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Inner Mongolia

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Inner Mongolia (内蒙古, Nèi Měnggǔ or in Mongolian, Öbür mongɣul) is a Mongol Autonomous Region in the north China, where as Outer Mongolia is a separate country to the north of China. The region covers most of the northern edge of china, curving in a banana shape. To the north is Mongolia and the North east tip of Inner Mongolia borders with Russia. The other borders of the region are with other Chinese provinces, going clock wise form the north east they are Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and Gansu.

Regions

Inner Mongolia is divided into nine prefectures and three leagues. Each prefecture is named after its principal city. The nine prefecture-level cities are:

  • Baotou (包头市 Bāotóu Shì or in Mongolian Buɣutu) - on the Yellow River (Huang He)
  • Bayan Nur (巴彦淖尔市 Bāyànnào'ěr Shì or in Mongolian Bayannaɣur)
  • Chifeng (赤峰市 Chìfēng Shì or in Mongolian ulaɣanqada qota also known as Ulanhad)
  • Hohhot (呼和浩特市 Hūhéhàotè Shì or in Mongolian Kökeqota) - the capital city of Inner Mongolia.
  • Hulunbuir (呼伦贝尔市 Hūlúnbèi'ěr Shì or in Mongolian Kölün buyir)
  • Ordos (鄂尔多斯市 È'ěrduōsī Shì or in Mongolian Ordus)
  • Tongliao (通辽市 Tōngliáo Shì or in Mongolian Töngliyao hot)
  • Ulanqab (乌兰察布市 'Wūlánchábù Shì or in Mongolian Ulaɣančab)
  • Wuhai (乌海市 Wūhǎi Shì or in Mongolian Wūhǎi)

The three leagues are:

  • Alxa (阿拉善盟 Ālāshàn Méng or in Mongolian Alaša ayimaɣ) the principal city of Alxa is Bayanhot.
  • Hinggan (兴安盟 Xīng'ān Méng or in Mongolian Kingɣan ayimaɣ) the principal city of Hinggan is Ulaanhot.
  • Xilingol (锡林郭勒盟 Xīlínguōlè Méng or in Mongolian Sili-yin ɣoul ayimaɣ) the principal city of Xilingol is Xilinhot.

Cities

  • Hohhot - the capital
  • Baotou - on the Yellow River (Huang He)
  • Dongsheng - home of cashmere sweaters produced in the Erdos Grasslands
  • Erenhot - border town on the Trans-Siberian railway
  • Hailar - in the North
  • Manzhouli - northern gateway to Russia
  • Wuhai

Other destinations

  • Zalantun National Park
  • Dalai Lake or Lake Hulin (Dalai nuur) - One of the five largest freshwater lakes in China, covering approximately 2,339 km². A popular summer tourist area.

Culture and History

Inner Mongolia is a large region stretched across the northern edge of China. It has a relatively low population density the majority of which are Han Chinese. About 17% of the population is ethnic Mongolian. The region is officially an Autonomous Region for the Mongolian people within China. The east of Inner Mongolia consists of wide grass meadow lands, forests and mountains. The west of the region is made up of scorching hot dry deserts. Traditional Mongolian nomadic lifestyle can still be seen in the region and yurts (mongolian tents) are not an uncommon site in the wide spaces between the cities.

The main religion in the area is Lamaist Buddhism, similar to that found in Tibet. Lama temples are common throughout the region.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) (酒泉卫星发射中心) is in Inner Mongolia and is the site of most of China's rocket launches. It is in a remote area and not open to the public.

Talk

Mongolian and Mandarin Chinese are the two official languages in the area. There are different dialects of both spoken throughout the region. The north east of the province speak with a Dongbei accent that is very similar to standard Mandarin Chinese. Central areas speak the Jin dialect of Chinese. The two dialects are mutually unintelligible. The official dialect of Mongolian is Chahar and is distinct form the dialect use in Outer Mongolia.

Writing on signs, menus and other documents is usually in both Mongolian and Chinese Hanzi scripts. The Mongolian script here follows the traditional style in contrast with Outer Mongolia which has adopted the Cyrillic script.

Travel to Inner Mongolia & Visa Requirements

Air

There are nine public airports in Inner Mongolia. Most only receive domestic flights so requiring foreign visitors to transfer at one of the major cities of China before reaching Inner Mongolia. There are international flights form Honhot to Ulaanbaatar in Outer Mongolia run by MIAT Mongolian Airlines.

Train

Many cities of Inner Mongolia are connected to the Chinese rail network giving access to the region form neighbouring provinces. The Trans-Mongolian railway connects from Beijing via Datong in Shanxi province to the city of Jining in Inner Mongolia and north through Erenhot, in north central Inner Mongolia, to [Ulaanbaatar]] in Outer Mongolia and onwards to Siberia in Russia. The north Eastern end of Inner Mongolia is traversed by rail routes connecting Russian Siberia to Haerbin in Heilongjiang Province and through to the Russian Far East.

