Fascinating adventures within and around Baotou
In 1997, the road onward to Dongsheng was narrow and crowded with coal lorries. A few years later an expressway greatly eased the journey. The area I would pass through known as Ordos, referred to as ‘people guarding the palaces’ - the four temporary palaces of Genghis Khan and later his tomb. I was there to visit the Genghis Khan Mausoleum (chengjishan ling) at Ejin Horo Qi, an hour south of Dongsheng. The main building resembled three large interconnected yurts with roofs tiled in dark blue and yellow. Within the halls were many displays of smaller yurts, domestic equipment associated with the nomadic life; decorated saddles and military equipment that would be carried or worn by the horsemen. It was fascinating wandering through the halls looking at statues and various images of Genghis Khan. To show traditional respect I was invited to drink from a metal bowl of baijiu and this was at 10.30am!
