Breathtaking vistas are on offer in the Chilechuan Grassland outside Hohhot. It is one of 39 grasslands included in the national grassland nature park project. [Photo by Le Yan/For en.hhhtnews.com]

The Chilechuan Grassland – located to the northeast of Hohhot, capital of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region – has taken on a stunning fresh look, thanks to the local government's successful efforts in restoring the ecological balance and in providing effective environmental protection.

Since 2012, Hohhot has implemented a comprehensive conservation program for the southern slopes of Daqing Mountain in the Yinshan Mountain range, with the restoration of the Chilechuan Grassland being an integral part. To date, the cumulative spending on that has totaled 7.28 billion yuan ($1.05 billion).

The awe-inspiring verdant expanse of the Chilechuan Grassland. [Photo by Le Yan/For en.hhhtnews.com]

Two or three years after the restoration project was implemented, the grassland vegetation burgeoned and became thicker. More than 20 kinds of plants were introduced to promote a virtuous cycle in the ecosystem. Now the number of plants on the grassland has grown to nearly 60 species, while a large number of animals have made their homes there.

Naturalists say the Chilechuan Grassland ecology has the ability to self-recover and the development of the eco-tourism industry is continuing to gather momentum. In 2020, it became one of the first pilot development units of the National Grassland Natural Park.

In order to fully protect its wild animals and plants, suspended trails and special bicycle paths have been established for tourists.

In 2021, the Chilechuan Grassland received 5.58 million tourists and generated a tourism income of 2.05 billion yuan.