Tours & Getting around Inner Mongolia

The central area of Inner mongolia is connected to a rail route that spans form Liaoning and Jilin provinces through Tongliao city in the east of Inner Mongolia, on across the Trans-Mongolian railway at Jining, to Honhot. Then the line runs westward again until Wuhai city where the route exits Inner Mongolia, running just south of the border in the neighbouring provinces before turning north again and terminating in Ejin Qi in Western Inner Mongolia. Several branches run off of this to other cities. The north east of Inner Mongolia is not connected directly to the other cities of Inner Mongolia but is crossed by railways originating in Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces.

The international airport in Honhot has connections to the other eight airports in Inner Mongolia. All Inner Mongolian airports also connect to Beijing. Thus it is possible to travel form one end of the region to the other by air. However, the frequency of flights to these small airports is low.

Inner Mongolia attractions and sightseeing

  • Wudangzhao Monastery - 70km (44 miles) northeast of Baotou.
  • Dazhao Temple - In Hohhot
  • Xilituzhao Palace - In Hohhot.
  • Zhaojun Tomb - beside the Da Hi River nine kilometers south of Hohhot.
  • Wanbu Huayanjin Pagoda - In Hohhot.
  • Xiaozhao Temple (also called Chongfu temple) - In Hohhot.
  • Five-towers Temple (Wuta Si) - In Hohhot.
  • Qingzhen Da Si Mosque - In Hohhot.
  • Inner Mongolia Museum (内蒙古博物馆 Neimenggu Bowuguan) - The museum has over 44,000 items and is particularly noted for it's dinosaur collection. In Hohhot.
  • Mausoleum of Genghis Khan (成吉思汗陵) - Located within Ordos prefecture. This isn't the real site of Genghis Khan's burrial, but rather a shrine in his memory.
  • Xilamuren Grassland - 90 kilometres (about 56 miles) north of Hohhot.
  • Gegentala Grassland - Located in Siziwang Banner, 145 kilometres north of Hohhot.
  • Huitengxile Grassland - 135 kilometres east of Hohhot, and 80 kilometers from the city of Jining.
  • Bashang Grasslands - On the regions southern border near to Beijing.
  • Badain Jaran Desert (巴丹吉林沙漠 Badanjilin Shamo) - Western Inner Mongolia and extending into neighbouring Gansu and Ningxia provinces.
  • Tengger Desert (腾格里沙漠 Tenggeli Shamo) - Bordering with Ningxia Province.
  • Kubuqi Desert - South of the Yellow river near to Baotou.
  • Hexigten National Geopark - This is a UNESCO designated Geopark. It contains eight scenic areas: Arshihaty granite forest area, Qingshan granite mortar area, Dali Nur volcanic land form area, Huanggangliang Quaternary glacial vestige area, Reshuitang thermal spring area, Pingdingshan scenic Quaternary cirque group area, Xilamulun River valley area and Hunshandak sand land area. The geopark covers an area of 1750 km2.
  • Arxan National Geopark - South west of the Greater Hinggan Mountains in Xiang'an League.
  • Alxa Desert National Geopark - In Alxa (Alashan) League of western Inner Mongolia.

link Inner Mongolia Tour

Itineraries

Inner Mongolia city tours

  • Scenic Grasslands - Definitely plan on visiting a scenic grassland near Hohhot, Baotou, Erenhot, Ulanhot or Hailar where visitors may go for the Mongolian Experience, such as horseback riding, attending folk singing and dancing, and tasting roast whole lamb.
  • Nadam Festival - Wrestling, horse racing and archery are the three traditional sports for Nadam (meaning entertainment or frolicking), the foremost traditional festival for Mongol nomads taking place in July or August.

Inner Mongolia Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

Traditional Mongolian food is found throughout Inner Mongolia. This is typically high in dairy produce such as milk, yoghurt and cheese. The traditional Mongolian milk tea is exceptionally good. Meats, especially lamb, form most meals. The meat is usually roasted with a coating of spices to give a strong distinctive flavour. Similar with many areas of China, the Hotpot is a popular style of cooking. Mongolian hotpot usually has a well flavoured soup but without the hot spices of central China.

Inner Mongolia nightlife, bars, clubs & pubs

Mongolian milk tea is distinctive to this region and frequently served in hotels along with breakfast. Some brands of Mongolian bottle water are known for their purity or special mineral content.

Get out

It is possible to travel to Outer Mongolia and Russia from here by both road and rail. There are good connections into the neighbouring provinces of China.

Destinations in Inner Mongolia:

Baotou / Dongsheng / Erenhot / Hailar / Hohhot / Manzhouli / Wuhai /

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This page was last edited at 01:38, on 30 October 2008 by Edward Morgan. Based on work by Derek Harkness, David, Mitja Podreka, M. Hogue and Evan Prodromou, Wikitravel user(s) Episteme, WindHorse and Pashley and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel.

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