On China’s northern edge there is a territory that combines the wonder of the desert and the beauty of the grasslands for an experience that will take your breath away; this autonomous region is known as Inner Mongolia. Inner Mongolia’s vastness maintains a feeling of timeless tranquility unlike anywhere experienced in China.
As a city boy, I have never visited any grassland or desert; have seen some small grottoes but never visited any major one or any temple like the Hanging Temple. June and July are the best time visiting the steppes of Inner Mongolia when the grass is green; but it may be too hot in the desert. As a compromise, we started our trip end August 2012 and found ourselves in the grassland in the early part of September.
I was always fascinated with the story of Genghis Khan; how, in 25 years, he had conquered an area even larger than the Romans were able to conquer in 400 years. This is the land where he once roamed and lived. He was good in strategies, did not have a hugh army (maybe only around 100,000 soldiers) but his speed of moving his army around in Mongul horses, his tatics and his well planned sieges allowed him to conquer a large part of Asia and even part of Europe.
In our last trip, we were able to fulfill our dreams by combining all these into one trip which included:
Horse riding in the steppes in Gegent Tala of Inner Mongolia.
Camel riding in the Resonant Sand Desert near Baotao.
Wandering aimlessly in the desert.
Visiting the Masouleum of Genghis Khan.
On our way back from Inner Mongolia, we also stopped by the Yungang Grottoes.
Travelling further along, we were awed by the Hanging Temple in Da Tong, Shanxi which is south of the Great Wall of China.
Our trip started with first flying to Beijing where we changed plane to Hohhot of Inner Mongolia. Using Hohhot as a base, we visited the Steppes in Gegent Tala, the Resonant Sand desert near Baotao. From there we travelled 8 hours on a coach to DaTong, Shanxi where we had a good look of the Yungang Grottoes and the Hanging Temple which was part of the Hen Mountains in China. From Da Tong, we flew to Beijing to complete our journey.
We learned more about Genghis Kahn and started digging deeper into his history and as to where his burial place is (still unknown and being investigated by National Geographic and other bodies).
It was indeed an eye opening journey. We were totally impressed by what we saw .
That Haning Temple, Michael !!! – the Yugang Grottoes! – the tomb of Genghis Khan!
What exciting travels you have had; and what visual memories of them …
Hi M R, it was indeed a memorable trip and I am glad that you like the post! Regards, Michael
What an adventure! Da Tong and the Hanging temple, Wow!!!
Hi Amy , glad that you Like my adventure and images!
Thank you so much for sharing your pictures. The Masouleum of Genghis Khan is so beautiful and the Hanging Temple in Da Tong is amazing! I always enjoy your photos so much.
Hi, I hope to post in more detail each of the places, so stay tuned!
Beautiful pictures. I have been to Da Tong, and visited this Hanging Temple, and the magnificent Grottoes. The rivers was redirected and the huge trees were chopped off, resulting in the fall of the empire in this mining area. Good food in the town, “Lion’s Head” meat ball, and excellent steam boat, with chicken and soya I may visit Inner Mongolia this year.
Trust you enjoyed your trip and glad that you may be visiting Inner Mongolia this year – iam sure you will enjoy it too.
wow…I have never been to China….but would love to go there some day …awesome pics…thanks for sharing dear 🙂
Regards from Sydney,
Kavita
Hi Kavita, great to hear from you and many thanks for reading my posts.
Mongolia is one place my husband has wanted to go. Not sure we’ll make it, so your blogs are especially interesting to us. Not only that, your pics are just like being there!!!
I was there late Summer, should have been there June or July, which I understand the steppes is green and beautiful. Wish you will visit it someday!
Looks like an incredible trip.
I was hesitant to post this, thinking that the trip may not be interesting enough. Thank you!
Really? I’m surprised to hear you hesitated. I’m glad that you posted this. I also think that something to keep in mind when posting is that some of your readers (like me) have not been the places you have, and it is fun to follow along on the journey 🙂
Problem is that once I have completed a trip for a long period without posting it, then there is an inertia for posting it. Also, I never know what readers are looking for in my posts!
I can understand that feeling. I have to say as a reader, I am just looking for your personal take on what you are posting about. I’m curious to know how any blogger felt about what they were seeing and experiencing.
I am also curious on how readers see and think, but usually, I am wrong. Some of the photos / posts I think were good but did not attract a lot of attention. Equally, some I think are mediocre, but attracted a lot of views and likes!
It is funny how that works sometimes isn’t it? It is is interesting to see what appeals to other people yet at the same time I think it is important to post what matters to you.
You are right! Actually, I am posting whatever comes to my mind as being interesting and that I have my photos for it. I would then see what is the feedback from the readers 🙂
Excellent, I do always enjoy looking through your posts, even if I don’t comment on all of them.
