Inner Mongolia

The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, bordering to the north with both the Republic of Mongolia and Russia, is the widest province in China (by its latitude). It is the third largest Chinese province (over 1.1 million square kilometers or 424,736 square miles) but not very populated. The province has about 24 million inhabitants. Many ethnic groups are living in this area including Mongolian, Daur, Oroqen, Ewenki, Hui, Han, Korea and Manchu. Inner Mongolia is also the hometown of Genghis Khan (1162-1227), the great leader of Mongolians. Hohhot is the capital of Inner Mongolia.

The summer weather in Inner Mongolia is often less humid and cooler than in Beijing. The temperature during the day is cool and comfortable while nights can be very winding and cold. Students should bring a jacket, long pants and extra layer of clothes for the short trip. Also the sun is particularly strong so sun screen is advised.

Our group begins the Inner Mongolian trip by leaving Beijing by train to Hohhot city. The 8 hour train ride is scheduled to leave Beijing at 10:00PM Friday and should arrive at Hohhot city early morning. Once at Hohhot, students take a buffet style breakfast and immediately get on the bus to go to the grasslands. The bus ride is approximately 5 hours long with no stops. During the bus ride, students can see the countryside with beautiful views of grasslands and surrounding mountains. Once at the grasslands, students will be greeted with a traditional Mongolian welcoming ceremony with singing and dancing. Students will also appreciate the fresh air, the clear skies and the feeling of “in the middle of nowhere”. The feeling is very unique if you live in a major city or even the countryside.

At the grasslands, students can practice archery, ride horses, wrestle with Mongolians, watch horse racing, and play all kinds of sports. The day is capped off with a night performance that features traditional dancing, singing and fireworks. At night, students will sleep in traditional Mongolian yurts. Each yurt can accommodate 6 people and their luggage. The next morning, many students choose to wake up early to witness the Mongolian sunrise, truly a sight to behold. After breakfast, students hop on their horses to have a glimpse of a real life Mongolian family. Once there, they learn about their living conditions and ways of life on the grasslands. In the afternoon, it’s time to leave the grasslands and head back to Hohhot city. Some students decide to take a stroll in the history museum while others prefer to tackle a shopping adventure. At night, students enjoy a festive Mongolian hot pot dinner in which not a single plate has any food left over. Afterwards, students take a train back to Beijing.