Horseback Riding in Inner Mongolia: A Complete Guide for International Riders
If you picture horseback riding in Inner Mongolia as a slow ride across an endles
s flat grassland, the reality can be much more exciting.
Around Ulan Butong, one of the most beautiful riding destinations accessible from Beijing, riders can cross open grasslands, forests, rolling hills, mountain trails, and vast areas with almost no signs of modern development.
For intermediate and experienced riders, this is one of the best places in China to enjoy long-distance riding, with plenty of opportunities to trot, canter, and even gallop.
This guide explains what horseback riding in Inner Mongolia is actually like, when to go, what level of riding experience you need, and what to expect from a multi-day riding trip.
1. Mongolia or Inner Mongolia: Which Is Better for Horseback Riding?
Mongolia may be the first destination that comes to mind for a horseback riding adventure, but Inner Mongolia in China offers a great alternative for international riders.
Both offer vast grasslands, strong horse culture, and multi-day riding. The main difference is the travel style.
Horseback riding in Mongolia often focuses on longer expedition-style journeys, with stays in traditional gers or camps and a stronger emphasis on nomadic culture.
In Inner Mongolia, you can still enjoy serious long-distance riding — around 6–7 hours and 40 km on a full riding day — across grasslands, forests, and hills, with opportunities to trot, canter, and gallop.
For riders who want adventure without giving up comfort, Bite Escape combines full riding days with comfortable guesthouse accommodation and all transportation from Beijing.
If Mongolia is about the wilderness expedition, our Inner Mongolia experience is about serious riding with a little more comfort.
2. Where Is the Best Place for Horseback Riding in Inner Mongolia?
Inner Mongolia is enormous, so saying you want to “ride horses in Inner Mongolia” is a little like saying you want to go horseback riding somewhere in Europe.
One destination we particularly recommend is Ulan Butong Grassland.
Located north of Beijing, Ulan Butong is known for its grasslands, forests, rolling hills, lakes, and changing seasonal landscapes. It is also a well-known photography destination in China, especially for its green summer grasslands and colorful autumn scenery.
More importantly for riders, the landscape offers much more variety than simply riding across flat grassland.
3. What Is the Riding Terrain Like in Ulan Butong?
There are generally two types of riding terrain in Ulan Butong. On Bite Escape's trip, we ride at two different ranches so you can experience both.
The first is hillier and more varied, with routes through grasslands, forests, rolling hills, and mountain trails. The scenery is more dramatic, and the changing terrain makes the ride more interesting.
The second is flatter and more open, with longer stretches that are better suited to faster riding. Depending on the terrain, weather, and rider ability, there are opportunities to trot, canter, and gallop.
By combining two ranches in one trip, you don't spend several days riding the same type of route. One day might take you through hills and forests; another across wide-open grassland with plenty of room to pick up the pace.
That's one of the things we love most about riding in Ulan Butong - every day can feel different.
4. Is Horseback Riding in Inner Mongolia Suitable for Beginners?
For the kind of long-distance riding described in this guide, we do not recommend it for complete beginners.
The main issue isn't simply controlling the horse. It is endurance.
Spending six or seven hours in the saddle and covering around 40 km in a day can be physically demanding even if you are reasonably fit. A beginner who has only ridden a few times is unlikely to enjoy several consecutive long riding days.
Intermediate Riders
Intermediate riders are generally a very good fit.
If you are comfortable controlling a horse independently and have experience with trot and canter, the open terrain provides plenty of room to ride.
Experienced Riders
Experienced riders will probably get the most out of Ulan Butong.
Depending on the route and conditions, there can be opportunities for extended trot, canter, and gallop rather than constantly riding nose-to-tail at walking pace.
The huge landscape also gives riders much more space than a typical riding school or short trail ride.
5. Is Horseback Riding in Inner Mongolia Safe?
Open countryside can actually provide some advantages for confident riders.
There is generally much more space around you than on a narrow riding-school trail.
On some routes, if a horse becomes too strong and a rider is struggling to slow it down, heading gradually uphill can help reduce the horse's speed because it tires much more quickly on an incline.
