China
Dongsheng
Arriving in Dongsheng, Inner Mongolia, feels like stepping into a private desert kingdom designed for indulgent travel and attractions. Check into the Ordos Golden Town International Hotel, where marble lobbies, silk-upholstered suites, and discreet butler service frame your first encounter with this frontier city of glass towers and wide boulevards. Begin at Kangbashi New Area, Dongsheng’s futuristic twin. Stroll past monumental public art, mirror-like government buildings, and vast, nearly empty squares glowing at sunset. The silence, broken only by wind, lends an otherworldly glamour that pairs perfectly with a chauffeured evening drive and rooftop cocktails. Devote a full day to the Genghis Khan Mausoleum Scenic Area, a short journey from Dongsheng. Reserve a private guide to unlock the symbolism in the Mongol banners, stone turtles, and white yurts scattered across the grassland. Time your visit for the flag-raising ceremony, then linger over a curated Mongolian banquet, complete with roasted lamb and local milk wine. For raw desert drama, book a VIP excursion to the Ordos Desert. Race dune buggies across rolling sand, ride camels at golden hour, and settle into a silk-draped tent for a chef-prepared dinner beneath a sky heavy with stars. Many luxury operators add drone photography and live folk music to seal the memory. Back in Dongsheng, explore the bustling Dongsheng Night Market. Between neon-lit stalls selling grilled skewers and handmade cashmere, you can commission custom silver jewelry inspired by nomadic motifs. End at a sky bar overlooking the Yellow River plain, watching the city’s lights shimmer like a mirage at the edge of the desert.