Inner Mongolia (内蒙古, Nèi Měnggǔ or, Öbür mongɣul in Mongolian) is a Mongol Autonomous Region in northern China, whereas Outer Mongolia is a separate country to the north of China. The region covers most of the northern edge of China, curving in a banana shape. To the north is the Republic of Mongolia and the north east tip of Inner Mongolia borders with Russia. The other borders of the region are with other Chinese provinces; going clockwise from the Northeast they are Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Ningxia, and Gansu.
- Hohhot. - the capital
- Baotou. - on the Yellow River (Huang He)
- Chifeng. - the location of Arshihaty Stone Forest in the Hexigten UNESCO Global Geopark
- Ordos City. - Dongsheng is the home of cashmere sweaters produced in the Erdos Grasslands
- Erlian. - border town on the Trans-Siberian railway
- Hailar. - in the North
- Manzhouli. - northern gateway to Russia
- Wuhai. - on the Yellow River
Hohhot. - the capital
Baotou. - on the Yellow River (Huang He)
Chifeng. - the location of Arshihaty Stone Forest in the Hexigten UNESCO Global Geopark
Ordos City. - Dongsheng is the home of cashmere sweaters produced in the Erdos Grasslands
Erlian. - border town on the Trans-Siberian railway
Hailar. - in the North
Manzhouli. - northern gateway to Russia
Wuhai. - on the Yellow River
- Zalantun National Park.
- Dalai Lake. or Lake Hulin (Dalai nuur) - One of the five largest freshwater lakes in China, covering approximately 2,339 km². A popular summer tourist area.
Zalantun National Park.
Dalai Lake. or Lake Hulin (Dalai nuur) - One of the five largest freshwater lakes in China, covering approximately 2,339 km². A popular summer tourist area.
Inner Mongolia is a large region stretched across the northern edge of China. It has a relatively low population density the majority of which are Han Chinese. About 17% of the population is ethnic Mongolian. The region is officially an Autonomous Region for the Mongolian people within China. The east of Inner Mongolia consists of wide grass meadow lands, forests and mountains. The west of the region is made up of scorching hot dry deserts. Traditional Mongolian nomadic lifestyle can still be seen in the region and yurts (Mongolian tents) are not an uncommon site in the wide spaces between the cities. Despite the fact that ethnic Mongols form a minority in the region, the number of ethnic Mongols holding Chinese citizenship is almost twice the population of the independent country of Mongolia.
The main religion in the area practiced by the Mongol minority is Lamaist Buddhism, similar to that found in Tibet and the Republic of Mongolia. Lama temples are common throughout the region.
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) (酒泉卫星发射中心) is in Inner Mongolia and is the site of most of China's rocket launches. It is in a remote area and not open to the public. (The city of Jiuquan lies over 100km away in the neighboring province of Gansu.)
Mongolian is co-official with Mandarin in the area. There are different dialects of both spoken throughout the region. The north east of the province speak with a Dongbei accent that is very similar to standard Mandarin Chinese. Central areas speak the Jin dialect of Chinese. The two dialects are mutually unintelligible. The official dialect of Mongolian is Chahar and is distinct from the dialect used in Outer Mongolia. The Mongolian language and population is primarily located in the northern and border regions of the province with the neighboring Republic of Mongolia to the north. Most ethnic Mongols are bilingual in Mongolian and Mandarin.
Writing on signs, menus and other documents are usually bilingual in Mongolian and Chinese. The Mongolian script here follows the traditional style (vertical), in contrast with the Republic of Mongolia which adopted the Cyrillic script due to previous Russian/Soviet influences.
- Wudangzhao Monastery - northeast of Baotou.
- Dazhao Temple - In Hohhot
- Xilituzhao Palace - In Hohhot.
- Zhaojun Tomb - beside the Da Hi River nine kilometers south of Hohhot.
- Wanbu Huayanjin Pagoda - In Hohhot.
- Xiaozhao Temple (also called Chongfu temple) - In Hohhot.
- Five-towers Temple (Wuta Si) - In Hohhot.
- Qingzhen Da Si Mosque - In Hohhot.
- Inner Mongolia Museum (内蒙古博物馆 Neimenggu Bowuguan) - The museum has over 44,000 items and is particularly noted for it's dinosaur collection. In Hohhot.
- Mausoleum of Genghis Khan (成吉思汗陵) - Located within Ordos Prefecture. This isn't the real site of Genghis Khan's burial, but rather a shrine in his memory.
- Xilamuren Grassland - 90 kilometres (about 56 miles) north of Hohhot.
- Gegentala Grassland - Located in Siziwang Banner, 145 kilometres north of Hohhot.
- Huitengxile Grassland - 135 kilometres east of Hohhot, and 80 kilometers from the city of Jining.
- Bashang Grasslands - On the regions southern border near to Beijing.
- Badain Jaran Desert (巴丹吉林沙漠 Badanjilin Shamo) - Western Inner Mongolia and extending into neighbouring Gansu and Ningxia provinces.
- Tengger Desert (腾格里沙漠 Tenggeli Shamo) - Bordering with Ningxia Province.
- Kubuqi Desert - South of the Yellow river near to Baotou.
