Inner Mongolia Province
With a total area of 1.18 million square kilometers, it is situated in Northern China, bordering Russia and Mongolia (Outer Mongolia). It is also the longest provincial region in China, with a total length of more than 2,500 kilometers from west to east. The Mongol People were a nomadic tribe in ancient China. They hunted and grazed on the vast Mongolian grasslands. Before the 12th Century, people in this region were under the cruel reign of the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234), and they were devastated by the frequent warfare between different tribes, so they hungered for a unified and peaceful life. Genghis Khan is the one who ended their suffering and built a united country, and an empire including much of China, and so the history of China went into a new dynasty, the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). There are museums to commemorate this great hero. Located at an average height of over 1,000 meters above sea level, Inner Mongolia is fascinating for its unique natural landscape. In the west, vast deserts extend throughout the area. There are large areas of grassland and desert all over the region. The grassland in the north is among the best in China. There are also vast plains and grasslands in the east. Source: www.chinahighlights.com
With a total area of 1.18 million square kilometers, it is situated in Northern China, bordering Russia and Mongolia (Outer Mongolia). It is also the longest provincial region in China, with a total length of more than 2,500 kilometers from west to east. The Mongol People were a nomadic tribe in ancient China. They hunted and grazed on the vast Mongolian grasslands. Before the 12th Century, people in this region were under the cruel reign of the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234), and they were devastated by the frequent warfare between different tribes, so they hungered for a unified and peaceful life. Genghis Khan is the one who ended their suffering and built a united country, and an empire including much of China, and so the history of China went into a new dynasty, the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). There are museums to commemorate this great hero. Located at an average height of over 1,000 meters above sea level, Inner Mongolia is fascinating for its unique natural landscape. In the west, vast deserts extend throughout the area. There are large areas of grassland and desert all over the region. The grassland in the north is among the best in China. There are also vast plains and grasslands in the east. Source: www.chinahighlights.com
Hailar
city in northeastern Inner Mongolia, People‘s Republic of China. Hulunbuir, due to its massive size, is a city in administrative terms only, being mainly grassland and rural. Hailar, therefore, is a de facto city. Hailar can also refer to the urban area around the Hailar district, with Hulunbuir being the wider geographical region that contains the urban area.Long known as the "Pearl of the Grasslands", Hailar acts as a gateway between China and Russia. The district has an estimated population of 256,000. Hailar‘s recorded history would appear to have been fairly modest prior to the 2nd world war. As a part of Inner Mongolia it hasn‘t always been under Chinese rule and indeed, celebrations on Chinese state television in 2007 celebrated 50 years of Inner Mongolia as an Autonomous Region, without giving any details at as to what this meant in real terms or what occurred before 1947.Hailar was founded as a Chinese fort in 1734, and during the administration of the Republic of China it was the capital city of Xing‘an Province. It is now a centre of agricultural production on the Chinese Eastern RR. Once known as Hulun, Hailar today is a relatively small but thriving modern industrial city of around 300,000, its population having soared from an estimated 20,000 some fifty years ago. It was occupied by the Japanese in the 2nd world war and perhaps the oldest building in Hailar that stands today was left by the invading forces. Source: www.dreams-trip.com
city in northeastern Inner Mongolia, People‘s Republic of China. Hulunbuir, due to its massive size, is a city in administrative terms only, being mainly grassland and rural. Hailar, therefore, is a de facto city. Hailar can also refer to the urban area around the Hailar district, with Hulunbuir being the wider geographical region that contains the urban area.Long known as the "Pearl of the Grasslands", Hailar acts as a gateway between China and Russia. The district has an estimated population of 256,000. Hailar‘s recorded history would appear to have been fairly modest prior to the 2nd world war. As a part of Inner Mongolia it hasn‘t always been under Chinese rule and indeed, celebrations on Chinese state television in 2007 celebrated 50 years of Inner Mongolia as an Autonomous Region, without giving any details at as to what this meant in real terms or what occurred before 1947.Hailar was founded as a Chinese fort in 1734, and during the administration of the Republic of China it was the capital city of Xing‘an Province. It is now a centre of agricultural production on the Chinese Eastern RR. Once known as Hulun, Hailar today is a relatively small but thriving modern industrial city of around 300,000, its population having soared from an estimated 20,000 some fifty years ago. It was occupied by the Japanese in the 2nd world war and perhaps the oldest building in Hailar that stands today was left by the invading forces. Source: www.dreams-trip.com
...from HaiLaEr to EnHe (230km) - Morigele River, Genhe Wetland, Birch Forest...
