Introduction of NarasaraOd Travel

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 border a lot of Siberia Russia, as well as the drier part of Outer Mongolia. There is only one border crossing for foreigners from Inner to Outer 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 lager cities like Hohot, it is really Chinese.

There was a time when Inner and Outer Mongolia were the same. Real Mongolia. Not now. It is gone forever.

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.

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 know where to go and to be able to speak Mongolian. Although this is China and the Chinese language will get you into this area, Mongolian will get you into the "real" remaining Mongolia.

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.

But first things first. You must get there. First you must get to Beijing, and then fly to Hailar from Beijing, the gateway to Inner Mongolia. You can take the train, but it takes 36 hours.

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

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 with standard rooms and Mongolian tents. All will be clean and comfortable, though.

See the section on "Guidelines" for details.

On the map I have put the major destinations as a "red dot". My hometown is indicated by a "blue dot". Most smaller towns are not on maps.

If you want glood maps for yourself, get them in Beijing. There is NOTHING where you are going.