Ordos City in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has become a hotspot for inbound tourists this summer, particularly from South Korea. Visitors are attracted by tailored experiences, visa-free travel, and direct charter flights.
A chartered flight from Daegu, South Korea, to Ordos brought South Korean tourists eager for an exciting journey to landscapes not found in their home country.
At the Yinkentala Scenic Area in Ordos, 82 space capsule-style hotels are tucked away within the heart of the desert. This extraordinary destination offers a wide array of experiences, breathtaking panoramic views of sunrise and sunset from within, and the chance to explore untouched desert terrain on camel back.
“We glided through the grasslands, it was exhilarating. It's hard to experience this in South Korea; it's truly a unique activity in Ordos. The rolling sandy roads (while riding a desert motorbike) were truly thrilling,” said one of the tourists.
“They say riding a camel in the desert is something they could only see on TV or in dreams,” said Huang Long, tour guide with the Korean tour group.
Data from the scenic spot shows that, during the peak tour season from June to September 2024, the space capsules attracted more than 10,000 South Korean tourists. Driven by the growing demand this year, the scenic spot is stepping up the construction of another 120 new units.
“With the opening of the direct charter flight, South Korean tourists started arriving from June 11. Till the end of the flight on Sept 15, we are expecting to receive 15,000 arrivals,” said Xu Jie, manager of the space capsule project.
Staying overnight in a yurt on the Ordos grasslands is another popular choice for the tourists. As night falls, tourists sip fragrant milk tea while taking in the panoramic views of the vast grassland and the sky.
To facilitate inbound tourists, signs and commentary in Korean language have been added to restaurants and performances in the grassland tourist area.
“Cultural experience is a very important part for the foreign tourists. Taking the tourists from South Korea as an example, they are very yearning for grasslands and deserts. Ordos City happens to have both of these resources, which is a very good advantage for us,” said Li Yanhong, general manager of the Ordos Grassland tourist area.
Since the charter season started in June 2025, Ordos City has received more than 80 inbound charter flights carrying more than 12,100 tourists from South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and other countries.
Ordos City sees tourism boom with unique desert experiences, tailored services