EnHe Village
...from EnHe to LinJiang (100km)...
LinJiang Village
...from LinJiang to GenHe (260km)...
GenHe City
...from GenHe to HeiShanTou (193km)...
HeiShanTou Village
Argun River
branch of the Heilongjiang River, sourced by the Hailaer River. From 1689 a treaty signed between Russia and China made it a boundary river. The Argun River stretches over 1620 kilometers and brings life to a large area of north-eastern China. The areas around the river-banks are lush and rich and the home to several species of fish and wild animals, as well as being home to farmland and a thriving agricultural industry. The favorable conditions in this river-land has given raise to several ethnic minorities and in ancient times inhabited by the ancient tribes of nomadic Mongolian herders. It was until much later that the Mongolian Khan finally conquered the region and left his younger brother to rule over it, the ruins of the palace that was built there still stands to this day. The river is often called the Mother River of the region because it provides like to over 150,000 square kilometers of land, and has around 1,800 tributaries and branches, including Hulun Lake, Halaha River, Wuerxun River, and so on. One of the main branches of the Argun River is the Gen River (literally meaning "Root River"), it is becoming especially renowned as it feeds what is often referred to as "Asia' s most spectacular wetlands", known as the Genhe Wetlands, China's largest, richest wetlands; the Gen River also feeds an ancient pine forest that runs along its banks, cruises along the Gen River have become increasingly popular in recent years; the beautiful scenery coupled with the clear pure water and the natural serenity make travelers feel at ease and remove them from the often deafening roars of metropolises. source: www.visitourchina.com
branch of the Heilongjiang River, sourced by the Hailaer River. From 1689 a treaty signed between Russia and China made it a boundary river. The Argun River stretches over 1620 kilometers and brings life to a large area of north-eastern China. The areas around the river-banks are lush and rich and the home to several species of fish and wild animals, as well as being home to farmland and a thriving agricultural industry. The favorable conditions in this river-land has given raise to several ethnic minorities and in ancient times inhabited by the ancient tribes of nomadic Mongolian herders. It was until much later that the Mongolian Khan finally conquered the region and left his younger brother to rule over it, the ruins of the palace that was built there still stands to this day. The river is often called the Mother River of the region because it provides like to over 150,000 square kilometers of land, and has around 1,800 tributaries and branches, including Hulun Lake, Halaha River, Wuerxun River, and so on. One of the main branches of the Argun River is the Gen River (literally meaning "Root River"), it is becoming especially renowned as it feeds what is often referred to as "Asia' s most spectacular wetlands", known as the Genhe Wetlands, China's largest, richest wetlands; the Gen River also feeds an ancient pine forest that runs along its banks, cruises along the Gen River have become increasingly popular in recent years; the beautiful scenery coupled with the clear pure water and the natural serenity make travelers feel at ease and remove them from the often deafening roars of metropolises. source: www.visitourchina.com
...from HeiShanTou to ManZhouLi city (220km)...
Manzhouli
enjoys the best of three worlds: China, Russia and Mongolia and becomes a very mixed urban city. Manzhouli shares borders with Xinganling on the east, Hulun Lake on the south, Mongolia on the west and Russia on the north. It covers an area of 730 square kilometers. The population of Manzhouli is three hundred thousand with Mongolia, Han and Russians and other ethnical groups which all tally up to more than twenty groups. Manzhouli in Mongolian language means luxuriant spring water and it got its name from the railway station built here in 1901. It is a transliteration. The clear Hulun Lake with its immaculate ripples, the renowned hospitality of the Mongolian people and their exuberant nature make Manzhouli a very unique city with mixed charms. Source: www.chinahighlights.com
enjoys the best of three worlds: China, Russia and Mongolia and becomes a very mixed urban city. Manzhouli shares borders with Xinganling on the east, Hulun Lake on the south, Mongolia on the west and Russia on the north. It covers an area of 730 square kilometers. The population of Manzhouli is three hundred thousand with Mongolia, Han and Russians and other ethnical groups which all tally up to more than twenty groups. Manzhouli in Mongolian language means luxuriant spring water and it got its name from the railway station built here in 1901. It is a transliteration. The clear Hulun Lake with its immaculate ripples, the renowned hospitality of the Mongolian people and their exuberant nature make Manzhouli a very unique city with mixed charms. Source: www.chinahighlights.com
...from Manzhouli to AErShan (450km)...
