Baotou means “place that has deer” in Mongolian.  The city is also famous for its iron and steel industry. Baotou is therefore commonly referred to as both “Deer City” and “Steel City”. It is also sometimes called the “Garden City” due to Baotou’s more than 30 urban parks and plazas covering 133 hectares which won the city a UN-Habitat Award in 2002.

There are lots to do in and around Baotou – in fact, Baotou is typically used as a base to explore the magnificent Genghis Khan Mausoleum, Wudangzhao Lamasery (the largest Tibetan monastery in Inner Mongolia) and Xiangshawan Desert 响沙湾 (Singing Sand Ravine). Around the Shangri-La Baotou hotel, there is the huge Yinhe Square (with its charming fountains) where you can see people doing tai-chi early in the morning and line dancing in the evenings.  There is also a delightful assortment of bars, teahouses and cafés around the hotel.  You can also take a walk under the shady trees and fragrant flowers of Aerding Botanical Gardens which is only five minutes from the hotel.  Just 15 minutes away from Shangri-La Baotou is China’s biggest inner city grassland of Saihantala.

As the first international luxury hotel in Baotou city, you can expect personalised services and excellent hospitality at Shangri-La Hotel, Baotou.  You might even get a warm welcome by Shangri-La staff in traditional Mongolian costume putting on a khatak on your shoulders.  A khatak is a traditional ceremonial scarf which originated from Tibetan culture (but adopted by regions e.g. Mongolia where Tibetan Buddhism was spread).  Khatak are presented during many ceremonies e.g. wedding, birth and to welcome guests upon arrival – symbolising purity and compassion.  It is usually made of silk.  White khtak symbolises the pure heart of the giver; Mongolian khatak are usually blue (symbolising the sky).

Shangri-La Baotou boasts 360 luxurious rooms and suites, designed with modern and stylish furnishings.  Horizon Club Deluxe Rooms feature an elegant décor and spacious comfort (38 sqm / 410 sqf of luxury) with exclusive Horizon Club privileges.  Some of the features Shangri-La Baotou guests can expect include marble-floored bathroom and a large work area.  Each of the air-conditioned Deluxe rooms feature minibars and LCD televisions. Your bed comes with cotton sheets, down comforters, and down blankets. Relax and take in city and garden views from the privacy of your room. Wired and wireless Internet access is complimentary, while 32-inch high-definition televisions with satellite programming provide entertainment. Private bathrooms with separate bathtubs and showers feature deep soaking bathtubs and rainfall showerheads.

Similar to Shangri-La Huhhot, the hotel rooms also feature multiple tiers of concentric ceilings – reminiscent of the ceiling of a traditional Mongolian Yurt.  You can also find interesting Mongolian snacks in your room – Mongolian Cheese (also referred to as solid yoghurt – it is a naturally nutritious food: rich in protein, calcium, phosphorus and vitamins), Mongolian Fried Dough Twist (sweet and crispy snack that can be enjoyed with wine or tea; contains protein, amino acids, vitamins and trace elements), Mongolian Dried Beef (one of the food that Mongolians use to entertain valued guests).

If you can’t get used to the typical feather pillows in hotel rooms, you can use the buckwheat pillow provided! Inner Mongolia has very dry weather – so be sure to turn on the humidifier in your room whenever you are back at the hotel.

Shangri-La Baotou does not have CHI The Spa facilities but it has a health club which provides a number of different massage therapies – we strongly recommend that Chinese Traditional Full Body Massage (60 min for RMB 288 or 90 min for 388 RMB); I was sore and aching from a horse-riding trip at the Xilamuren grasslands two days ago but after my 60 minute massage session, all my aches were miraculously relived!  You can also look for Liu Jie (the lady in the picture below – not the one in blue! :-)) who not only provides a great massage but would advise you on problem areas in your body and what you can do to manage them.

Shangri-La Baotou comes with a well-equipped gym – the facilities are so good that the Baotou locals (who ain’t guests at the hotel) would sign up for annual gym memberships at the hotel!

There is also an indoor swimming pool at Shangri-la Baotou – you will need to wear a swimming cap here.

Xin Cafe offers local and international cuisines with park view tables and private rooms.   From the ala carte menu, we recommend the following dishes – start off with tomato soup then for main dishes – you can try the wanton noodle (cooked with fresh ingredients e.g. prawn) or the codfish (very fresh and yummy!) and end off with an excellent dish of New York Cheesecake!

Daily fresh buffet selections for lunch and dinner are cooked within minutes in the open kitchen – guests can enjoy the weekend Seafood Buffet with a wide selections of seafood, including lobster, salmon and our signature Seafood Cheese Puff Soup.  Every day, Xin Café’s buffet proudly features 18 kinds of Dim Sum prepared by their Cantonese chef.

Shangri-La’s signature restaurant, Shang Palace, serves up a palatable feast of Chinese regional specialties and authentic Mongolian cuisine. The hotel restaurant is one of the best venues in Baotou to indulge in Chinese fine dining.  Some of the signature dishes that Shang Palace offers include Roasted Lamb Chops (RMB 148) and the dessert selection of Vegetable noodles, Peach tart and Freshly deep fried minced Hawaiian pawpaw in puff pastry.

Located in the city centre overlooking Yinhe Square, the Shangri-La Hotel, Baotou provides an ideal base for both business and leisure travellers. The hotel is within easy reach of the city’s leading commercial district and government offices. It is also just 15 minutes’ drive from the city’s railway station and 30 minutes from the airport, both of which offer connections to cities throughout China.

地址： 66 Min Zu East Road Qing Shan District, Baotou, Inner Mongolia, 014030, China
网址： www.shangri-la.com/baotou