Erenhot (Mongolian: , Эрээн хот; Chinese: 二连浩特; pinyin: èrliánhàotè, commonly shortened to Ereen or Erlian) is a city located in the Gobi Desert, in the Xilin Gol league of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China (PRC). It has 16,330 inhabitants (estimated 2006) and the elevation is 966 metres (3,169 ft). The city is located on the border with Mongolia and a big rainbow arch marks the road border crossing just outside of town.