Of course, this doesn't mean riders should deliberately let horses run uncontrolled. Riders should always follow the instructions of the local riding team and choose a pace appropriate for the terrain and conditions.
The key is matching the horse, rider ability, route, and pace correctly.
This is another reason we prefer small riding groups rather than large tourist groups.
6. Can You Trot, Canter, and Gallop in Inner Mongolia?
Yes. For riders with the appropriate experience, trot, canter, and gallop can all be possible.
This is one of the biggest differences between a real Inner Mongolia riding trip and a short tourist horseback experience.
The exact pace always depends on:
terrain
weather
horse condition
rider ability
group safety
Some mountain and forest sections naturally require slower, more technical riding.
When the landscape opens into broad, flatter grassland, there may be much more opportunity to increase the pace.
The goal isn't to gallop everywhere. The fun comes from having the freedom to change pace with the landscape.
7. What Is the Best Time for Horseback Riding in Inner Mongolia?
The main riding season in Ulan Butong runs from mid-June through late September, and each period offers a slightly different experience.
Mid-June: Fresh Horses & Cooler Weather
By mid-June, the grasslands are starting to turn green and temperatures are usually around 10–20°C.
This is also the beginning of the riding season, so the horses are just returning to regular work after a long winter break. They tend to be fresh, energetic, and full of spirit.
The grass isn't at its greenest yet, but the cooler weather and fewer visitors make June a great time for riders who care more about the riding itself than perfect summer scenery.
Mid-July to Mid-August: Greenest, but Busiest
From mid-July to mid-August, Ulan Butong is at its greenest, with the classic endless green grassland scenery many travelers imagine.
Temperatures are usually around 25–35°C and August also receive more rainfall, so occasional showers are possible during your ride.
However, this is also China's summer holiday season, making it the busiest time of year. Popular areas can become crowded, and traffic jams are possible.
Mid/Late August: Green Grasslands with Fewer Crowds
From around mid-August onward, visitor numbers begin to drop, while the grasslands are still beautifully green.
Temperatures are generally around 20–30°C, making riding more comfortable than during the hottest weeks of summer.
For riders who want green scenery without the peak-season crowds, late August is one of our favorite times to go.
Early to Mid-September: The Grasslands Begin to Turn Golden
By early September, temperatures drop noticeably to around 10–20°C, making it very comfortable for long days of riding.
During early and mid-September, temperatures continue to cool and the grass gradually changes from green to yellow.
The landscape starts feeling more autumnal, while conditions are generally comfortable for long days in the saddle.
Late September: Colorful Autumn
By late September, Ulan Butong enters its famous autumn season.
The hills and forests turn into a mix of gold, yellow, orange, red, and green, creating a completely different landscape from summer. Temperatures are much cooler, usually around 5–15°C.
Ulan Butong is one of China's well-known destinations for landscape photography, and late September is especially beautiful for riders who want to combine horseback riding with dramatic autumn scenery.
Ride Inner Mongolia with Bite Escape
Our 5-Day Premium China Horseback Riding Escape is designed for riders who want to experience Ulan Butong without dealing with the complicated logistics of organizing a remote riding trip independently.
The trip starts at our beautiful Beijing ranch, allowing you to start riding from Day 1 instead of losing an entire day to transportation. You can arrive in Beijing in the morning and be on horseback that same afternoon.
Surrounded by mountains and open countryside, the Beijing ranch is already a great trail-riding destination in its own right. Here, riders can get familiar with their horses, practice the essential skills needed for outdoor riding, and enjoy their first proper trail ride before heading deeper into Inner Mongolia.
From there, we continue to two different ranches in Ulan Butong, each offering a different landscape — from rolling hills, forests, and mountain trails to wide-open grasslands with more space for faster riding.
By combining one Beijing ranch and two Inner Mongolia ranches, we make the most of the full five days, giving you more time in the saddle and less time simply sitting in a vehicle.
The result is three different riding environments in one trip, with progressive trail-riding preparation, long riding days, varied terrain, small groups, comfortable accommodation, and all transportation from Beijing arranged for you.
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