CHILLING OUT Arxan’s cold weather, hot springs and stunning scenery lure winter visitors. Xu Lin discovers its offerings.
Visiting Arxan in winter is like exploring the icy wonderland of the Disney movie Frozen.
The small city in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region’s Hinggan League draws tourists with its stunning snowy views and winter activities like skiing, sledding and soaking in hot springs.
Its full name “Halun Arxan” means “hot holy water” in the Mongolian language.
Summer is the peak season for visitors.
They come to enjoy its cool weather, ecology, mineral water, volcanic formations, grasslands and wetlands.
But a growing number of travelers are discovering its allure during the coldest months.
The city inhabited by 13 ethnic groups sits at an average altitude of 1,100 meters, on the southwestern foot of the Greater Khingan Range, where four prairies that run across the border between China and Mongolia.
About an hour’s drive from the city flows the 20-kilometer Ice-Free River, which never freezes because of geothermal heat, even when the air is -30 C.
The sunshine on the nearby forest reflects the snowy woodland in the water. Cattle wander by its banks and drink from the ripples.
The road to the waterway also offers magnificent views of snowcapped mountains covered with trees.
Bailang Peak is one of the best places to see rime, which only forms in extreme cold.
Visitors’ exhalations will often accumulate as frost on their eyelashes. Many toss cups of hot water into the air to watch it instantly freeze and fall to the ground as ice.
A wooden walkway zigzags through the stunning rime scenery. Dead leaves cling to some branches, some of which break beneath the weight of the ice and snow.
Wooden stairs on a small hill nearby leads to an aobao, a stone mound that serves as a Mongolian place of worship. Colorful prayer flags flutter. The city’s downtown hosts the Arxan National Geopark Museum, where multimedia exhibits reveal the city’s history, and biological and geological diversity.
The area boasts such volcanic landforms as colorful crater lakes, granite peaks and lava.
Volcanism’s power is demonstrated through a simulation that shakes the stage — and viewers. Artificial lava dribbles along the cracks in the ground.
Strolling through the city enables travelers to see its various architectural styles. Exotic buildings come in various colors.
The three-story, yellow and green Arxan Train Station is a landmark. It was built in 1937 by occupying Japanese troops.
The streets are also lined with large snow and ice sculptures of such subjects as the zodiac, fairy tales and traditional Mongolian dances. Col- orful lights illuminate them at night, while stars twinkle in the skies above.
The winter wonderland especially appeals to kids. A slide shoots from an ice castle, and popular cartoon characters are sculpted in snow.
Visitors can sip warm tea in a bar made of blocks of ice. If you go
It takes about 1.5 hours to fly from Beijing to Arxan. Temperatures in winter range from about -15 C to -30 C, and are colder in the mountains. Visitors should dress warmly. The cold may cause smartphones to power off.
Visitors enjoy thawing out in the city’s 76 hot springs in evenings.
Volcanic forces and crustal movements produce the geothermal formations.
Local herdsmen long ago came to believe they wield therapeutic properties to ease pain and fight disease.
The different springs contain different “cocktails” of trace elements that are said to serve different functions. Some are for bathing. Others are for drinking.
Temperatures range from 1 C to 48 C.
It’s recommended to try the coolest first and work your way up to warmer waters.
Indeed, Arxan hopes to expand its offerings as a health destination.
Experts from home and abroad recently gathered in the city for the China (Arxan) International Healthcare and Snow Festival Forum.
They exchanged views about how to use Arxan’s natural resources to boost its health industry.
Inner Mongolia Medical University professor Su Xiulan suggests the city should develop green and health food industries.
Its mineral springs are said to be good for health because they contain minerals and trace elements human beings need. And the area hosts rare medicinal wild plants and herbs.
The United Nations Development Programme’s deputy country director for China, Patrick Haverman, suggests the local government integrate the UNDP’s Sustainable Development Goals into future plans to ensure sustainable growth. He says he looks forward to cooperating with Arxan in the future.
About 27 doctors from China, Mongolia, the United States, Russia and Pakistan gave free diagnoses to local patients as a campaign for public good.
Increasingly, it seems that visiting Arxan isn’t just a good time but also good for you.
Contact the writer at xulin@chinadaily.com.cn