 Inner
Mongolia
Inner
Mongolia Autonomous Region, established in 1947 as the first Chinese
ethnic groups' autonomous region, is located in China's northern
borderline, and occupies 1,180,000 square kilometers. Its capital
is Hohhot, which means "the Green City" in Mongolian, and which
has been designated as one of the state-listed production bases
for ethnic groups special necessities. The Inner Mongolian Plateau
has richly endowed grasslands. It is one of China's largest pastoral
areas. The Mongolian came upon the world's historical stage in
the 13th century, and their cultural heritage was colorful and
splendid.
Inner
Mongolia stretches along China's northern border with the Mongolian
People's Republic and the Soviet Union, and covers an oblong area
of over 1.28 million square kilometers, or one eighth of the country's
total. Of all the Chinese provinces and autonomous regions, it
is the third largest after Xinjiang and Tibet. Its population
is about 23 millions. Its capital city is Hurhut.
Inner
Mongolia is dominated by a temperate continental monsoon climate.
It has four distinct seasons because of its distance from sea,
its high terrain and obstruction of mountains. It has long and
cold winters while summer is short but warm. Known as the "arctic
in china". the temperature's record low is -50*c. It is windy
in all seasons, especially in spring.
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 Jin-Gang-Zuo-She-Li
Pagodas, which is popularly called Five-Pagoda Temple, is situated
in the Wutasi-hou Street, Yuquan District, Hohhot. The construction
of the temple began in the 5th year of the reign of the Emperor
Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty. The Pagoda is 16.5 meters high and
looks like a Buddha's Warrior Attendant's seat, with a base under
it and five exquisite pagodas on the base. As more than 1560 relief
sculptures of Buddha are engraved on the five pagodas, the temple
enjoys the reputation of being "a 10000-Buddha Tower". In addition,
there are images of Bodhisattva, the four Devarajas, Buddhist Saint,
Heavenly Ladies, holy birds and animal, bodhi trees and the engraved
scriptures in Mongolian, Tibetan and Sanskrit on the wall of the
pagodas. On the wall facing the temple there are 3 marble relief
sculptures, including a planisphere marked with Mongolian inscriptions.
The pagodas are not only peculiar buildings, but also a huge exquisite
carving.
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 Genghis
Khan's Mausoleum lies 30 kilometers south of Yijinhuoluo Qi (similar
to county), 185 kilometers from Baotou.
Genghis Khan,
also called Yuantaizu (the First Emperor of Yuan dynasty), whose
true name is Tiemuzhen, had been the leader of Mongolia nationality.
During the period from the end of the 12th century to the beginning
of the 20th century, he unified different tribes of Mongolia to
one country: Mengguhan Country.
Located on Gande'er'ao
altitude, with a length of 15 kilometers, width of 30 kilometers
and area of 225 square kilometers, the mausoleum is made up of four
magnificent palaces in the shape of Mongolian yurts, which respectively
are the main palace, the east palace, the west palace and the back
palace, and the four palaces are connected each other. With rounded
roofs and glazed tiles inlayed golden eaves, they are very glorious
and imposing.
The 26 meters
high main palace, with a huge sculpture of Genghis Khan in the middle
of it, is the center for fete. After the ceremony of sacrificing,
sports activity such as toxophily, horse race, and wrestling will
be held.
The back palace
contains Genghis Khan's tomb, which is covered by with yellow satin.
The east palace
lays coffins of Genghis Khan's wife and his fourth son Tuolei. The
west palace is used as an exhibition hall, with some relics of Genghis
Khan, such as spear, sword, saddle etc.
Before death,
Genghis Khan left testament that his death must be kept secret,
in order to trick Xixia into surrendering to Mongolian. According
to the consuetude of Mongolian, nobles should be buried under ground
after death. The surface of Genghis Khan's tomb was trod by thousands
of horses to make it smooth; then trees were planted on the land
above the tomb, and the second year, green grass grew flourishing
there. So no one knows the exact place where Genghis Khan was buried
from then on.
Now, memorial
ceremony for Genghis khan is held for four times each year and March
21st of the lunar calendar is the traditional date to hold the memorial
ceremony.
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