'''Erenhot''' is a city in Inner Mongolia.
Get in
Take the train from the railway junction two hours north of Datong. The train takes about 10 hours and Erenhot is the last stop.
Probably also accessible by road, but not worth it. Accessible by road; Jining to Erenhot is a 4 hour ride.
Get around
Walk or take one of rickshaw's waiting outside of the train station or cruising the streets. Most likely you will have one just behind your back, following you in case you want to take a ride.
See
The city itself is nothing special and looks like any other Chinese city of the same size. The real attraction is the journey itself. All the way to Erenhot you can watch the endless green grassland plains stretching till horizon where they meet blue sky dotted with white clouds. If you are in a hurry, go on walk to the grassland outside the city and return with the train the next day.
If more adventurous Erenhot can be the first stop on the three day low-budget self-organised grassland tour. Don't expect any luxury or people speaking English in the next two days. Although the bus stops for lunch, buy some food and drinks for the bus.
Next stop is Xilinhot, a somehow bigger city about 12 hours of scenic bus drive over the dirt grassland roads to the East. There is only one bus departing in the early morning (around 7.00).
In Xilinhot, buy some food and drink, and walk south to the first small hill outside the city. Sit down and enjoy the magnificent view over the city and the vast green grasslands stretching into the distance. Again, the only bus departs early in the morning.
From Xining it is possible to head south to Datong or Beijing or continue heading East towards the city (forgot the name, but I'll check the map). The journey takes about 12 hours. From there it is a half day drive to Chengde and little bit more to Beijing.
Eat
Usual Chinese food available.
Drink
Usual Chinese drinks available.
Sleep
Walk out through the swarm of rickshaws waiting outside of the train station. Turn left, walk till the crossroad and turn right. Hotel is (was) about 50m on the left side of the street.
Take one rickshaw and explain the driver to take you to (cheap) hotel. You have a choice between Mongolian motels and Chinese motels.
Get out
With train, the only option is to go back. There is some kind of Mongolian embassy/visa office in Erenhot, where it is possible to get visas for Mongolia, but I think the option is available just to the locals. US passport holders do not need a visa to enter Mongolia, you can ask for a transport visa then get a real one at the embassy in Ulan Bator.
Xilinhot
Chengde