Xilinguole National Nature Reserve lies in the boundaries of Xilinguole City, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Covering a total area of 10,786 square kilometers, Xilinguole National Nature Reserve was established in 1985, the first grassland nature reserve in China, and joined the International Man and Biosphere Reserve Network in 1987. As a matter of fact, with its typicality, Xilinguole Grassland attracted great attention from botanists at home and abroad as early as 1930s.     

 Climate

It is obviously mid-temperate continental; it is windy, dry and frigid. The glacier period can last 5 months and its frigid period lasts 7 months, and therefore, it is the coldest zone in North China. The annual temperature averages 0℃-4℃. In January, the coldest month in the Reserve, the temperature averages 20℃ below zero. In July, the hottest month here, the temperature averages 21℃. The absolute highest temperature is 39.9℃ while the absolute lowest temperature is 42.4℃. Its annual sunshine amounts to 2,100-3,200 hours with a sunshine rate of 64-73%. On an average, there are 90-130 frost-free days. The annual average precipitation is 140-400 millimeters with a decrease from the southeast to northwest. It mainly rains in July, August and September. The average snowfall amounts to 8-15 millimeters during the period from November to next March.

 Physical Features      

The Reserve has unique ecosystems, which represents basic characteristics of grassland bio-communities and reflects structure and eco-processes of grassland ecosystem on Inner Mongolia Plateau. It slopes from the south to the north and there are more hills in southeast with crisscrossed basins. Xilinguole Grassland is the extending section from the west of the Greater Hinggan Mountains and east of Yinshan Mountains. In the northwest it is smooth terrain with hills dotted here and there. The Reserve is 800-1,800 meters above sea level and its highest peak, Gurugesula Peak, has an elevation of 1,957 meters.

 Plants      

Xilinguole Grassland is the typical temperate grassland. The marshland, grassland, sand dune savana and wetland in valleys are its main targets for protection. The Reserve is abundant in wildlife resources. There are 625 species of higher plants from 74 families and 291 genera. Spruce, white birth and willows are found here. There are  a number of medicinal plants and economic plants such as Chinese thorowax, Scutellaria baicalensis, and polygala tenuifolia. Up to now, research in the Reserve has identified 658 species of floral plants including yellow day lilies and red morningstar lilies. They are presenting a colorful and splendid picture on the grassland.

 Animals

Wildlife in the Reserve reflects the feature of fauna of Mongolian Plateau including 33 mammal species such as Mongolian gazelle, wolf and fox, etc., and 76 species of bird including swans and larks and various insects as well. In addition, there are many lakes of different sizes and shapes with a lot of carps and sandaolin, a local special product of Inner Mongolia. The animal husbandry here develops fast. Xilinguole is home to fine-wool sheep, Mongolian ox and Xilinguole horse.