Wulan Hada Volcanic Group: A Volcanic Secret on the Grassland

The Wulan Hada Volcanic Group is located at the southern edge of the Inner Mongolia Plateau and inlaid on the vast Xilingol Grassland. It is one of the few Holocene volcanic groups in China. Dozens of volcanic cones are scattered in an irregular pattern—some protrude from the grassland like rounded domes, while others pierce the sky like sharp cone tips. The black volcanic rocks form a striking visual contrast with the lush green grassland, sketching a vast and unique landform picture, as if the power deep within the earth has been frozen into an eternal landscape here.

Each volcano holds a unique texture and story. Volcano No. 3 is known as the "Alchemy Furnace," with an intact crater outline. Black lava plateaus stretch out in all directions—stepping on them, one can feel the rough texture left by cooled magma, and traces of volcanic eruption still linger in the gullies and holes. The volcanic cone.

Different volcanoes present distinct color gradients. Volcano No. 6 features a faint brick-red hue on its slopes, a unique color formed by the weathering of volcanic clastic rocks, which is particularly striking under sunlight. In contrast, the adjacent volcanoes are dominated by jet black and dark gray, as if nature has pieced together a giant painting with different color blocks. Standing atop a volcano and looking into the distance, you can see the rolling and undulating volcanic group, which complements the distant wind turbine arrays and herdsmen’s white yurts beautifully. The vastness of the grassland and the grandeur of the volcanoes are perfectly integrated here.

The surrounding landscapes of the volcanic group are equally charming. On the grassland at the foot of the volcanoes, winding streams meander through herds of cattle and sheep, while white yurts are scattered across the green carpet, and the melodious sound of pastoral songs fills the air. Volcanic barrier lakes are distributed near some volcanoes—their crystal-clear waters reflect the silhouettes of the volcanoes, with the blue sky, white clouds, volcanoes, lakes, and grasslands forming a pure and serene picture. Occasionally, you can see herdsmen herding flocks of sheep passing by the volcanic rocks; the contrast between movement and stillness further highlights the primal vitality of this land.

The Wulan Hada Volcanic Group is intoxicatingly beautiful at sunrise and sunset. In the early morning, the first ray of sunlight shines on the volcanic cones, gilding the black mountain slopes, and the texture of the rocks becomes more distinct in the light and shadow. At dusk, the setting sun dyes the sky orange-red and rose-purple, the outlines of the volcanoes soften, and the grassland is shrouded in a warm glow, serene and distant. At night, free from the interference of urban lights, the starry sky is particularly brilliant—the Milky Way stretches across the sky above the volcanic group, as if one can hear the whispers of the universe and the earth, making people forget the hustle and bustle of the mortal world.