- Hexigten National Geopark - This is a UNESCO designated Geopark. It contains eight scenic areas: Arshihaty granite forest area, Qingshan granite mortar area, Dali Nur volcanic land form area, Huanggangliang Quaternary glacial vestige area, Reshuitang thermal spring area, Pingdingshan scenic Quaternary cirque group area, Xilamulun River valley area and Hunshandak sand land area. The geopark covers an area of 1750 km2. See Chifeng.
- Arxan National Geopark - South west of the Greater Hinggan Mountains in Xiang'an League.
- Alxa Desert National Geopark - In Alxa League (also known as Alashan League) of Western Inner Mongolia.
Wudangzhao Monastery - northeast of [[Baotou]].
Dazhao Temple - In [[Hohhot]]
Xilituzhao Palace - In [[Hohhot]].
Zhaojun Tomb - beside the Da Hi River nine kilometers south of [[Hohhot]].
Wanbu Huayanjin Pagoda - In [[Hohhot]].
Xiaozhao Temple (also called Chongfu temple) - In [[Hohhot]].
Five-towers Temple (Wuta Si) - In [[Hohhot]].
Qingzhen Da Si Mosque - In [[Hohhot]].
Inner Mongolia Museum (内蒙古博物馆 Neimenggu Bowuguan) - The museum has over 44,000 items and is particularly noted for it's dinosaur collection. In [[Hohhot]].
Mausoleum of Genghis Khan (成吉思汗陵) - Located within [[Ordos Prefecture]]. This isn't the real site of [[Genghis Khan]]'s burial, but rather a shrine in his memory.
Xilamuren Grassland - 90 kilometres (about 56 miles) north of [[Hohhot]].
Gegentala Grassland - Located in [[Siziwang]] Banner, 145 kilometres north of [[Hohhot]].
Huitengxile Grassland - 135 kilometres east of [[Hohhot]], and 80 kilometers from the city of [[Jining (Inner Mongolia)|Jining]].
Bashang Grasslands - On the regions southern border near to [[Beijing]].
Badain Jaran Desert (巴丹吉林沙漠 Badanjilin Shamo) - Western Inner Mongolia and extending into neighbouring [[Gansu]] and [[Ningxia]] provinces.
Tengger Desert (腾格里沙漠 Tenggeli Shamo) - Bordering with [[Ningxia]] Province.
Kubuqi Desert - South of the Yellow river near to [[Baotou]].
Hexigten National Geopark - This is a UNESCO designated Geopark. It contains eight scenic areas: Arshihaty granite forest area, Qingshan granite mortar area, Dali Nur volcanic land form area, Huanggangliang Quaternary glacial vestige area, Reshuitang thermal spring area, Pingdingshan scenic Quaternary cirque group area, Xilamulun River valley area and Hunshandak sand land area. The geopark covers an area of 1750 km2. See [[Chifeng]].
Arxan National Geopark - South west of the Greater Hinggan Mountains in [[Xiang'an]] League.
Alxa Desert National Geopark - In [[Alxa (prefecture)|Alxa League]] (also known as Alashan League) of Western Inner Mongolia.
- Scenic Grasslands - Definitely plan on visiting a scenic grassland near Hohhot, Baotou, Erenhot, Ulanhot or Hailar where visitors may go for the Mongolian Experience, such as horseback riding, attending folk singing and dancing, and tasting roast whole lamb.
- Nadam Festival - Wrestling, horse racing and archery are the three traditional sports for Nadam (meaning entertainment or frolicking), the foremost traditional festival for Mongol nomads taking place in July or August.
- Mongol Homestay - Trying an authentic Mongol homestay, staying in a yurt in the grasslands. "Staying in a yurt" can mean almost anything in Inner Mongolia but if you do some research you will probably manage to find a nice one.
Scenic Grasslands - Definitely plan on visiting a scenic grassland near Hohhot, Baotou, Erenhot, Ulanhot or Hailar where visitors may go for the Mongolian Experience, such as horseback riding, attending folk singing and dancing, and tasting roast whole lamb.
Nadam Festival - Wrestling, horse racing and archery are the three traditional sports for Nadam (meaning entertainment or frolicking), the foremost traditional festival for Mongol nomads taking place in July or August.
Mongol Homestay - Trying an authentic Mongol homestay, staying in a yurt in the grasslands. "Staying in a yurt" can mean almost anything in Inner Mongolia but if you do some research you will probably manage to find a nice one.
Traditional Mongolian food is found throughout Inner Mongolia. This is typically high in dairy produce such as milk, yoghurt and cheese. The traditional Mongolian milk tea is exceptionally good. Meats, especially lamb, form most meals. The meat is usually roasted with a coating of spices to give a strong distinctive flavour. Similar with many areas of China, the Hotpot is a popular style of cooking. Mongolian hotpot usually has a well flavoured soup but without the hot spices of central China.
Mongolian milk tea is distinctive to this region and frequently served in hotels along with breakfast. Some brands of Mongolian bottle water are known for their purity or special mineral content.
The ethnic Mongols in China generally share a common culture with their counterparts in Mongolia. The various respect tips in the Mongolia article generally apply to the ethnic Mongols in China as well.
It is possible to travel to the Republic of Mongolia, (Outer Mongolia) and Russia from here by both road and rail. There are good connections into the southern neighbouring provinces of China.