Hohhot is the capital of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China, usually referred to as Inner Mongolia. It sits in vast grasslands to the south of the central portion of the region, and has been a popular destination for Mongol nomads for over a thousand years.
The city is growing into a modern capital, though much of its charm comes from the close connection it has to its Mongol traditions. The largest industry in Hohhot is the dairy industry which sprung up from the expertise of local herdsmen in the area and it has earned Hohhot the nickname ''the capital of milk''. The two largest dairy brands in China are based here (Yili and Mengniu) producing milk, yoghurt and cheese for the entire country. Proximity to coal deposits places power generation high on the list of the city's revenue earners, and Hohhot is also developing considerable capacity in electronics, IT, pharmaceuticals, metallurgy and chemicals.
For the most part though, Hohhot remains much the same as it has been for centuries: this is especially true away from the urban areas. Any visitor to Hohhot should be sure to spend some time in the grasslands to the north of the city. Several areas have been developed by the local government in recent years, and though these spots lose a little authenticity, they make up for it in breadth of experience. Visitors can ride with herdsmen, sample traditional foods such as roasted mutton and milky bean-curd and watch displays of archery, dancing and wrestling. Staying in a yurt with a local Mongol family is the highlight of a trip to the grasslands:
The annual Nadam Fairhas been a feature of life in the grasslands around Hohhot for over seven centuries. It brings together nomadic peoples from all over the region to compete in traditional sports, celebrate through dance and song and discuss the business of survival in the grasslands.
The Mongol people have been producing cheese and yoghurt for centuries. Mare's milk from Mongolian horses is a local delicacy and regarded as especially precious, doubly so once it has been fermented to produce a slightly pungent alcoholic drink called koumiss. The milk is reputed to have beneficial effects including increased circulation and helping to fight off the effects of cold weather. The menu in Hohhot is dominated by mutton. The most typical dish is a roasted whole sheep: a delicacy that could once only be enjoyed by Khans (rulers) due to the expense and complicated cooking process. Smaller chunks of mutton are roasted, boiled and stewed, served up alongside fried rice and milky tea to provide nourishing and delicious meals.

Hohhot lies to the south of the Yinshan Mountains in the centre of Inner Mongolia, 400 kilometers from Beijing.
The seasons in Hohhot are well defined: summers are warm: the temperature can reach 28C (82F). The temperature can go as low as -18C (-0.4F) in winter. The temperature also fluctuates greatly during the day, falling by up to 15C at night: visitors should take care to pack layers and long-sleeved clothing even in the summer.

The population of Hohhot is a little over 2 million, with only about 46% of the people living in urban areas. It is one of the most ethnically diverse Cities in Inner Mongolia, home to over 35 different ethnic groups, the largest of which is Han. Other ethnic groups in the city include Manchu, Hui, Tibetan and Dawoer, and only 10% of the population remains ethnically Mongolian

History

As early as the Warring states period the area we now call Hohhot was inhabited. The city of Yunzhong was founded here at this time by the Zhao Kingdom: relics of the Zhao Great Wall they built to keep out invades can still be seen in Tuoketuo County to the southwest of Hohhot.

When Qin Shi Huang unified China and became the First Emperor of China, establishing the Qin Dynasty, the area was named Yunzhong County. In the Western Han Dynasty, Emperor Wu dedicated many Cities to military usage, one of which was the current city of Hohhot. Relics of this time can be found in the eastern suburbs of Hohhot.
 
China briefly lost control of the entire Hohhot region to the Turkik, during the Sui and Tang dynasties, but the invaders were driven out. In 1572, the Mongol leader Altan Khan established a walled city in the area, which we now recognize as the section of Hohhot called the Old City. He consolidated his power in this new city, ordering lamaseries (the Dazhao and Xiaozhao temples) to be built, and the area became a central city for Buddhism in northern China. At this point, Hohhot's primary function changed from that of a military encampment to that of an economic and social hub.

As power shifted once again, the Mongols were driven out of Hohhot by the Manchus, who took control of the area in the transition between the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Manchus built a new city in 1736, 2 kilometers northeast of the old city, which they called "Suiyuan” which is now referred to as the ''New City''.  These ''twin Cities'' were a common feature of the Manchu rule and although some commerce did flow between the two settlements, they remained separate entities for a long time.

In 1914, the Cities were politically integrated, and are slowly becoming socially integrated as the 2 kilometers that separates them has gradually been built up since 1949. Both the ''New City'' walls and the ''Old City'' north gate have been torn down to accommodate this development. In 1954, Guisui was changed to Hohhot and the city was made the capital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.