Why Tongliao
Tongliao is a prefecture-level city situated in eastern Inner Mongolia, China, occupying an area of 59,535 square kilometers. The city proper centers around the Horqin District, historically known in Mongolian as Bayitalai, while the surrounding region was long known as Jirem. Geographically, the area primarily features open terrain formed by the Sanhe Plain, which is shaped by the Xiliao, Xinkai, and Jiaolai rivers. Towards its northern borders, the landscape transitions into the eastern foothills of the southern Greater Khingan range, rising to its summit at Tunte'er Peak at 1,444.2 meters. Silica sand deposits are also located within the region.
Human settlement in the surrounding Khorchin territory stretches back to at least 1000 BC. Early cultures in the region, such as the Donghu, practiced agriculture and animal husbandry alongside metalwork and bronze craft. Over the centuries, control of the territory shifted among the Xiongnu, Xianbei, Khitan, and Mongol powers. In 1636, local tribes formed the Jirem League to administer the land, an organizational system that persisted through various provincial realignments until the modern prefecture-level city was established in 1999. The area retains distinct local heritage, including the use of the Khorchin Mongolian dialect.
Visitors to Tongliao can explore notable natural and cultural sites across the prefecture. Key places of interest include Daqinggou as well as the Zhurihe Ranch. Every summer, Zhurihe Ranch hosts the traditional Naadam festival, serving as a primary venue for regional cultural gatherings and events. The city also acts as an educational hub for the area, hosting institutions such as the Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities.
Tongliao experiences a four-season, monsoon-influenced continental steppe climate marked by long, cold, windy, and dry winters alongside hot, humid summers. Average temperatures range from −13.0 °C in January to 24.2 °C in July, with most rainfall concentrated between June and August. Despite the seasonal rains, dry and clear weather predominates, granting the region over 3,000 hours of bright sunlight annually.
Travel to and around the area is facilitated by established transit networks, with Tongliao railway station operating as a central regional hub. Rail lines connect the city directly to major destinations such as Beijing, Shenyang, and Daqing, while several State Highways cross the territory toward coastal port cities like Tianjin, Dalian, and Qinhuangdao. Air travel is provided by Tongliao Airport.
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