Established in 1985, Xilinguole National Natural Reserve in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is China’s first grassland national reserve that covers a total area of 10,786 square kilometers. It also joined the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve Programme in 1987.

The natural reserve slopes from the southeast to the northwest with more hills in southeast with basins scattered below. At between 800-1,200 meters above sea level, the Xilinguole National Natural Reserve is cold, windy and dry with an annual average temperature of 1-2 degrees Celsius and a frost-free period of 90-120 days. The annual precipitation ranges from 150-400 millimeters from the northwest to southeast. The total snowfall in winter is 10-20 millimeters.

Xilinguole Grassland in the natural reserve is the typical temperate grassland with marshland, grassland, sand dunes, and wetland in the valleys. Over 1,200 plants grow on the grasslands including peonies and morning star lilies. Among them, 671 plant varieties can be eaten, over 400 as herbs, over 50 as oil bearing corps, and 18 trees.

The reserve is home to fine-wool sheep, Mongolian ox and Xilinguole horse. Wildlife in the reserve includes 33 species, such as the Mongolian gazelle, wolves and foxes, as well as 76 species of birds like swans and larks.

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