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| Xilamuren Grassland |
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Xilamuren, meaning "yellow river" in Mongolian, is located
100 kilometers north of Hohhot. Xilamuren Prairie, commonly known
as Taihe, got its name from the Puhui Temple, a Lama temple built
in the Qing Dynasty near the Xilamuren River. Constructed in 1769
during the reign of Emperor Qianlong, Puhui Temple was initially a
resort of the Sixth Panchen Lama of Xilitu of Huhhot. With engraved
beams and pictured purlins, the temple appears quite splendid. Xilamuren
Prairie, a typical example on the plateau, is covered by green grass
and fresh flowers every summer and autumn. Due to the continual investment
of the local government, reception service is growing better and better.
Thus, Xilamuren has become a popular scenic spot in Inner Mongolia.
The main reason for most visitors to Inner Mongolia is for a grasslands
experience, and Hohhot is well set up to accommodate this with its
copious tourist facilities. These sites are not the most authentic,
so for those coming in from the Republic of Mongolia, or from the
grasslands at Hailar or Xilinhot, it is probably not worth the trip.
Travelers may be a little put off by modern facilities, Han Chinese
run resorts, and the crowds that often come in summer. However,
if you have not experienced the grasslands before, fun can still
easily be had, even on the tours, by trekking off on your own into
the rolling grasses for scenery that is pretty and remote.
Although it is possible to visit one of the grassland areas in
one day, it is far nicer to spend a night or two out here in a Mongolian
traditional tent (yurt). These yurts are made of compressed sheep
wool and are shaped rather like a squat native American teepee,
windowless, sheep-smelling and snug. The yurts are made from latticed
wood frames, have thick, rug floors and are usually furnished with
many blankets, low beds, quilts, pillows and hot water flasks. They
were originally designed to be folded up and carried by camel, however
nowadays most of them are slightly more solidly built on concrete
yards, in yurt type camps that have numerous yurts and usually a
dining area, a washroom with occasional hot water and even electric
light.
Entertainment in these areas are many. You may try activities such
as Mongolian wrestling, horse & camel riding, rodeo competitions,
archery, visiting traditional families, and trips to the aobaos
(rock mounds that are normally festooned with flags, meant for worship).
The best time to do all this is during Naadam Festival, in the second
half of August, when the crowds are out in full and a fair- like
atmosphere is created. In the evenings the camps provide interesting,
if sometimes a little taxing, activities, including a baijiu dinner
and performances of traditional dancing, singing and melodies from
traditional Mongolian instruments, including the sawing charms of
the horsehead fiddle (Matou qin). Some of the sites have halls for
disco, but this is probably best missed out. |
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