Baotou features a cold semi-arid climate. Due to the aridity and elevation, temperature differences between day and night can be large, especially in spring.

Summer is hot, somewhat humid and blows strong winds. Temperatures often rise above 30 °C (86 °F) in summer.

Autumn (September to October) is perhaps the most attractive season in Baotou, when there is plenty of sunshine and cooler temperatures. Autumn is a harvest season, when fruits and vegetables are ripe.

Winter is long, cold and very dry. Temperatures often fall below −15 °C (5 °F) in winter.

Baotou is a terminus for both the Baolan Railway and the Jingbao Railway, heading for Lanzhou in the west and Beijing in the east, respectively. The city is served by two main railway stations, Baotou East Railway Station, and Baotou Railway Station.

Baotou Airport serves the city with regular service to Beijing, Shanghai and Taiyuan.

The city is connected by the Hubao Expressway to Inner Mongolia's capital, Hohhot

Wudangzhao Monastery is located 70 km northeast of Baotou, It is only intact lama temple in Inner Mongolia. Its a famous shrine of Tibetan Buddhism on a par with the great Potala Palace in Tibet and Ta’er Monastery in Qinghai. a most attractive aspect of the Monastery is its spectacular Tibetan style architecture. There are many Tibetan sutras and art treasures, especially the Buddha sculptures made of gold, silver, copper, wood and clay, as well as precious murals.

The Genghis Khan Mausoleum is located in Ordos City, but only 50 kilometers south of Baotou. Genghis Khan was an outstanding military strategist and statesman of Mongolian. After uniting and organizing fragmented Mongol tribes, that he was named supreme leader of the Mongols in 1206. so Genghis Khan Mausoleum of famous power king remains a sacred place for people to worship and remember.