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Jinlianchuan Grassland

Wednesday, July 20th, 2016

Jinlianchuan, literally “Globeflower Plain”, is the name given to the grassland in Zhenglan Qi, Xilingol, Inner Mongolia. Jinlianchuan Grassland, as its name suggests, is strewn thick with bright yellow globe flowers.

The local globeflower in Mongolian is called “Xar Tsetseg”, is generally 30-10 cm tall. The flower is similar to the shape of lotus flower – with seven petals around its heart. It tastes cold and bitter, a good Chinese herbal medicine, a cure for diseases caused by internal heat.

Jinlianchuan Grassland used to be the summer resort for the emperors in Liao (926-1125), Jin (1115-1234), and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties. Xanadu, the “Upper Capital” of Yuan Dynasty was built on Jinlianchuan Grassland, the most elegant and splendid grassland city in the world. It was the summer capital of Kublai Khan’s Yuan Dynasty (1271 – 1368) in China.

Part of Jinlianchuan Grassland is a wetland where the headwater of Luan River is originated, locally known as Xandii Gool or Lightening River with a length of 82 km and drainage area of 1325 square km. It is an important water source for prairie and livestock.

Now the part of Jinlianchuan Pasture open to the public is within the Site Xanadu, the ruins park where the grand “Upper Capital” was built. So you need to pay the entrance fee RMB 40 to enter the park. From the entrance gate to the actual site of the ruins, you will see the patches of the golden pasture on both sides of the road.

There is a wooden walkway protruding into the prairie for people to further see, feel and touch the golden grassland. People are not allowed to tread on the pasture. For a short trip to Jinlianchuan Pasture, you need to go with the visit to the Site of Xanadu. Check out Xanadu Travel Guide for more information on how to get there.

Jinlianchuan Grassland

The bright yellow globe flowers.

Seven petals around its heart

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Inner Mongolia Tour

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Tags: How to get to Jinlianchuan Grassland, Jinlianchua Pasture, Jinlianchuan Prairie
Posted in Inner Mongolia Travel, Xilingol Travel | No Comments »

Xanadu Sites Museum

Tuesday, July 19th, 2016

Xanadu Sites Museum is located about 7 km south of the Site of Xanadu ( or Ruins of Shangdu ). Xanadu, literally “Upper Capital”, was the summer capital of Kublai Khan’s Yuan Dynasty (1271 – 1368) in China.

The museum is specialized in showing the relics and artifacts relative to the once magnificent “Upper Capital”, the most elegant and magnificent city ever built on grasslands in the world.

The two-story museum is built into the east slope of the Aobao Hill of Wulantai, harmoniously matching the surrounding environment. It has four exhibition halls which display the history of Xanadu in four main themes with discovered relics and pictures in Chinese and English subtitles.

Basically, people usually combine Xanadu Sites Museum and the Site of Xanadu on a day trip. The two attractions are 7km apart. You may come to visit Xanadu Museum from Duolun County or Zhenglanqi County.

You’d better off arranging your transport to visit the two places since there is no public transport connecting Zhenglanqi or Duolun with the two sites. Even there is no bus service between the Site of Xanadu and Xanadu Sites Museum.

The museum is free of charge, but you need to take your free entrance from the ticket office not far from the parking lot. When you get the ticket, you are requested to pay 5 yuan for the golf cart taking you to the site of the museum, which is built into the east slope of the hill.

A huge stone sign engraved with the words “Xanadu Sites Museum” in Mongolian, Chinese and English.

The huge stone engraved with the words "Xanadu Sites Musuem"

The stone engraved with “Xanadu Sites Museum” in Mongolian, English and Chinese

The vermilion museum is built into the hill slope, featuring the harmony between the museum and the surrounding hills and grasslands.

The vermilion museum is built into the hill slope

When you enter the museum, you will see a high hall with giant relief sculptures, depicting the history of Xanadu.

Giant relief sculptures

The model of Xanadu, imperial palace and the imperial city, the most magnificent city ever built on grassland in the world.

The model of Xanadu

There are four major showrooms displaying the artifacts and pictures with English captions.

There are four major showrooms.

Glazed tiles discovered from the buildings in the Site of Xanadu.

Maps, Pictures and Artifacts are combined to illustrate the splendid history and culture of Xanadu.

Maps, Pictures and Artifacts

The gold saddles on display.

The four great god beasts

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Xanadu Travel Guide

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Tags: How to get to Xanadu Site Musuem, Shangdu Site Musuem, Xanadu Site Musuem
Posted in Inner Mongolia Travel, Jilin Travel, Xilingol Travel | 2 Comments »

Duolun Travel Guide

Thursday, July 18th, 2013

Duolun here refers to Duolun County (多伦县）under the jurisdiction of Xilin Gol League in Inner Mongolia. The Duolun County Government is located in the Dolon Nur Town （多伦淖尔镇, also known as 多伦诺尔镇), one of the 2 towns under the administration of Duolun County. Dolon Nur in Mongolian literally means “seven lakes” named after the numerous lakes in the county.

Duolun County administrates 2 townships, 3 villages with a popuations of over 100, 000 people with ethnic groups mainly composed of Han Chinese, Mongolian, Hui, Manchu and Uygur with an area of 3773 sq km.

Duolun County is situated to the east of Zhenglan Qi, south of Keshiketeng Qi and the west of Chifeng City, about 359km to the north of Beijing, a nearest county from Beijing in Inner Mongolia. Duolun once had a splendid culture and history. In 1691, after defeating Ger Dan who had allied with Russia invading China, the Qing Emperor Kangxi met with the 48 dukes and 3 chieftains in Inner Mongolia and Outer Mongolia for reconciliation.

The Duolun Meeting greatly enhanced the unity and formally finalized the northen frontier. Later in memory of the historical meeting in Duolun, Emperor Kang Xi ordered the building of Huizong Temple (汇宗寺）in Duolun. Later Emperor Yongzheng, the third emperor (reigned 1722–35) of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911/12), he ordered the construction of Shanyin Lamasery (善因寺). As a result, many important monasteries were founded there with imperial patronage, and Duolun became a most important center of Mongolian Buddhism in southern Mongolia.

In Qing Dynasty, Emperor Kangxi, under the request of the dukes in Mongolia, permitted the merchants from inland China to set up business channels here in Duolu and gave preferential policies to the inland merchants who would do business in Duolun. Thus, numerous businessmen from Beijing, Shanxi, Shaanxi and Shandong flooded Duolun that formed a large team of businessmen traveling in Mongolia.

At its peak, Duolun had over 4000 registered shops and stores. It became the largest commercial capital in Mongolia, the most important economic center in Mongolia during the Qing Dynasty. Today, its glorious past could be found from the well preserved Shanxi Guild Hall (山西会馆), Niang Niang Temple (娘娘庙), Longxing Temple (兴隆寺), City God Temple (城隍庙), Corporate Buildings and four muslim mosques in Duolun County.

In addition to its glorious past, Duolun is endowed with natural gifts – beautiful grassland since it is set on the southern edge of the Xilin Gol Grassland (锡林郭勒草原). Duolun is also teemed with sands as it lies on the southern rim of Hunshandake Sandlands(浑善达克沙地), one of the China’s top ten desserts. Duolun is an ideal place to recall the interesting history especially in Qing Dynasty as well as experience the massive desserts and picturesque grassland.

A trip to Duolun is often connected with side trips to Zhenglan Qi and Shangdu, a triangle travel route. You may go to Duolun from Chengde (Weichang), Beijing, Chifeng, Xilinhot and Hohhot.

Huizong Temple in Duolun