Plan at a glance
Understand what the attraction is
Baotou Ancient City Cultural Tourist Area is in Xiguitu New District, Shiguai District. It is a purpose-built attraction with historical-style buildings, live performance venues and amusement facilities themed around northwest Chinese folk culture and film sets; it is not a preserved historic city. The Ancient City Gate, Liu Family Courtyard, Educated Youth Courtyard and Daxiangguo Temple set are themed scenes for viewing, photography and activities.
Tickets and seasonal hours
Tickets are priced by type and date. Current online ticket options include standard admission, children’s tickets, night tickets and activity packages, with different prices and inclusions. Daytime hours and summer evening hours also differ. When buying, check the entry period, last entry and show schedule for your selected date.
How much time to allow
Allow about 1 hour for the South Gate, Ancient City Gate, Liu Family Courtyard, the Daxiangguo Temple set and the food street. Allow 2–3 hours if you add the Educated Youth Courtyard, equestrian area and a performance that you have confirmed. Night visits have their own ticket types, so check show and entry times together.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
Choose your visit
Liu Family Courtyard and Educated Youth Courtyard
Liu Family Courtyard recreates scenes of everyday life from the 1970s and 1980s; Educated Youth Courtyard is another themed compound in the attraction. Look at the courtyard furnishings and film-style sets as scenes created for the attraction, not as authentic historic sites.
The Daxiangguo Temple set
Red walls, eaves and courtyards are the main features of the Daxiangguo Temple set, which is also a place to take photos. It is a themed set inside Baotou Ancient City and should be visited as part of the attraction’s own layout.
Equestrian shows and evening programs
Equestrian acts, molten-iron fireworks (打铁花), fire-pot performances and light shows follow the operator’s schedule. Show dates, content and ticket arrangements are announced for the current period; check the performance time before planning your route.
Food, costumes and games
The attraction has themed dining venues such as the Educated Youth Canteen and Mongolian Camp. Some areas offer historical costume rental and games such as pitch-pot. Dining, costumes and interactive activities may be charged separately; check prices and what is included before ordering, renting or joining.
Build your day
About 1 hour: the main courtyards
Enter through the South Gate. Visit the Ancient City Gate and Liu Family Courtyard, then the Daxiangguo Temple set and the food street. Adjust the order to what is open; this short visit focuses on the courtyards and sets and does not depend on an unconfirmed showtime.
2–3 hours: add themed courtyards and the equestrian area
Add Educated Youth Courtyard and the equestrian area to the short route. If you want to see an equestrian or intangible cultural heritage performance, first check its time and venue, then plan your entry around it. If no suitable show is scheduled, continue with the courtyards and a meal instead of waiting for a performance.
Night visit: plan around the program
Night visits focus on the light displays or performances actually operating that day. Check your ticket’s entry time, show schedule and end time; budget separately for food and costume rental. Confirm whether the daytime ticket includes any of the night program.
Get there
South Gate Visitor Center
The usual entrance is the South Gate, where the Visitor Center and ticket office are located. Navigate to Baotou Ancient City Cultural Tourist Area, then confirm the entrance and parking arrangements for the day before entering. There is a parking lot at the gate; fees and access depend on current on-site arrangements.
Driving from central Baotou
Driving from central Baotou takes about 30–60 minutes, depending on your starting point and traffic. Set the South Gate Visitor Center as your destination. If you plan to attend an evening show, allow for both the trip there and the return after the performance.
Public transport
There is currently no reliable regular public-transport timetable for a round trip. If you are not driving, consider a taxi or arrange a car in advance. If a scenic-area tour bus departs from Baotou Station (包头站) on your date, confirm that it is operating, where it leaves from and the last return time. Do not rely on it for a night-show return unless the trip back is confirmed.
Leaving after an evening show
The end time depends on that day’s program. Before setting out, confirm when the show ends, how the parking-lot exit is managed and how you will return to the city. If using a tour bus, check that its last departure connects with the end of the show; arrange another vehicle in advance if needed.
Know before you go
Tickets and concessions
Children’s and older-adult concessions depend on the ticket type and required documents for that date. For a night ticket or activity package, check the entry period and exactly what the ticket includes.
Shows and extra charges
Horse riding, amusement rides, food, costume rental and games may cost extra. Check the activity price or package inclusions before taking part. Molten-iron fireworks (打铁花), fire-pot performances and light shows follow the current schedule.
Luggage storage and animal activities
If you have large bags, check whether the lockers are available that day. If animal interactions are operating, review the activity and on-site rules before deciding whether to join.