meeting rooms. Its intricate eaves, brick carvings, stone carvings, and colorful paintings—depicting dragons, phoenixes, deer, and cranes—are vivid and rich in cultural heritage, reflecting Ordos' historical evolution. ✅Recommended Activities: Explore the mansion's architecture to appreciate its historical charm; visit the "Fortune" Street for intangible cultural heritage experiences like pyrography and traditional silver filigree inlay; savor Ordos delicacies such as hand-pulled lamb and roasted lamb ribs in the evening. ❗Important Notes: Respect local cultural customs, protect cultural relics, and avoid loud noises. The sacredness of Ikh Aobao and the historical charm of the Prince's Mansion make Ordos a captivating destination well worth a visit!