The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, with its varied attractions, presents an exciting and memorable getaway for tourists.

 

The region contains almost everything that an urban tourist's heart may desire: stunning grasslands, the Gobi desert, the Mongolian way of life, and energetic unique folk pastimes such as horse and camel riding, Mongolian wrestling, archery, rodeo competitions, and singing and dancing.

 

Unique festivals & custom

 

Nadam, meaning entertainment and amusement in Mongolian, is an enormously popular entertainment and games festival in Inner Mongolia. To the Mongolian people, the Nadam Fair is ancient, sacred, grand and full of fun. It has developed into a 10-day large-scale comprehensive gathering at the banner level during the summer-autumn interregnum.

 

The main activities at the Nadam Fair include sacrificial rites, celebrations, athletic sports such as wrestling and archery, entertainment and theatrical performances, as well as trade.

 

At the fair, people wearing their holiday best participate in horse racing, archery, singing, dancing, chess playing and wrestling.

 

Horse racing

Folk performance at a Nadam Festival.

 

Fine horses are said to be the eyes of the Mongolian prairie and they symbolize the spirit of the Mongolian people, who are said to grow up on horsebacks. Horses thus play an important part in their lives. Every Mongolian loves to prove his worth by a show of good horsemanship and archery, as well as wrestling.

 

Wrestling

 

Wrestling is a prime sport at the fair. Wearing tight vests, loose trousers and boots, hundreds of wrestlers come not only to compete for the championship - the honor of a lifetime - but also to help in the development of their courage, temperament and spirit.

 

Cuisine

 

The local cuisine of Inner Mongolian shows both Mongolian and Chinese influences. Most of the food is similar to dishes in Xinjiang and other minority areas of China, with a special emphasis on lamb. The fertile grasslands of Inner Mongolia also allow for plenty of cattle, adding many diary products to the daily Mongolian diet.

 

Favorite Mongolian food items include roast lamb, butter, mutton hot pot, cheese, cooked mutton, buckwheat flour, finger mutton, milk tea, and shaomai.

 

Roast Lamb

 

Roast lamb is a traditional Mongolian food, usually specially prepared at a dinner party in honor of distinguished guests or at a great celebration. The golden red lamb, often laid out on a square wood dish, tastes quite delicious.

 

Mutton Hot Pot

 

Mutton hot pot, or instant-boiled mutton, was created during the Yuan Dynasty. Mutton from the back, rear legs or tail of sheep is chosen for this dish, and then cut into slices. The boiled mutton is fresh and tender, not greasy.

 

Cooked Mutton

 

This is the delicacy that the Mongolians like best. It is only prepared for special occasions such as offering sacrifices to the gods or one's ancestors, at weddings or celebrations of elders' birthdays.

 

Finger Mutton

 

Mongolians have savored this traditional food for thousands of years. People often use their fingers to pick up the meat while eating, hence the name of the dish.

 

Milk Tea

 

This is a traditional hot drink the Mongolian people take everyday. It is made by boiling water with brick tea and fresh milk. People usually put a little salt into the milk tea when they drink it.

 

Sometimes they may put a little butter or stir-fried millet into the milk tea.

 

Butter

 

Also called yellow butter, this is nutritious and unique in flavor, and suitable for consumption with both Chinese and Western food.

 

Cheese

 

It is one of the favorite dairy products of Mongolians.

 

(China Daily July 20, 2007)