Many thanks for your continued support and perusal; glad that you comment from time to time!
🙂
Its really great post. I love it!!!
Many thanks for the kind words!
Reblogged this on Risty's Trip and commented:
what a great post!!!
Many thanks for reblogging this on!
Thanks to you for a great post 🙂
Thank you Risty!
Simply breathtaking!
Thank you!
Thanks a lot for sharing your stories from a less traveled region and the images are just outstanding 🙂
Hi, many thanks for the kind comment and support!
Reblogged this on Four Stars Two Bars Abroad and commented:
Wonderful photos and a great article. Please take a moment to support this great blog.
Many thanks for reblogging this on, and asking your readers to support this blog – am grateful for this!
You take some wonderful photos and, for someone who does not use English as a first language, you write really interesting words as well. Fascinating.
Glad to hear from you and many thanks for the kind words!
Fascinating pictures! Thank you for sharing!
Many thanks for the perusal!
Thank you for this wonderful and informative nugget of information. Genghis Khan is called Changez Khan in India, he left a massive footprint in northern India as well!
I am really impressed how he can manage to conquer so many countries in such a short time,even including part of India!
What an amazing trip! Fascinating.
Glad that you like the post!
Wonderful! The first picture captured the width of the country very good!
Yes the photo gives a sense of vastness and atmosphere of the place. Thank you!
Wow, you really had an amazing experience here. Wonderful photos and explanation.
Thanks for sharing Michael.
Irene
Hi Irene, thank you for the patience for reading all my posts!
No Michael, no patience is necessary to read your posts.
You write great and show us so many wonderful and beautiful photos, and I really enjoy visit your blog and see, what you are showing us now.
Irene
Hi Irene, I am flattered by your comment. Thanks you 🙂
😀
This is an amazing journey! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for the perusal!
Great post. I’d really like to visit Mongolia at some point. I’ve heard many great things about it, particularly the steppes.
Wish you would visit it in person someday. Regards, Michael
It is always so amazing , to go travelling with your photos!
Hope that you enjoying travelling with me vicariously!
🙂
I wrote my comments twice but lost them . This will be my last attempt. I had been to these wonderful sites. Hanging .temple is the most impressive and a must go for those who have not been there. In Inner Mongolia, chances are you will see troops of horse riders. Most are Japanese young people who take the trip just to learn horse riding that Inner Mongolia is famous for.
The yurts pix are nice, I have similarly ones from my friend. Couldn’t find the toilet pix. My friend said they are too smelly so he must have deleted them! I will most some of his inside yurts pix this weekend.
We were also trying out horse ridingfor the first time . Look forwar to peruse your post and thank you for your comments!
Beautiful post, love the pictures and your words are truly captivating cheers, Aquileana 😉
Great to hear from you, your comment are much appreciated!
I just saw these Mongolian Yurts on a television show. Your images make them much more real to me than watching on TV.
Glad to。learn。that my images better in showing the yurts! Thank you :-)
What an interesting trip. The hanging temple looks scary. Not a place to stay if you are afraid of heights.
The fact that the temple is hanging out from ancient timber beams is more scarying!
Such an incredible adventure, thank you for sharing it. I especially liked the vast, open expanses of Inner Mongolia; I imagine the openness and freedom must feel awesome.
For one like me who come from the city, the feel was really awesome! Regards, Michael
For me who come from the city, the feel was really awesome! Thanks for the comment which is much appreciated 🙂
For one who come from the city, the feel was really awesome! Thanks for the comment which is much appreciated!
An amazing area and so full of history and sights. Thanks for sharing with us.
Many thanks for the perusal and comment 🙂
How interesting! And the photos are stunning! We believe that we had a Mongolian ancestor in our family. So this and your other recent posts about Mongolia have been especially interesting to me. Thanks!
Interesting to learn that one of your ancestors is a Mongolian! Must have a lot of bravery and determination in you 🙂
🙂
Wow! What a trip – and what super photos… love the blue skies and sandy deserts. The buildings are amazing especially the ‘hanging’ temple. Travelling surely has to be the best way to learn history, Michael! I am always happy to see your variety of fabulous photos.
Coral
Hi Coral, so the Chinese saying goes – it is better to travel a thousand miles than to read a thousand books! Have a nice weekend 🙂
Absolutely amazing!
Thanks for the comment 🙂
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Glad that you post on this subject as well! Well done 🙂
thanks for sharing! this is def. another place for me to visit!
Hi, visit it in Summer, you will be delighted!
Thanks for sharing your adventure (and advice should I ever get the travel opportunity).
Hope that the information is useful to your trip planning!
Very impressive!
Thanks for the perusal and the like!
Hi Michael. Your photos are amazing! I would love to visit these areas!
Hi, great to hear from you – wish you will visit these places one day!
Amazing photos!!
Thank you 🙂