Inner Mongolia, China : steppe and desert

The common images of Mongolia are herders overlooking their animals or horsemen riding in the endless steppe.  These are the usual pictures for the tourists.  After more than thirty years, I made another trip to this interesting place.  This time, I came across not only steppe but also desert.

(Herder riding his horse after a herd of goats)

(Mongolian man in traditional dress)

Mongolia covers a large area that is comparable to Europe.  Its southern part is now called Inner Mongolia within China.  Mongolia Republic stands in the north between Russian Siberia and China.  The steppes have accommodated many nomadic peoples for thousands of years.  Mongols, Turks, Tartars and many other tribes have found their living in this massive land-locked territories.

Archery, horse racing and wrestling are associated with the nomadic civilization in Mongolia.  Each year in mid July, the Mongolian people will held their annual competition, called Naadan. 

(Mongolian wrestlers)

(Horse riding performance)

(Three men on two horses)

The weather in Mongolia is quite extreme.  The temperate in Summer can reach 40 degree Celsius while Winter can be minus 40 degree Celsius.  You need to be strong in order to survive here.  The top soil of the steppe is quite thin.  It is not suitable for large scale farming.  However, we can still find many lovely wild flowers in the steppe.

(Wild flower in the steppe - can you find the caterpillar?)

The Mongolian plane is covered by steppes, deserts and mountains.  In the pre-historical time, Mongolia was a home land for dinosaurs. 

(Dinosaur unearthed in Mongolia)

(The approaching desert sand dunes)

(Camel ride for tourists in the desert)

Behind the tourists scene, Mongolia is undergoing many economic and social changes.  For those who are interested to know more, can read Bruun, Ole. Precious steppe: Mongolian nomadic pastoralists in pursuit of the market. Lanham, UK: Lexington Books, 2006.