Arxan is a town that has lots of hotels. The city seems to have been built by Kevin Costner - if you build it they will come. The reality is, very few (if any) people in town are local and there is not much going on. The restaurants are fine and clean, with great food, the spa is fine, too, but the town (it is NOT a city) feels quite odd and sparsely populated.
People do not come here to go to the spas only. They come here to go for the awe-inspiring surrounding nature, which is a real draw and a real treat.
Also, find a taxi driver to drive you around for your time over here, if you are not driving (which you probably won't be). The town has no tourist information centre and two Chinese-speaking only travel agencies. A taxi driver charged us 400 yuan for one day and it was well worth it - you cannot go around Arxan national forest park without a motor and do not try to do it by yourself.
Some prices also feel expensive for such an out of the way town - more like Beijing prices. I don't think it appropriately matches the experience.
I actually would go back to see more of the surrounding nature, but I would stay in Yi'ershi town (yiershi zhen) as it seems to have much more character and people, although if you are shy and don't liek attention, this is not the place for you. Expect many, many people looking at you and taking photographs and videos without your permission. Personally this is a recognition of how out-of-the-way this place is for "foreigners".
All in all, well worth a three day trip for Arxan forest park alone, and the meat in the restaurants is par excellence.
Gareth
China
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