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The Inner Mongolia
Autonomous Region is located on the northernmost tip of China, and is
the country's earliest autonomous region. Of the inhabitants here 70
percent are the Mongolian people. It has a vast land with dense forests
and boundless deserts, and the most attractive scene here is the endless
grassland.
Magical Inner Mongolia Beckons Tourists
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
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)
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