Erenhot is located in the north of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, 4.5 kilometers away from the Mongolian port Zamyn Uud. The border line is 72.3 km long. Erenhot is the largest port open to Mongolia in China, and an important node city on the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Sino-Mongolian Russian Economic Corridor. From Beijing via Erlianhot to Moscow, Russia, it is 1140 kilometers less than the Binzhou line.

"Erenhot" is the Chinese translation of Mongolian, meaning a colorful city. Erenhot has been the most important transportation hub on the "Tea Road" and "Grassland Silk Road" since ancient times. As early as the Yuan Dynasty, there was a Jade Dragon Inn. In the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty, the "Yilin" post station was set up. In 1918, Mongolian businessmen opened Zhangjiakou-Kulun (now Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia)Avenue  via Erenhot, which is called "Pangbei" Station. In January 1966, the State Council approved the establishment of Erenhot City. In January 1985, it was upgraded to a deputy-prefecture level city and a national Class A open city. In March 1986, the Inner Mongolia government approved Erenhot as a city specifically designated in the plan. In July 1992, the State Council approved Erenhot as one of the 13 open cities along the border. On June 5, 2014, Erenhot National Key Development and Opening-up Pilot Zone was approved by the State Council, bringing new development opportunities for the development and opening up of Erenhot Port.