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Plan your Inner Mongolia Tour? Shiwei is worth your exploring, an exotic and mysterious land. It is an ancient village in the northeast tip of Inner Mongolia that borders Russia. It is located on th right bank of Ergun River with its Russian village called Aoluoqi on the left bank. The town boasts the living place for the ancestors of the Mongols of Genghis Khan. The name of “Mongolia” originated from a Mongolian tribe called “Mengwu Shiwei”, the earliest recorded name of “Mongolia”. Later it became the name for the whole Mongolia.
Now Shiwei is home to one of the smallest ethnic minority groups in China – the China’s Russian Ethnic Minority. In April, 2001, the Russina Minority Township was established. There are around 2000 Russian descendants, or Russian-Chinese more exactly still living in this village. Most of them are fourth and fifth generation. In late 19th century, the Russian Tsar and capitalists swarmed into China developed trade busines and opened mines. Many Russian farmers came in and settled down. Also many poor Chinese came from Shandong, Henan and Hebei to join the team of gold mines digging, logging and hunting. Later many Russians and Chinese inter-married, creating plentiful moving love stories.
Though mostly they live in Chinese style, they eat Russian food. The village still keeps the practice of building the traditional Russian houses – “Mukeleng”, a kind of wooden houses built with logs on the stone formation.
In 2005, Shiwei was selected as one of the top beautiful townships in China. Since then, more and more tourists come to this pretty village to experience the Russian Ethinic Minority Town. The local goverment has allocated funds to the local villagers to develop their home hotels. It is said that 90 percent of the families in the village are engaged in hotel business. The local villages are getting wealthy by devoping local tourism.
Shiwei is about 290km to the north Hailar of Hulunbuir. If you go to Shiwei from Hailar, you may hire a local vehicle driving directly to Shiwei. There are some important attractions on the route like Golde Horde or Jinzhanghan Nomadic Tribe that is designed for tourists, where you can go horse ridng, sing, dance, eat and drink, and watch the performances of horse riding, wrestling, shooting and so on.
If you want to go to Shiwei by bus, there are plentiful buses running from Hailar to Ergun City where you can connect the buses to Shiwei or vice versa.
A photo tour of the ancient town Shiwei (17u.com):
Shiwei Square
Shiwei Square
Three-colored Mukeleng – Wooden House
Three-colored Mukeleng – Wooden House
Shiwei in Autumn Picture
Shiwei in Autumn
Beautiful Shiwei in Autumn Picture
Beautiful Shiwei in Autumn
Shiwei early in the morning Photo
Shiwei early in the morning
The famous border bridge of Shiwei – Aoluoqi Port
The famous border bridge of Shiwei – Aoluoqi Port
A close look at the border bridge – Friendship Bridge
A close look at the border bridge named Friendshop Bridge
The Russian Village opposite to Shiwei
The Russian Village opposite to Shiwei
Blue sky, white clouds, boats villages
Blue sky, white clouds, boats villages
Ergun River is a border river dividing China and Russia in the mortheat of Inner Mongolia.
Ergun River is a border river
A boat ride on the Ergun River Photo
A boat ride on the Ergun River
Some horses are grazing on the grass, some are enjoying the sunshine.
Some horses are grazing on the grass, some are enjoying the sunshine.
Any questions, just drop a line.
Tags: Shiwei Photos, Shiwei Tour, Shiwei Travel Guide, Shiwei Trip
Hi,
A friend and I would like to travel to ShiWei from 28-30 July. We are having trouble finding the contact details of a good, affordable guesthouse. Do you have any suggestions?
Thank you!
Ashleigh
Hello!
My friend and I are planning on traveling to Shiwei from Beijing this week and we are having trouble finding information on accommodations. Do you have any recommendations for staying in guest houses/hostels/etc or how I can contact them? Any help on this matter would be great!
Hello Tim,
I’ve just collected some information from internet on the homestay inns in Shiwei. Actually I have never used them, just for your reference. I’not sure whether they can speak any English.
Russians’s Home: Ms Yu Guilan (于桂兰) Tel： 0470 – 6952126
Hanchunxiang Luyou Home 室韦恩和俄罗斯民族乡韩春香旅游之家: ：0470-6942178 Mobile：13624708871
Liu Shufang’s Home 刘淑芳俄罗斯家庭游: 0470-6952262
Fengyuan Hotle 峰源宾馆：Mobile： 18647077809; 0470-6952287
Andekie’s Home 安德烈旅游之家: Mobile: 13634703516; 0470-6952272
Waxi Russian Home 瓦西俄罗斯民族之家: Mobile: 13948605647 0470-6952154
Home rates: RMB100 – 200
For more information, please check the Chinese webpage: www.sozhen.com/default/towninn_79.html
Have a good trip!
Hello Ashleigh,
Travel with Tim? I’ve just sent Tim the information below:
———————————-
I’ve just collected some information from internet on the homestay inns in Shiwei. Actually I have never used them, just for your reference. I’not sure whether they can speak any English.
Russians’s Home: Ms Yu Guilan (于桂兰) Tel： 0470 – 6952126
Hanchunxiang Luyou Home 室韦恩和俄罗斯民族乡韩春香旅游之家: ：0470-6942178 Mobile：13624708871
Liu Shufang’s Home 刘淑芳俄罗斯家庭游: 0470-6952262
Fengyuan Hotle 峰源宾馆：Mobile： 18647077809; 0470-6952287
Andekie’s Home 安德烈旅游之家: Mobile: 13634703516; 0470-6952272
Waxi Russian Home 瓦西俄罗斯民族之家: Mobile: 13948605647 0470-6952154
Home rates: RMB100 – 200
For more information, please check the Chinese webpage: www.sozhen.com/default/towninn_79.html
Have a good trip!
Hello Ashleigh,
Travel with Tim? I’ve just sent Tim the information below:
———————————-
I’ve just collected some information from internet on the homestay inns in Shiwei. Actually I have never used them, just for your reference. I’not sure whether they can speak any English.
Russians’s Home: Ms Yu Guilan (于桂兰) Tel： 0470 – 6952126
Hanchunxiang Luyou Home 室韦恩和俄罗斯民族乡韩春香旅游之家: ：0470-6942178 Mobile：13624708871
Liu Shufang’s Home 刘淑芳俄罗斯家庭游: 0470-6952262
Fengyuan Hotle 峰源宾馆：Mobile： 18647077809; 0470-6952287
Andekie’s Home 安德烈旅游之家: Mobile: 13634703516; 0470-6952272
Waxi Russian Home 瓦西俄罗斯民族之家: Mobile: 13948605647 0470-6952154
Home rates: RMB100 – 200
For more information, please check the Chinese webpage: www.sozhen.com/default/towninn_79.html
Have a good trip!
Hi there,
I saw on a travel show that a friend’s friend who hosted it, he has a friend whom is a performer in Shiwei. I do not see any entertainment info in any sites. Am already starting to plan my trip even though it is next year. Any
advice?
Regards,
Geraldene