GanZhuEr Temple
NuoMenhan War Relic Site
Aershan Town
A’ershan is located on the southern sections of the Greater Hing'an Range, a 1,200 km long volcanic mountain range in northeast China which divides the Manchurian plain of northeastern China to the east from the Mongolian Plateau of Inner Mongolia to the west. Aershan features the broad-leaved forests and patches of grassland interspersed with woodland. This eco-region is noted for its rich and diverse flora and wildlife. Dense forests of larch, birch, aspen, and pine cover the region with shrubs covering at the highest elevations. Source: www.ccctravel.net
A’ershan is located on the southern sections of the Greater Hing'an Range, a 1,200 km long volcanic mountain range in northeast China which divides the Manchurian plain of northeastern China to the east from the Mongolian Plateau of Inner Mongolia to the west. Aershan features the broad-leaved forests and patches of grassland interspersed with woodland. This eco-region is noted for its rich and diverse flora and wildlife. Dense forests of larch, birch, aspen, and pine cover the region with shrubs covering at the highest elevations. Source: www.ccctravel.net
Aershan National Forest Park
The Aershan National Forest Park is a 100,000+ hectare forest reserve, which is well known for its dramatic volcanic landscapes, dense forests, valleys, mountaintop crater lakes, rivers, grasslands, and springs. The park infrastructure is well developed, with boardwalks and paths leading to the key scenic areas. It’s more rolling hills than big mountains, which are all covered in thick carpets of mixed pine, aspen and deciduous forests. The Halaha River rolls through it on its 500-kilometer journey into the grasslands. They say brown bear, elk and wolves prowl its depths, but squirrels and sparrows are more likely encounters. And when the season turns, the whole place becomes a mass of gorgeousness. Source: www.ccctravel.net
The Aershan National Forest Park is a 100,000+ hectare forest reserve, which is well known for its dramatic volcanic landscapes, dense forests, valleys, mountaintop crater lakes, rivers, grasslands, and springs. The park infrastructure is well developed, with boardwalks and paths leading to the key scenic areas. It’s more rolling hills than big mountains, which are all covered in thick carpets of mixed pine, aspen and deciduous forests. The Halaha River rolls through it on its 500-kilometer journey into the grasslands. They say brown bear, elk and wolves prowl its depths, but squirrels and sparrows are more likely encounters. And when the season turns, the whole place becomes a mass of gorgeousness. Source: www.ccctravel.net
...from Aershan to Hailar (350km)...
Bayanhushuo Grassland
29 kilometers away from Hulunbuir. The grassland itself has a long human as well as natural history and offers visitors spectacular panoramas and views over seemingly boundless grassland. This region is also home to three ethnic minorities: the Daur, the Buliyate and the Elute peoples making a region not only naturally rich but culturally rich as well. The Bayanhushuo Grassland also has some Qing Dynasty ruins as well as site of sacrifice which is called "Aobao" and was heaped with stones for worship in the ancient time. The Bayanhushuo Aobao followed the traditional style with a major Aobao, 12 small Aobaos, 13 handmade bronze summits, original stone altar and censer. There are many ethnic minority festivals held in this region which are opened to be viewed by tourists. Every year in the beginning of May the festival praying for a good harvest is held; On the 18th of every June it is the Ewenki's own festival – Sebin Festival and the Meeting at Aobao International Love Song Festival is held at the same time; at the end of every December, the Inner Mongolian Nadam Fair held at the foot of the Bayanhushuo Aobao mountain also offers outsiders to gain an understanding of the traditional culture of these Mongolian tribes. Source: www.visitourchina.com
29 kilometers away from Hulunbuir. The grassland itself has a long human as well as natural history and offers visitors spectacular panoramas and views over seemingly boundless grassland. This region is also home to three ethnic minorities: the Daur, the Buliyate and the Elute peoples making a region not only naturally rich but culturally rich as well. The Bayanhushuo Grassland also has some Qing Dynasty ruins as well as site of sacrifice which is called "Aobao" and was heaped with stones for worship in the ancient time. The Bayanhushuo Aobao followed the traditional style with a major Aobao, 12 small Aobaos, 13 handmade bronze summits, original stone altar and censer. There are many ethnic minority festivals held in this region which are opened to be viewed by tourists. Every year in the beginning of May the festival praying for a good harvest is held; On the 18th of every June it is the Ewenki's own festival – Sebin Festival and the Meeting at Aobao International Love Song Festival is held at the same time; at the end of every December, the Inner Mongolian Nadam Fair held at the foot of the Bayanhushuo Aobao mountain also offers outsiders to gain an understanding of the traditional culture of these Mongolian tribes. Source: www.visitourchina.com
Inner Mongolia Cuisine
Mongolians call their milk food "baishi" or white food and their meat food "hongshi" or red food.
