OMG, I just found out there's a grassland near Beijing. I'm crying.

I'm on a 3-month secondment to Beijing and specifically chose a weekend to visit Ulan Butong, the closest large grassland to Beijing. It's said to be a cheaper alternative to Altay!! We set off at 5am and arrived at Ulan Butong at 2pm. The weather changed dramatically in those few hours, alternating between rain and sunshine. We even saw two rainbows after the rain! Ulan Butong Grassland is located at the border of Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, and Weichang, Hebei. It's also a filming location for movies and TV shows!! - 🚗Transportation: If you're starting from Beijing, I don't recommend taking the expressway. Go directly via the national highway. You'll pass by the "First Scenic Highway," and the scenery is beautiful from the moment you enter this road! 🎫Tickets: The Ulan Butong pass is 120 RMB. You can buy it online, and it's valid for 3 days. They check tickets at the entrance and exit of the scenic area! 🏠Accommodation: The accommodation is very basic. As long as it's clean and you can sleep, don't expect anything more!! 🥣Food: We had an authentic roasted whole lamb and danced around a bonfire with strangers. It was a great experience! - Actually, Ulan Butong isn't as big as I imagined. You can basically cover the main attractions in a day! Recommendations: 1️⃣Ulan Butong Grassland: European-style scenery, vast grasslands, incredibly beautiful and healing. You can go grass sliding, and in areas with more serious desertification, you can go sand sliding! 2️⃣Hongshan Military Horse Ranch: You can experience horseback riding here. I must seriously tell everyone that horseback riding is dangerous. Experienced riders can give it a try, but those without experience should buy insurance before getting on a horse. There are also camels you can ride! 3️⃣Hundred Grass Ovoo: A place where herders hold sacrificial ceremonies. It's a great spot for photos. 4️⃣Film and Television Base: You need to climb a long boardwalk. It has been the location for hundreds of films and TV shows! Including well-known ones like "Princess Pearl" and "The Legend of Mi Yue"!