Early in the Shang Dynasty (16th -11th century BC), nomad tribes moved to this area. It was always inhabited by ethnic minorities from Northern China and was governed by regimes established by these minorities. The Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC) founded shires to administer the region temporarily. As the secondary capital of the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), Xinlingol was an important central city at that time. Its terrain slopes downward from the south to the north. Low mountains and hills in the southern and eastern regions of Xilingol are offshoots of the western extension of the Daxing'anling Mountains and the eastern extension of the Yishan Mountains. The land is flat in the northern and western regions with some hills and lava mesas scattered around. Xilingol enjoys a typical temperate semi-arid continental climate featuring strong wind, aridity and chilliness. Spring and autumn are short, and winter is long.