Plan at a glance
The city museum in Xilingol Cultural Park
Xilingol Museum (Xilingol League Cultural Relics and Archaeology Conservation and Research Center) is in Xilingol Cultural Park in the development zone of Xilinhot, near Xilin West Street. Search for “锡林郭勒博物馆” in your map app. The Yuan Shangdu Site Museum is south of the Site of Xanadu in Zhenglan Banner; the two museums are at different addresses and should be planned as separate stops.
How long to visit
A quick visit to the Northern Wei tomb exhibition on the third floor and the folk-culture exhibition on the second floor takes about 30–40 minutes. Following the third-floor, second-floor, and ground-floor sequence and including the Ulan Muqir exhibition takes about 1–1.5 hours. Allow extra transfer time if you are visiting other places in the city on the same day.
Admission and opening hours
Admission is free and no reservation is required. The museum lists Tuesday–Sunday hours as 8:30–11:30 a.m. and 2:30–5:30 p.m. in summer, and 9:00–11:30 a.m. and 2:30–5:00 p.m. in winter. Entry stops 30 minutes before closing.
Monday closure and seasonal hours
The museum is closed on Mondays except public holidays. Call 0479-8286558 to confirm the date when seasonal hours change and check the hours for your visit.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
Choose your visit
The Yihe'nao'er Northern Wei tombs
The third floor highlights the exhibition “Imprints of the Northern Frontier: The Yihe'nao'er Northern Wei Tombs,” about the Northern Wei burials and finds from Yihe'nao'er in Zhengxiangbai Banner. The tomb group was named one of China's Top 10 Archaeological Discoveries of 2014. It is a good choice for visitors interested in the Steppe Silk Road and cultural exchange during the Northern Wei period.
A blue glass bowl and tomb finds
The blue transparent glass bowl and the silver-gilt bowl embossed with figures and floral patterns, both unearthed from the Yihe'nao'er tomb group, show Northern Wei craftsmanship and cultural exchange. Related objects have appeared in exhibitions at this museum or elsewhere; check the current displays to see what is on view.
Mongolian intangible heritage and Ulan Muqir
The second-floor Mongolian intangible heritage display includes a yurt, a lele cart, traditional clothing, and household objects. The Ulan Muqir exhibition on the same floor introduces grassland performing-arts troupes from across Xilingol League. Spend longer in the folk-culture display to learn about life on the steppe, or add the Ulan Muqir exhibition if local performing arts interest you.
For a central Xilinhot temple visit with an optional climb to E'erdun Aobao, see Beizi Temple.
Build your day
A 30–40-minute visit
Take the elevator from the entrance to the third floor and start with the Yihe'nao'er Northern Wei tomb exhibition. Then take the stairs down to the second-floor Mongolian intangible heritage display and return to the ground-floor exit. If you have less time, focus on the Northern Wei tombs on the third floor and leave through the same entrance.
A 1–1.5-hour museum visit
From the ground floor, take the elevator straight to the third floor. Visit the Northern Wei tomb exhibition, the second-floor folk-culture display and Ulan Muqir exhibition, then return to the ground-floor general-history area, stamp station, or gift shop before leaving through the entrance. If a gallery is closed that day, shorten the route to the floors that are open; do not enter closed areas.
Get there
Map search, parking, and city transport
Search for “锡林郭勒博物馆” in your map app. The museum is in Xilingol Cultural Park in Xilinhot's development zone, near Xilin West Street. There is parking outside the museum. In June 2026, the museum temporarily changed the vehicle entrance and parking area while the park's road markings and parking spaces were being repaired; follow the current signs for the entrance and parking.
Taxi and return trip
You can take a taxi from central Xilinhot to the museum's main entrance, or cycle for a short city trip. After your visit, follow the signs back to the park road, then take a taxi or retrieve your car.
Know before you go
Entry documents, tours, and facilities
You need valid identification to enter. The museum has said that visitors who lose their Chinese Resident Identity Card can use real-name verification through the “Xilingol Museum” WeChat account to get a ticket. It has not clarified whether this option is available to foreign passport holders; call 0479-8286558 to check how to enter. The museum offers regularly scheduled free guided talks led by volunteers, self-guided audio devices, an accessible restroom, a hot-water room, and a first-aid kit.
Gallery changes and visiting rules
The museum planned upgrades to two permanent galleries in 2026. Ask on arrival whether the Northern Wei exhibition on the third floor, the folk-culture and Ulan Muqir exhibitions on the second floor, and the general-history area on the ground floor are open that day. Gallery layouts and displays may change during installation work. Do not touch artifacts, display equipment, or cases. Ask staff if you are looking for the dinosaur exhibition or a particular artifact.