Reportedly, Baotou is a grassy and fertile land inhabited by flocks of deer, and that’s why it is also known as the ‘Deer City’. Nowadays, the running deer has stood on the top of the sculpture in the centre of the city, symbolizing the developing Baotou. Its profound history and vast grassland and desert give birth to the unique culture of its own.

Baotou has rich historical and cultural heritage. Human settlers had moved there six thousand years before. Some two thousand years ago, Zhao and Qin states established the Great Wall in Baotou. Relics of the Zhao Great Wall and the Qin Great Wall in suburbs of the city expose the importance of the Baotou as a vital town in ancient ages.

70 kilometers (43 miles) northeast of Baotou City, Wudangzhao Lamasery is the only intact lama temple in Inner Mongolia. It is a famous shrine of Tibetan Buddhism on a par with the great Potala Palace in Tibet and Ta’er Monastery in Qinghai. The most attractive aspect of the lamasery is its spectacular Tibetan style architecture. There are many Tibetan sutras and art treasures, especially Buddha sculptures made of gold, silver, copper, wood and clay, as well as precious murals. Meidaizhao Lamasery is another important religious center of Baotou, located 80 kilometers (50 miles) east of the city proper. It was first built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), being a Lamaism center in Inner Mongolia. What is peculiar about the lamasery is that it was constructed imitating the Han style architecture in Central China and combining with elements of Tibetan and Mongolian buildings.

To known what does the indigenous Mongolian lamasery look like, Baotouzhao Lamasery (also Fuhui Temple) in Guizi Jie of Chengdong District is the only Mongolian style lamasery in the city. It was first built in the Qianlong Period of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). For Muslim visitors from home and broad, worshipping in the Baotou Great Mosque is a must. This grand mosque is located in the Qingzhensi Xiang of Hedong District. Also first built in the Qianlong Period of the Qing Dynasty, this is the first mosque when Islamism entered Baotou.

To experience the spectacle of desert, the Singing Sand Ravine is a good choice. It is located in Ordos City, but only 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of Baotou. Undulating dunes, marvelous singing sands, oasis and Mongolian flavor landscape are the highlights of the scenic spot. Surfing on the desert is the most interesting game. Sliding down along the dune, humming sounds will run around your ears. To explore the desert on a camelback is rather agreeable. Far-reaching yellow sands under the bright sky and snow-white clouds will stimulate a poetical feeling. When you have already in Ordos, Genghis Khan’ Mausoleum is a must go place. The tomb of the famous power king remains a sacred place for Mongolian people to worship and remember.

There is no lack of green resorts in Baotou. Xilamuren Grassland is a famous summer resort on the bank of Xilamuren River. The Nadam Fair held on the grassland attracts numerous travelers to visit. Jiufeng Mountain in middle section of Yinshan Mountains is a rare natural scenic area in northwest plateau of China. It stands in Salaqi Town of Tumote You Qi and consists of nine peaks with its main peak reputed to be the ‘lesser Mt. Taishan’. In the nature reserve, there are rich plant and animal resources. Flowers and herbs grow flourishingly all over the mountain between summer and autumn.

Standing in the Yinhe (Galaxy) Square and Aerding Square in the city center, one will be astonished about the changes happened in Baotou. Modern cityscape and busy streets inject fresh energy to this brilliant town in history.