二连 (二连; Èrlián) 是内蒙古的一个城市。在蒙古语中，它也被称为Ereen 或 Eriyen，在中国则称为二连浩特 (蒙古语: ᠡᠷᠢᠶᠡᠡ ᠬᠣᠲᠠ) 或 Èrliánhàotè (二连浩特; Èrliánhàotè)。在中国铁路时刻表中，它显示为Erlian，在蒙古国铁路时刻表中显示为Ereen。

抵达

乘飞机

There is a direct flight Beijing-Erlian (Erenhot Shi, code ERL) via Capital Airlines, China.

From Erlian to Hohhot a 40-minute flight was just over ¥170 (Sep 2016).

There is a free airport bus from the airport to the city centre.

乘火车

There are trains from 北京. The train station is on the eastern border of the town. Tickets can be purchased at the station 20 days in advance, or from almost any tourist/travel centre 5 days in advance. Prices are controlled by the government and there should only be a ¥10 commission on the sale if you buy it from a 3rd party agent.

Train #K23 departs from Beijing at 11:22 arriving in Erlian at 22:30 shared hard berth ¥200 (March 2016).

You can get from Zamiin-Uud in 蒙古 to Erlian by train on the international train from Beijing to 乌兰巴托 as described in 扎门乌德. From 莫斯科 and other major Russian cities along the track, you can take the weekly train 43, aka the "西伯利亚铁路", to Erlian.

签证续签

Trains to Beijing only run a few days a week. If you are doing a visa run from Beijing, find out when trains will be coming back before going to Erlian. Train tickets can typically be purchased at the train station five days before the train is scheduled to leave, ten days during Chinese New Year (2010). If you are traveling from Beijing to renew a visa, return tickets can not be purchased in Beijing.

乘巴士

There are sleeper buses from 北京. (¥200, 2011) The long-distance bus station is nearby, about one block west and 2-3 blocks north of the train station.

You can take a bus from 呼和浩特. There are several buses each day for ¥95 (2017). Depending on the traffic the trip is about 6 hours and 30 minutes. Bus stops for the driver to eat, but there is not much choice so bring some snacks.

You can get from 扎门乌德 train center in 蒙古 by bus (¥40, July 2009).

The bus station was closed for Chinese New Year until Feb 19 (2010).

乘吉普车

您可以从扎门乌德（位于蒙古国）乘吉普车前往，每人约50元人民币（2009年7月）。由蒙古司机驾驶的俄罗斯制造的吉普车在蒙古人购买商品带回蒙古的市场出发。如果还有空位，同样的吉普车也会在中国边境第一个检查站搭载乘客，那里有中国边防军人。在边境，每隔几分钟就会有一辆吉普车通过。中国出租车可以载您到这个检查站，费用为5-10元人民币。吉普车允许搭载5名乘客，但有些司机向中国边防军人请求特例，搭载多达7名乘客。如果您选择乘坐吉普车，请准备好非常拥挤，您可能需要坐在别人的腿上，或者别人坐在您的腿上。请在进入中国和蒙古国边境口岸时下车步行通过。请务必记住您的吉普车，因为它们只有两种颜色（灰色和绿色），外观几乎相同。许多蒙古人每天都会过境，他们熟悉整个过程，可以提供帮助。很多人至少会说一些英语。

You are not allowed to walk between the Chinese and Mongolian border posts though they are within walking distance. You will need to pay a ¥5 exit tax. The process takes around 1½ hours.

On some holidays (e.g. 1 June, Children's Day), the border is closed and you may be forced to stay a day longer than prepared. It may happen that a driver still offers you a lift, then notices at the border that it isn't possible and still wants to charge you for it.

四处逛逛

Taxis, pedicabs and rickshaws are everywhere. A taxi around town costs ¥5 flat rate or ¥10 to the border from town (February 2010). The number one bus also will take you from town to the border for ¥1.

看

• 恐龙博物馆 (7 km from the centre of Erlian). This is a cool attraction and outdoor park. There are several exhibits and large outdoor gardens. It takes 2-4 hours to see all the exhibits and gardens. To get to the museum a taxi will cost around ¥40 one way or ¥100 to have the taxi wait for you and take you both ways. 
• (Konlongmudi). Large replicas of dinosaur skeletons 
• 雕塑. There is a giant at the intersection of the main roads, one running east-west from the train station, the other north-south. 
• 恐龙广场 (Towards the center of town). There is a large plaza near the centre of town that was under construction (2017). There looks like there is potential for a nice plaza with a dinosaur theme. There is loads of shopping all around. There was a fair in the plaza (July 2017). Several street barbecues set up every night just south of the plaza. (updated Jul 2017)

活动

• Erlian Grassland Tour Loop. It is possible to use Erlian as the starting point for the 二连草原旅游环线 itinerary. 

