Inner Mongolia lies in the far north of China and borders on the Republic of Mongolia and Russia. It is a vast and sparsely populated province, stretching from the Gobi Desert and Xinjiang in the west to Heilongjiang in the northeast. It was home to Genghis Khan, who led his warriors south into China and west across Central Asia and into Europe in the 12th and 13th centuries.

Much of Inner Mongolia is upland prairie. The short summer and extreme winter weather severely limit farming possibilities, although the grasslands are populated by nomadic communities of Mongolian herdsmen.

It is possible to stay with Mongolian families in their yurts, or circular tents, and to join them riding horseback on the prairies. Although the vast majority of the province's population is Han, the distinct Mongolian culture is clearly visible throughout.

The best time to visit Inner Mongolia is June to September.