Inner
Mongolia is a mysterious and diverse place. Just look on a map. It is
huge. It has similarities to Outer Mongolia. Inner Mongolia is a
temperate climate with Blueberries, nuts, animals, mushrooms, forests,
etc. Inner Mongolia borders some of Siberia, Russia, as well as the
drier part of Outer Mongolia (the country). There is only one border
crossing for foreigners from Inner to Outer Mongolia, from China to
Mongolia
Genghis Khan and his horde was too strong in the 13th Century. Russia had taken over much of what we now call the country of Mongolia (Outer Mongolia) and today much of the Mongolian culture is a mixture of Russian and Mongolian. Pure Mongolian culture is mostly gone. Squelched.
Similarly in Inner Mongolia, the culture is strongly influenced by China and Manchuria. Mongolian culture is mostly gone, except in the deep country. In the larger cities like Hohot, it is really Chinese. Any Mongolian culture you see in HoHot is "made" for tourists. It is not real.
There was a time when Inner and Outer Mongolia were the same. Real Mongolia. Not now. It is gone forever. The change happened with International politics involving Russia. Before, it was all part of China.
If you go to Outer Mongolia, you will get a Russianized view.
If you go to Inner Mongolia, you will get a Sinacized view.
In smaller towns, only Mongolian is spoken. In smaller towns cheese is made the way is has been made for generations. Yoghurt is made like it was 1,000 years ago. Horse wine is still made in both Inner and Outer Mongolia. You can buy it in supermarkets
Blueberries grow wild, The rivers are filled with fish, Wild animals flourish. Wild mushrooms are ready for picking. Vistas are incredible.
Yes, all this exists. You just need to know where to go and to be able to speak Mongolian. Although this is China and the Chinese language will get you into part of this area, Mongolian will get you into the "real" remaining Mongolia of cheese, yoghurt, hot springs, and animals. Unless a guide actually speaks fluent Mongolian, all bets are off.
The Northern area is the nicest and most remote. Ghenghis Khan was born near Hailar in HulunBer. The Mongolians left the North when the Russians started to come. Here you will see some mixed Mongolian and Russian families. There is a wonderful family of a Russian man and Mongolian wife who live in a log cabin in the North.
But first things first. You must get there. First you must get to Beijing, and then fly to UlanHot or Hailar from Beijing, the gateway to Inner Mongolia. You can take the train, but it takes 18 to 36 hours, depending on which train you take. All trains are overnight.
There is a lot of Mongolian history in Beijing. After all, the Yuan Dynasty was a non-Chinese Mongolian Dynasty.
"Hutong" is a Mongolian word referring to the still standing alleyways and crowded places where people now live. Many hAve been torn down, but some survive. "Tianamen Square" was significantly enlarged during the Yuan Dynasty (Mongols). The picturesque "Lama Temple" in Beijing was built as a pacifier to the Mongolian and Tibet people. The "Great Wall" was built by the Chinese to keep Mongolians out.
Enough. You can see that Mongolia had a profound and lasting effect on China.
Inner Mongolia is an ideal place to visit. Because Inner Mongolia is a part of China, it is safe, has good accommodations, good food, and great transportation. You can stay either in a hotel with a hot shower or a real Mongolian Ger with nothing but nature.
Remember, however, that you will be going to small towns. Beijing may have luxurious 5 and 6 star hotels, but in the smaller towns you will stay in small hotels (3 star) with standard rooms or Mongolian Ger's (tents). All will be clean and comfortable, though.
See the sections on "Guidelines", "The Grasslands and Horses", etc. for details.
On the map I have put the major destinations as a "red dot". My home
town is indicated by a "blue dot", JaQi or UlanHot.. Most smaller towns are not on maps. As you can see, you have to go far North from HohHot to see the real Mongolia. HohHot is a Disneyland creation of Mongolia, not real. But here are fancy hotels, hot showers, good food, and entertainment, all things Mongolia does not have in the real country.
If you want good maps for yourself, get them in Beijing. There is NOTHING where you are going.
Updated:08/08/2011
Genghis Khan and his horde was too strong in the 13th Century. Russia had taken over much of what we now call the country of Mongolia (Outer Mongolia) and today much of the Mongolian culture is a mixture of Russian and Mongolian. Pure Mongolian culture is mostly gone. Squelched.
Similarly in Inner Mongolia, the culture is strongly influenced by China and Manchuria. Mongolian culture is mostly gone, except in the deep country. In the larger cities like Hohot, it is really Chinese. Any Mongolian culture you see in HoHot is "made" for tourists. It is not real.
There was a time when Inner and Outer Mongolia were the same. Real Mongolia. Not now. It is gone forever. The change happened with International politics involving Russia. Before, it was all part of China.
If you go to Outer Mongolia, you will get a Russianized view.
If you go to Inner Mongolia, you will get a Sinacized view.
In smaller towns, only Mongolian is spoken. In smaller towns cheese is made the way is has been made for generations. Yoghurt is made like it was 1,000 years ago. Horse wine is still made in both Inner and Outer Mongolia. You can buy it in supermarkets
Blueberries grow wild, The rivers are filled with fish, Wild animals flourish. Wild mushrooms are ready for picking. Vistas are incredible.
Yes, all this exists. You just need to know where to go and to be able to speak Mongolian. Although this is China and the Chinese language will get you into part of this area, Mongolian will get you into the "real" remaining Mongolia of cheese, yoghurt, hot springs, and animals. Unless a guide actually speaks fluent Mongolian, all bets are off.
The Northern area is the nicest and most remote. Ghenghis Khan was born near Hailar in HulunBer. The Mongolians left the North when the Russians started to come. Here you will see some mixed Mongolian and Russian families. There is a wonderful family of a Russian man and Mongolian wife who live in a log cabin in the North.
But first things first. You must get there. First you must get to Beijing, and then fly to UlanHot or Hailar from Beijing, the gateway to Inner Mongolia. You can take the train, but it takes 18 to 36 hours, depending on which train you take. All trains are overnight.
There is a lot of Mongolian history in Beijing. After all, the Yuan Dynasty was a non-Chinese Mongolian Dynasty.
"Hutong" is a Mongolian word referring to the still standing alleyways and crowded places where people now live. Many hAve been torn down, but some survive. "Tianamen Square" was significantly enlarged during the Yuan Dynasty (Mongols). The picturesque "Lama Temple" in Beijing was built as a pacifier to the Mongolian and Tibet people. The "Great Wall" was built by the Chinese to keep Mongolians out.
Enough. You can see that Mongolia had a profound and lasting effect on China.
Inner Mongolia is an ideal place to visit. Because Inner Mongolia is a part of China, it is safe, has good accommodations, good food, and great transportation. You can stay either in a hotel with a hot shower or a real Mongolian Ger with nothing but nature.
Remember, however, that you will be going to small towns. Beijing may have luxurious 5 and 6 star hotels, but in the smaller towns you will stay in small hotels (3 star) with standard rooms or Mongolian Ger's (tents). All will be clean and comfortable, though.
See the sections on "Guidelines", "The Grasslands and Horses", etc. for details.
On the map I have put the major destinations as a "red dot". My home
town is indicated by a "blue dot", JaQi or UlanHot.. Most smaller towns are not on maps. As you can see, you have to go far North from HohHot to see the real Mongolia. HohHot is a Disneyland creation of Mongolia, not real. But here are fancy hotels, hot showers, good food, and entertainment, all things Mongolia does not have in the real country.
If you want good maps for yourself, get them in Beijing. There is NOTHING where you are going.
Updated:08/08/2011