购物

Antiques (of suspect age) and touristy knickknacks, at the alleys of gift shops at the north-east corner of 新华街 (mislabeled as Xinghua Street) and 前进路 (Qianjin Road).

• 中央市场 (The market can be found directly across the street from the dinosaur square.). There is a large indoor market with many small shops selling all sorts of goods from clothes to power tools. There are also many outdoor stores next to the market. There are many large shopping centers in the area also. There are money changers at the east entrance who will give you a decent exchange rate for Mongolian money if needed. (updated Jul 2017)

餐饮

The Mongolian restaurant in the bus station complex (on the left side) has excellent food with reasonable prices and a picture menu. They also have some imported items from Mongolia and ¥1 lockers if you don't want to lug your bag around. Most of the clientele are Mongolians and many of the waitstaff don't speak Mandarin so you know it's authentic!

There are also Muslim restaurants opened by the Hui Muslims of China.

There are many barbecue places on Xilin street that set up outside dinning and start getting busy around 19:30.

住宿

There are many smaller hotels around the train station costing ¥50-60 for a double.

Other hotels

• Ruyi International Mansion. The biggest hotel in Erlian Rooms start at ¥330. 
• Geely Hotel (吉利旅店) (It is located close to the corner of Xilin Street (锡林街) and Tuanje Road (团结路) It is only marked in Chinese and hard to spot.). This was the nicest "affordable" hotel within walking distance of the bus station. Clean rooms, air-con and good Wifi. ¥80 for a triple. (updated Jul 2017)

下一站

• 锡林浩特, also known as Xilin Gol (锡林郭勒盟). There is only one bus departing in the early morning (around 07:00). It is a scenic bus drive over the dirt grassland roads for about 12 hours to this city of over 200,000 people. Continuing on to 集宁 by bus is an inexpensive way of doing a self-guided grasslands tour.
• 扎门乌德, for onward travel to the rest of Mongolia. Head to the International Bus Station (二连国际汽车站) to buy a ticket to the Zamiin-Uud train station (¥50 per person, June 2023). Buses leave every hour or so. Get off at the Chinese border post to cross Chinese immigration, board the same bus again, get off at the Mongolia border post to cross Mongolian immigration, then board the bus one last time to get to the train station. The buses, drivers, and most passengers are Mongolian. Do not expect any English, or even Mandarin proficiency.

蒙古签证

Get a Mongolian visa either from

• CITS (when open)

Costs ¥495. You drop it off at 09:00 and pick up at 15:00.

• The Mongolian Consulate

No.1206, Youyi Beilu Erlianhaote

Open M-F 08:30-12:00. Same-day processing costs ¥465.

The visa will last for 30 days. You will need one passport photo and to pay with cash. The prices above apply to most, but not all nationalities. For a full list see the Mongolian Embassy in China website.

Directions from the train station: Walk straight ahead along the road that runs directly in front of the clock outside the train station until you reach the second junction. The CITS will be on the left hand corner. Turn right here, then walk straight ahead for about five minutes. When you get to Chichaer St you will see the beige bus station down the street on the left, but continue walking straight ahead for about another ten minutes until you see the blue, red and yellow Mongolian flag on the left. Do not worry if it seems like you have walked a bit outside town, you are meant to. Go to the small office at the gate.

During Chinese New Year, the border (18 Feb) and the Mongolian Consulate (22 Feb) were both closed. (2010)

One Australian was able to obtain a visa at the border while the consulate in town was closed during Chinese New Year but this process did not seem to be encouraged and may not be typically available.

For residents of Beijing, a trip to Erlian is the cheapest way to leave the country and renew a multiple entry visa (a visa run) but is less straight forward than a trip to Hong Kong or Seoul, Korea. Most people in town and at the border do not speak any English so some basic Chinese is very helpful.

Routes through Erlian

伊尔库茨克 ← 乌兰巴托 ← 扎门乌德 ←

北  南

→ 呼和浩特 → 北京