bumbering around

I didn’t expect too much from my journey to Inner Mongolia since I thought there are only vast plains and blue sky like window wallpaper .

However, my love for this land is still on my brain now.
Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, located in the north of China, is the largest grassland farm in China. It has abundance of resources and a number of ethnic groups.

We arrived at Hailar Airport.

We kept our schedule as light and flexible as possible due to the time.  We spent whole day on the grassland. We lived in the Golden Horde Mongol Tribes area which has been declared as the “paradise on the grassland away from the city”.

I was shocked by the boundless steppes when I opened the door. I haven’t seen such wide prairies in my life. We went to Ovoo which are sacred stone heaps used as altars or shrines in Mongolian folk religious practice and in the religion of other Mongolian peoples.

I picked up a stone with a red ribbon. Then carried it three times around the ovoo with my wish and threw it at the ovoo.

I cant tell you my wish just yet and it will take many years to come true!

After the lunch, we walked forward to Morigele River which is well known as the No.1 winding river in the world. Walking through the grassland was so enjoyable. This wonderful open space cannot be found if we lived in  Southern China where you can only see narrow bridges and flowing brooks.

Today was windy. So, almost no light filtered through the great dull clouds which hovered like heavy dumplings in the sky.

Occasionally, some sunlight emerged from the cloud and made the hill looks saintly. When we arrived, we found such curved reach. This wonder can only be credited to nature. The reflection of the mountains and sky in the river and the flock around the river really pleased me.

Riding a horse was the most anticipated schedule during the tour. While it looks easy, I didn’t feel good when I sat on the horse at the beginning. But the feeling was getting better when the horse has been lead for a while. I couldn’t make the horse running so fast, yet still feel happiness during the riding.

I found myself in my own world which made everything else small for me at that moment. It’s no wonder that people who live in this place can be so impulsive and enthusiastic.

The second morning, it is surprised to me that I can fly a kite on the grassland. Because of the wind,it is easy to let the kite fly so high.  I could see the kite became smaller and smaller and feel the wind and sunshine.  It was so relaxed.

This evening we had the all-sheep banquet.  The“whole sheep” in Mongol “buhule” means to the highest guest.

There is a rite before having the lamb.

First, we untied the red ribbon which tied to the sheep’s head.  Next, draw a cross with the knife.  Then, each of us receive the wine and the blue hada. Mongolians never covered up all their warm feelings,they were singing and dancing when we were enjoying the delicious dinner.

The setting sun was so beautiful that I can’t find words to adequately describe it.

What all I felt only was a sense of satisfaction.

The next two days we drove to the Manchouli, which is a border town near Russia. We went to the Hulun Lake first.  It has already been an important part of the tourism line in Manchouli. We lived in the Matryoshka Doll Hotel, which is like a fairy tale world.

Our last destination is Matryoshka Square. After we took photographs with different matryoshka, we returned to the Golden Horde Mongol Tribes to enjoy our last hot pot on the grassland.

Before we leaving, the host prepared the stirrup cup for us… a traditional farewell

On the way to the airport, we saw two rainbows all the way across the sky.  Maybe it’s the gift from this land.

This is the place not only where people can share the roast whole lamb and ride horses on the grassland, but also the pure land that we go to whenever we like to.

No matter whether you like stepping into the sunshine or, enjoying those shimmering stars above. You might burst into tears at some moment, because you will never fail to be moved by the beauty of the sight.

“ Life is not just drifting along, there is also poetry and the way ahead.” Hulun Buir reinvest this sentence with new meaning in my mind.

This far away place is the poetic dwelling ….you will heal all the sorrows.