呼和浩特，是我国北部边疆内蒙古自治区的首府，是全区政治、经济、文化中心。位于内蒙古自治区中部，大青山南麓，黄河之滨，在土默川平原的东部，海拔1200米。全市总面积17224平方公里，市区面积149平方公里，居住着蒙古、汉、满、回、达斡尔、鄂温克、鄂伦春、朝鲜、藏等36个名族，是一个多名族聚居的城市。现辖四区、四县、一旗和一个国家级开发区。全市总人口258万人（2007），包括城区人口，其中市区人口150万人，非农业人口95.9万人，少数民族人口26.4万人等。
呼和浩特是一座塞外古城，“大窑文化”的遗址就在此发现，在汉唐时期，这里就是中原地区开展对外交往的重要通道，“草原丝绸之路”的重要枢纽。相传该城是明代万历9年（1581年）由阿勒坦喊的夫人三娘子的旧营垒改修的。当时，用青砖围起了城墙，远远望去，一片青色，故名“呼和浩特”（青城）。在蒙古语中，“呼和”是青色的意思，“浩特”是城市的意思。当时的呼和浩特，还新增了一个名称——“中国乳都”。
呼和浩特不仅是中国历史文化名城，而且也是独特的旅游目的地之一。明清时期藏传佛教传入内蒙古，呼和浩特的寺庙一下子就多起来了，故呼城俗称“召城”。2008年11月呼和浩特市荣膺“中国十大文化生态旅游城市”称号。呼城旅游资源富有特色，如万部华岩经塔（或白塔）、大窑文化遗址、昭君墓、大小召庙、五塔、哈达门国家森林公园等。
Hohhot is the capital city of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the north border of China,alsothe political, economic and cultural center of the wholeregion. Hohhotislocatedclose to the Yellow Riverat the central part of Inner Mongolia, the south side of Daqing Mountain. It stands in the East TumochuanPlain, 1,200m above the sealevel. The city covers a land area of 17,224 square kilometers, with an urban area of 149 square kilometers. Settled here are 36 ethnic groups including Mongol, Han, Manchu, Hui, Daur, Ewenki,Oroqen,Korean and Tibetan, etc.So Hohhot isa multi-ethnic city. Altogether four districts, four counties, onecounty-level banner and one state-level development zone are under itsadministration. The total population of Hohhotis 2.58 million (2007), among which 1.5 million people live in urban area. The number ofitsnon-agricultural population is 959 thousand and 264 thousandresidentsare minorities.
Hohhot is an ancient citybeyondthe Great Wall, where the remains of "DayaoCulture"werediscovered. Since the periodofHan-Tang Dynasties(202 B.C. to 907 A.D.), the city hasalready been an important hub of "The Grassland Silk Road",a vital passage forCentralPlain's connection to the outside world. People say that Hohhot wasrebuiltout oftheold thresholdof thethird wife ofAltan Khan(the ruler of Tumed Mongol)in the ninth year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1581 A.D.).At that time, surrounding the city were walls made of green bricks.Observed in the distance, the citywas a whole green, hence its name "Huhe Haote" (Hohhot, a green city).In addition, ithas receivedanother labelrecently-- "the Dairy Capital of China", as the home of China’s diary giants.
Being not only a well-known Chinese historical and cultural city, Hohhot alsoisa travel destination of unique elements. During the periodofMing-Qing Dynasties(1368–1911), the Tibetan Buddhism was introduced into the Inner Mongolia, thus lamaseries sprang up like mushrooms here in Hohhotwhich therefore wasknown as "Zhao Cheng" (city of lamaseries). In November, 2008, a privileged honor was granted to Hohhot as "One of Ten Great Cultural and Ecological Tourism Cities of China". Here you can enjoyuniquetourist resorts such as theBaitaPagoda (Wanbu Huayanjing Pagoda), the Dayao Cultural Heritage Site, Tomb of Wang Zhaojun (one ofthe FourBeauties of ancient China),Dazhao Temple,Xiaozhao Temple,the Five-pagoda Temple and Hadamen National Forest Park, etc.
