Inner Mongolia – Day 1, Hohhot

For National Week, I knew I wanted to go somewhere, but I didn’t want to commit to any trip before I knew the exact days I was getting off. I didn’t want to have to cut a trip short or get yelled at for missing work.

I, officially, found out that I would get October 1-5 off the evening before the official start of the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. But, the day it was over, I messaged my travel guy, the one who put together that awesome trip I didn’t get to go on over summer.

He was able to get me a five-day private tour around Hohhot, a grassland, a desert, a couple museums, and a Tibetan Buddhist temple. It isn’t everything I want, but it’s what time allows. I will be able to scratch Inner Mongolia off the travel list.

It’s also not cheap. It’ll cost me just over 10,000 yuan for the trip, including all entrance fees and hotels. And I get an English-speaking guide and a driver. But it is definitely worth every yuan if I get to go somewhere and see something new. Finally!

Leaving

I, once again, had to wake up ungodly early for my flight. 3:30 am! Luckily, I had done almost all my packing the night before and was able to leave and get a cab only a few minutes later than I had planned.

By some miracle, the cab driver actually understood me when I said “airport” in Chinese. I had the character all ready to go on my phone to show the driver.

I also quickly realized that I made a slight miscalculation when deciding when to wake up. I thought the cab ride would be an hour. It was only half. So, I’d be getting there about 2 hours before my flight, plenty of time.

Arrival

For some annoying reason, planes don’t seem to like to make it to the gate in China. I’m just going to assume it has something to do with the pandemic.

But, eventually, and with quite a bit of confusion, I made it to the exit. I scanned the local health code, filled out the forms, and eagerly awaited my newest green code (How many can I collect?).

The local health code had no color!

Apparently, I have to wait about 12 hours for the code to decide on a color. Sounds… useful. But, I could use my Guangdong, home province, health code while I wait for the local one to update. After talking to two security officers, both checking my documents and health codes, when they said I could leave, I ran for the door. I didn’t want to give them a chance to change their minds.

I made it out!

And wandered over to a large crowd of people waiting and met my guide and driver. The driver doesn’t speak any English and the guide has some interesting gaps in her vocabulary, but she speaks about as well as any of my students, so I doubt I’ll have all that much trouble understanding her.

Weirdly the back seat of the driver’s car has nothing to buckle the seatbelt into. I don’t want to die! I’ve seen the way people in China drive!

Inner Mongolia Museum

We safely made it to our first stop, the Inner Mongolia Museum. It’s massive!

Inner Mongolia seems to really have a thing for the giant topiary signs. The one in front of the museum was the only one I got a picture of. And that grassy bit on the left of the photo? It’s grass growing on the building.

There were dinosaurs! Archeologists have found many dinosaur bones in Inner Mongolia. They like showing them all off, along with a ton of replicas and fake dinosaur nests, complete with eggs.

And some boring neolithic, bronze age, and modern dioramas. Along with cases and cases of their things. There was also an exhibit on the flora and fauna of the area. And lots of taxidermied animals. Creepy, creepy, animals.

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I really only enjoyed the dinosaurs. I’m sure people would like the other parts as well, but, if you’ve already seen a recreation of a neolithic or bronze age life, or really enjoy natural history museums, maybe give this one a pass.

Lunch and Some Musings

We made a quick stop and had dumplings for lunch somewhere the guide recommended. The guide and driver joined me in eating way too many dumplings!

It was different seeing almost all of the signs in Chinese and Mongolian. Almost none have English. I can see most foreigners come with a guide telling them where to go. Unless you actually speak Chinese, getting around here can be a bit challenging.

Although there is a small metro system and many stops are by the tourist attractions. Cabs are plentiful. And they have e-bikes that you can rent, like the regular share bikes! I want to ride one! Why can’t they come to Shenzhen?

Dazhao Temple

Then off to the temple! Finally, I get to see a Tibetan Buddhist temple! I was supposed to go to a different one on that summer trip that didn’t happen.

It is considered an imperial temple as one of the emperors of China stayed here a few times and it has yellow roofs. Back in the day, only the emperor was allowed to have buildings with yellow, or gold, roofs.

It looks a lot like other Chinese Buddhist temples, but there are Tibetan prayer flags everywhere. It’s definitely going to be one of the best things on the trip.

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It was impressively large and, for once on a tour, I got to see everything. It was a great way to have a tour, but I still think I prefer to travel by myself or with a good friend.

A Little Fake Ancient Street

We took a walk down some fake old street nearby and saw some little shops selling handicrafts. It was definitely worth a quick look. I’m just not sure which little ancient-looking street off to the left (when looking at the entrance, also near the KFC) the street was.

They all kinda like the picture. It was definitely worth the walk. Watching the people make some of their crafts on the street was interesting to see how easy and quickly a skilled craftsman can make something.

Residence of Gurun Princess Kejing

Because it’s just before 3 and, according to my guide, too early, we head off to the princess’ house. Well, she was technically the 6th daughter of the emperor who was married to the leader of the Mongol ethnic group in China at the time.

I wasn’t really thrilled with this place. It was a lot of history of the emperor’s 6th daughter who got married to a Mongol chieftain to keep the peace between the emperor and some of his subjects. There were some clothes and various buildings, but it was just a lot of writing and history lessons.

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General Government Office

Then on to the General’s office/residence as it is only 4 and still too early! My guide may think it’s too early, but I need a nap. I got up too early!

This one was at least a bit more interesting. There were weapons! And a general figure was in the rooms to give you an idea of their former usage. It didn’t feel like one big history lesson. And all the plants around didn’t hurt.

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It was a very busy first day of vacation!

As far as I could tell, the General’s Office and the Princess’ Residence were free. I just had to go to a little office and show my paper and fill out a form asking for my name and phone number.

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Pre-trip Spending

Tour: 10,063

Flights: 3644

Total Pre-Trip Spending : 13,707

Day 1 Spending

Food : 44

Taxi : 110

Today’s Total Spending : 154