China 06

Yurts or Water Tanks?

I had always wanted to visit the country, Mongolia. But as it is kind of difficult and inconvenient to arrange for a trip there, I resorted to an alternative – Inner Mongolia of China.

‘Mongolian yurts or tents are made of compressed sheep’s wool with no windows…. Live like Mongolian’s nomadic ancestors and be closer to nature than you can imagine – you basically sleep on the ground,’ this is what was stated in the itinerary of a 7-day Inner Mongolia Delight, organised by one of our local travel agents, which I had signed up.

With that I was very much looking forward to staying in an authentic yurt as I remember how much I enjoyed staying in one when I was in Tian Chi (Heaven Lake), Xinjiang many years ago.

But alas, as soon as we arrived at the destination, our excitement turned into disappointment. We saw rows and rows of round concrete ‘dome-shaped’ structures which look more like barracks. And some of the group members commented that they look like water storage tanks back home.

And sleeping on the ground and be close to nature? That was not to be. We had comfortable conventional beds. Not that I did not appreciate being given a comfortable bed, but the authenticity of ‘living like a Mongolia’s nomadic ancestors and close to nature’ was gone!

The Summary

Summary of the trip
(Click on the photo to view larger version)

Kubuqi Desert, Baotou

Kubuqi Desert (库布其沙漠)

Taking the cable car up to the top of the desert

Walking up the sandy slope is not an easy task

Phua Chu Kang’s new business partners, Inner Mongolia branch

30 minute camel ride cost RMB40, fun & enjoyable though

Sand slide – arrrrhhhhhhhh...

Baotou

Baotou (包头) is the largest city in Inner Mongolia.

Our first taste of Mongolian food – steamboat with sliced lamb
(Each was given a plate of the lamb slice!)

Street of Baotou

Our hotel in Baotou

Dazhao Temple

Dazhao Temple (大召寺)

古画(月明楼)

Old Street – Laojie (老街)

At the Old Street
Going back in time!

Say cheeseee!
Cheese candies (a very hot item in Inner Mongolia)

Hohhot

Hohhot (呼和浩特) is the capital of Inner Mongolia. The city is much bigger than I could imagine.

Streets of Hohhot (above and below 2)

Zhaojun’s Mausoleum

Beautiful art works

Making fresh noodles

Our hotel in Hohhot

Cultural Show

Mongolian customary wedding ceremony

Gegentala Prairie

Gegentala Prairie or Grassland (格根塔拉草原) is one of the three grassland areas accessible from Hohhot. It is about 150km north of Hohhot. When we arrived at the prairie at 11:00 in the morning, it was windy and chilly, but came afternoon, it was very sunny and hot.

Traditional welcoming tea ceremony

One for the album!

The restaurant and the administrative buildings

Modernised yurts (or gers) made of bricks and concrete!
Our home on the grassland

The authentic one but not for us!

Overall view of the resort area

Galloping on the beautiful grassland

With tour guide, Xiao Tang (L) &
driver, Li shifu (master) (R)

Wrestling – a favourite traditional sport and
one of Mongolia’s age old ‘Three Manly Skills’
(along with horsemanship (see below) and archery)

Horse-riding

After dinner, we were entertained
by the locals with traditional folk songs

Aobao Shan (敖包山)

Datong, Shanxi Province

The journey from the Prairie to Datong (大同) took six hours and the scenery along the way was beautiful. But the air in the area could be polluted because of the coal mines and power stations.