White food, made from cow's milk, sheep's milk and mare's milk, includes milk drinks and milk food, almost a dozen varieties. Mongolians don't eat a single meal without their white food. The most popular of which is milk tea, which is treated as a top grade beverage in Inner Mongolia. When guests come into a herdsmen's yurt, the first thing provided is milk tea. Milk tea is boiled using high quality brick tea, and added with fresh milk and a little bit of salt. The salty milk tea is fresh and fragrant. Other white foods include: cheese, milk skin, cream, milk curd, sour milk and fermented milk.
Red foods are mainly made from mutton, beef and sometimes camel meat. People in the pasture seldom eat pork. Mutton is the most popular meat there, which can be made to shouba rou (boiled mutton), kao quanyang (roasted whole sheep), kao yangtui (roasted mutton leg), kao yangpai (roasted mutton chop), mutton barbecue and instant-boiled mutton.
Shouba rou is the most popular red food in Inner Mongolia. Mongolians like mutton very much and they believe the mutton there is better than that in any other places, because the sheep drink mineral water and eat fresh grass other than man-made feed. The mutton used to cook shouba rou is the legs from newly-butchered sheep. It's easy to cook too: just put mutton in the boiling water, add a little salt, no other spices. The mutton shouldn't over-boil and eaters should eat the mutton before it cools. The leg is whole when brought to the table. And beside the whole leg there is a knife. Everybody cuts mutton from the leg and eats. The original fragrance of the mutton is kept. Source: www1.chinadaily.com.cn
Mongolians call their milk food "baishi" or white food and their meat food "hongshi" or red food.
White food, made from cow's milk, sheep's milk and mare's milk, includes milk drinks and milk food, almost a dozen varieties. Mongolians don't eat a single meal without their white food. The most popular of which is milk tea, which is treated as a top grade beverage in Inner Mongolia. When guests come into a herdsmen's yurt, the first thing provided is milk tea. Milk tea is boiled using high quality brick tea, and added with fresh milk and a little bit of salt. The salty milk tea is fresh and fragrant. Other white foods include: cheese, milk skin, cream, milk curd, sour milk and fermented milk.
Red foods are mainly made from mutton, beef and sometimes camel meat. People in the pasture seldom eat pork. Mutton is the most popular meat there, which can be made to shouba rou (boiled mutton), kao quanyang (roasted whole sheep), kao yangtui (roasted mutton leg), kao yangpai (roasted mutton chop), mutton barbecue and instant-boiled mutton.
Shouba rou is the most popular red food in Inner Mongolia. Mongolians like mutton very much and they believe the mutton there is better than that in any other places, because the sheep drink mineral water and eat fresh grass other than man-made feed. The mutton used to cook shouba rou is the legs from newly-butchered sheep. It's easy to cook too: just put mutton in the boiling water, add a little salt, no other spices. The mutton shouldn't over-boil and eaters should eat the mutton before it cools. The leg is whole when brought to the table. And beside the whole leg there is a knife. Everybody cuts mutton from the leg and eats. The original fragrance of the mutton is kept. Source: www1.chinadaily.com.cn