CHINA DAILY THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2012 lifetravel 19 Gateway to the grasslands By JULES QUARTLY she mentions where she comes from, [email protected] it is assumed that she rode to school on a horse. While Hohhot has plenty of history, Not true, obviously, but though eth- it’s also coming of age. nically Han, she explains Mongolian Just an hour away by plane from culture is a part of whom she is. Beijing, the center for rare earths and “Th ere is a mix of infl uences and energy is expanding at a frenzied rate, though I’m not Mongolian, the cul- causing the infrastructure to creak ture affects us and our character. I somewhat when it comes to the roads, would describe it as very friendly and but also sprouting new museums, outgoing.” hotels and businesses. Th ese ethnic infl uences are refl ect- The capital of Inner Mongolia ed in the locals’ love for music and autonomous region is relatively well dining, which emphasizes lamb or A short sojourn outside Hohhot is off and as a result is now beginning to mutton, beef, pork not so much (due the Tomb of Princess Wang Zhaojun, emphasize its tourism potential as the to Muslim sensibilities) and very which celebrates the story of one of gateway to the grasslands in summer, few vegetables. Hot pot and shao- China’s top four beauties, who bro- and a skiing destination during the mai dumplings are other specialties, kered peace between the Han and winter months. washed down with butter tea, or white Xiongnu, or Hun, ethnic groups in While the population of 2.9 million liquor. 33 BC. Th e Hun ruled part of Inner people is 88 percent Han, the Mongo- Founded by Altan Khan around Mongolia around this time. lian (9 percent) and Hui (2 percent) 1580 — a descendant of the empire- Meanwhile the Inner Mongolia ethnic groups have a disproportionate building Kublai Khan — Hohhot is Museum is an impressive artificial infl uence. known as the “Blue City” in Mon- turf-covered structure that introduces You will note this everywhere you golian, but it also has some pleasant in an entertaining and informative go, since all store signs have to be in green spaces, such as the jade-colored way the history and culture of the Mongolian, as well as Chinese, and lake in the center of Qingcheng Park, region, from before the dinosaurs to practically every building has some which also has a Ferris wheel. the future of space travel — the Shen- kind of architectural flourish that Most visitors head fi rst for Da Zhao zhou IV space module landed about harks back to its past, or some kind Temple, a 1579 stepping-stone into 60 km outside the city in 2003. of Islamic infl uence, such as Arabic the past and a center for Tibetan Bud- I guess all these attractions and a scripts. dhism that has one of the largest silver few others, such as the sleepy Wu Ta Housing developments typically Buddhas in China. Temple Cultural Antiques Market, have huge bronze statues of Mon- Th e surrounding area has stupas, won’t take much more than a few golian warriors astride horses, while statues and a large plaza, while nearby days, which is why the amiable gen- there are mosques dotted around the Saishang Old Street is a vibrant place eral manager of the Shangri-La Hotel, city. to peruse art shops and examine Huhhot, Victor Ng, emphasizes the One of the city’s main attractions hordes of Mongolian curios. Also not city as a gateway to the grasslands. is the downtown lightshow at night, far away is Muslim Cultural Street, “Next to the beach and the sea, the in which bright beams pick out the which as the name suggests, celebrates grasslands are the next best thing.” buildings’ pointed arches and domes. the religion’s infl uence, from serene Ng says, “You can’t get enough of PHOTOS BY JULES QUARTLY / CHINA DAILY A friend, Yang Qing, who was born white mosques to golden and green clear blue skies and vistas of green Muslim Cultural Street off ers rich Islamic culture, from serene white mosques to golden domed buildings that are lit and bred in Hohhot says whenever domed buildings. grass. It gives you a carefree feeling.” up at night; while nearby Saishang Old Street presents an opportunity to browse curio shops.