Getting Around Ordos: A Practical Transport Guide
Ordos is a sprawling city in Inner Mongolia, North China, and its layout shapes how visitors move around. The central urban area is compact enough that taxis handle most in-city trips cheaply, while a growing electric bus network, a rail hub with several stations, and an airport shuttle connect the wider region. This guide covers the main options and how to use them.
City Buses
Buses are the backbone of local public transport in Ordos. Stops are distributed throughout the city, so most central destinations are reachable. Several lines are useful for visitors arriving by train: Lines No. 1 and No. 4 pass by the railway station, while specific stations are served by dedicated routes — Ordos Railway Station is served by buses No. K27, No. 3 and No. 6; East Dongsheng Railway Station by bus No. 33; and West Dongsheng Railway Station by buses No. K23, K24, K25, 50 and 51.
The fleet is undergoing a rapid shift to electric power. Ordos was designated a pilot city for full electrification of public vehicles, and the city has been replacing natural-gas buses with electric models under its Green Transportation Implementation Plan, with subsidies offered for early replacement. Charging infrastructure has been built out across the central urban area to support this. For a visitor, this mostly means a modern, quiet bus fleet — but it is worth confirming current routes locally, since networks change as the fleet is upgraded.
Rail Network
Ordos is a major railway hub in northwest China, with lines running both east–west and north–south. The east–west corridors include the Dazhun, Zhundong and Dongwu railways, while the north–south Baosheng and Baoxi railways link Ordos to the Jingbao, Baolan and other national lines. This makes the city a practical base for onward travel across the region.
There are five stations serving the area: Ordos Railway Station, West Dongsheng, East Dongsheng, Jungar and West Dalate. Ordos Railway Station is the largest and most useful for long-distance travellers, with services to major cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Nanjing, Wuxi, Xuzhou, Chongqing, Shijiazhuang, Taiyuan, Jinan, Yulin and Yan'an, as well as Baotou and Hohhot. Dongsheng Railway Station also has trains to Hohhot, Baotou and Shengmu, and tickets for onward journeys from Baotou to Beijing, Tianjin, Shenyang and other cities can be purchased there.
The other stations serve more local or regional roles: East Dongsheng Railway Station is in Tongchuan Town, Dongsheng District; West Dongsheng Railway Station is in Hantai Town, Dongsheng District; Jungar Railway Station in Dalu Town, Jungar Banner, is reached by shuttle buses from Xuejiawan Town and Dalu New District; and West Dalate Railway Station serves Dalate Banner. For tickets and enquiries, the Ordos Railway Station contact numbers are 0477-95105105 and 0471-12306.
Long-Distance Buses
For travel to neighbouring cities and banners, long-distance buses are a straightforward option. Regular services run to Hohhot, Shijiazhuang, Yan'an, Shengmu, Baotou and other destinations. National Roads 109 and 210 intersect at Ordos and are connected by provincial and county roads, so road connections are good.
Dongsheng District has two main bus stations. Ordos Passenger Transport Terminal is on Guangchang Street (tel. 0477-8380248), and Dongsheng Passenger Terminal is on South Tiaojiao Road (tel. 0477-8576000). The station near Government Street serves long-distance routes to other cities as well as to each banner within the region.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are the simplest way to get around central Ordos. The fleet is mostly Poussin or Jetta models, and the flag-fall fare is 5 yuan. Because the city is relatively small, most in-city trips cost around 5 yuan — making taxis an inexpensive choice for short hops between districts or to a bus or rail station.
For airport transfers, a taxi to the city centre runs roughly 40–100 yuan depending on destination and traffic. Ride-hailing apps are also usable in the city, though the source material does not detail specific operators; visitors should expect the same general coverage as taxis in the central urban area.
Walkability
Ordos is spread out, and its districts are separated by open land, so walking is best suited to short trips within a single district rather than crossing the city. The central urban area is compact enough that some errands can be done on foot, but for connections between districts, stations and the airport, plan on using buses, taxis or the shuttle instead.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Ordos Ejin Horo Airport is located at Buertaige Village (also written Bu'ertaige Town) in Ejin Horo Banner, south of the main urban areas. It sits roughly 45 km from Dongsheng District, about 18 km from the new Kangbashi (Kanbashi) District, and around 20 km southwest of the Genghis Khan Mausoleum Tourism Development Zone. The airport telephone number is 0477-8901111.
The most practical option for most visitors is the airport shuttle bus, which runs between Dongsheng District and the airport. Departures from Dongsheng District are at 08:00, 13:00, 16:00 and 18:00; departures from the airport are at 10:00, 15:30, 18:30 and 20:00. The journey takes about an hour and costs 25 yuan per person. The route runs via the China Southern Airlines Ticket Office, the Municipal Court, Molishenghui, and the Ordos Tieniu Phoenix Hotel before reaching the airport. Note that one source describes a more frequent shuttle schedule (first departure 8:00 am, one bus per hour, last bus 11:30 pm), so it is worth confirming current times locally before you travel.
Alternatively, a taxi from the airport to the city centre costs approximately 40–100 yuan. Given the distance involved, the shuttle is the cheaper option, while a taxi offers more flexibility if your flight arrives outside shuttle hours.
The airport itself handles a range of domestic and international flights. Domestic routes include Hohhot, Tongliao and Ulanhot within Inner Mongolia, plus Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Shenzhen, Sanya, Zhengzhou and Chengdu. International services include Irkutsk in Russia, Siem Reap in Cambodia, and Bangkok in Thailand.
Quick Tips
- Keep small change handy for bus fares and the 5 yuan taxi flag-fall.
- Use the airport shuttle if your flight times align with its schedule — it is the cheapest way into Dongsheng District.
- Confirm bus routes and shuttle times locally, as the network is being upgraded and schedules can change.
- For onward travel, Ordos Railway Station is the main hub; buy tickets there or at Dongsheng Railway Station.
- Long-distance buses leave from two terminals in Dongsheng District — check which one serves your destination.