Yakeshi
Yakeshi (牙克石; Yákèshí) is a city in Inner Mongolia Province in China.
Understand
Yakeshi has a population of 391,627 (including surrounding towns; the city itself might not be more than 100,000). It is situated next to the Hailar River 70 km east of Hailar and on the north side of the Greater Khingan Range.
The original name for the city, Xuguit Qi, came from the Mongolian word for the area. Its name was changed to Yakeshi in 1983 when it was designated a county-level city.
Get in
The city is connected by rail to Harbin and Beijing (27–29 hours) to the south and east and to Hailar (1 1½ hours) and Manzhouli (with further connections to Russia) to the north and west
The nearest airport is in Hailar with flights from Beijing (1h50, ¥1,240 but with discounts outside public holidays) and Hohhot. The 70 km ride from the airport is around one hour and ¥180 by taxi
Get around
Only a few public buses. The center is manageable by foot. There are plenty of taxis, shorter trips for ¥5.
Eat
Centre of nightlife is along Shengli West Street (勝利西街) around Jianxing Hotel (建興大酒店) where there are dozens of barbeque restaurants serving plentiful skewers of local mutton and beef (and sheep eyes, bull balls and other delights). Wash down the greasiness with some ice cream with fresh hawthorn.
Sleep
- 🌍 Longhua Hotel, Xingan Middle Street (in the centre of town, go four street north from the railway station, turn left, and it is on your right hand). Two star hotel with free internet. No non-smoking rooms available. Rather well equipped rooms. Hotel has Restaurant, game rooms, spa and massage. Double rooms from ¥85.
- 🌍 Jianxing Hotel (建兴大酒店), Shengli West Street 37 (胜利西街37号).
- 🌍 Lincheng Hotel (林城宾馆), Yingbin West Road (4 迎宾西街) (just west of the train station).
- 🌍 Songxue Hotel (松雪宾馆), Yingbin East St (迎宾东街) (just opposite the railway station).
- 🌍 Yakeshi Hotel (牙克石宾馆), Kangle West St (康乐西街11号). Guesthouse (賓館) built in the early days of the People's Republic in neoclassical style used to host visiting dignitaries.
- 🌍 9 Home Yakeshi Zhanqian (牙克石9居连锁酒店站前店), Yingbin West St 1 (迎宾西街1号).
- 🌍 Jiujin Express Hotel (九进快捷宾馆), Lincheng North Rd 63 (林城北路63号).