At the end of February 2020, when the President of Mongolia visited China, he handed over a certificate of giving 30,000 sheep, and some netizens have been thinking about it. Around Naadam in Mongolia, when the sheep were fat and strong, Mongolia sent them to China. Mongolia has a long history with us, but it seems a bit mysterious to us, and despite its proximity, it has always been a hidden travel destination. Here is the beginning of Naadam, where we will share with you 10 experiences of traveling in Mongolia.
01 Participated in the Naadam Conference
Naadam means "game" in Mongolian, but judging from the most important activities of the Naadam Conference, such as horse racing, archery, wrestling, etc., it actually has the meaning of "competition", and it can be regarded as a manifestation of the inheritance of the ancient selection of Mongolian warriors in peacetime. There are two types of Naadam in Mongolia, namely the rural Naadam and the urban Naadam, both of which start around July 11 and last for two or three days, although some competitions are held several days in advance. The former is more traditional and pure, while the latter is more lively, with performances and trade events added as needed.
02 Taste Mongolian food
Mongolian food may come across as monotonous, but in the case of the capital, Ulaanbaatar, there are almost all kinds of mainstream international restaurants. Outside of the capital, the focus is on how to make the most of a single ingredient, such as a sheep's muscles, internal organs and bones that are part of the dish. In addition, there are also different etiquette and drink selections.
03 Riding on horseback
Many peoples on the planet claim to be a "people on horseback", but the Mongols are perhaps the most qualified. Horseback conquest is a thing of the past, but the Mongols still retained horseback riding as an option for traveling. If you're a tourist and feel like you're just getting a taste of horseback riding in a horse farm, you can take a long trip on horseback for days with a guide.
04 Expedition to the southern Gobi
The Gobi Desert covers one-third of Mongolia's territory, and the vast Gobi Desert is not without desert, but also glacial canyons, dinosaur fossils, and even ancient petroglyphs and temple ruins waiting to be found. Located in the southern Gobi, the Gurban Saikhan National Park has a typical and magnificent Gobi scenery and is also a relatively well-established destination for tourism.
05 Learn about Mongolian folklore
As a nomadic people, the Mongols have deep-rooted customs. Some have been eroded by modern life, but if you go to remote areas, you can still see many traces of it, from the ubiquitous ao bao on the grasslands to the long tunes of herders, to children's sheep and kidnapping games and more ancient shamanic rituals.
06 Visit the yurt
Don't go to a commercial yurt camp, let the guide take you directly to the herdsman's home, whether it's the construction and layout of the yurt, or the various customs that need to be paid attention to, after a night, you will quickly integrate into their life.
07 Look for the falconer
Many peoples in Central and Northeast Asia have a tradition of falcon training, but only Bayan Ulegi of Mongolia has preserved this tradition. Every year on the first weekend of October, at the Eagle Festival, nearly 100 falconers gather here for the "Shahiru" competition. Be sure to get a little more background before you go, and you might be able to talk to one of the falconers. Sagsay, which is also part of the western region, hosts the Eagle Festival on the third weekend of September every year, but on a smaller scale.
08 Visit a Buddhist temple
Since Altan Khan converted to Tibetan Buddhism in the 16th century, Buddhism has become the most important faith of the Mongols and still plays an important role in their lives. Ganden Monastery in Ulaanbaatar, Erdenishao Monastery in Hala Horin, and Qingning Monastery in Selenga are the three most important Buddhist monasteries in Mongolia. Choose to visit one of them and experience how the spiritual home of the Mongolian people can soothe the soul.
09 Follow in the footsteps of Genghis Khan
The great conquerors left countless footprints in Eurasia, but undoubtedly the most remained in the Mongolian steppe. If you're short on time, there is a bronze statue of Genghis Khan in front of the parliament building at the northern end of Ulaanbaatar's main square, which can be found in the familiar Chinese trilogy of Ogedei, Kublai Khan, Borshu and Muhuali. If time permits, you can also visit Sokin Baldog, the former is said to have found Genghis Khan's golden whip and currently has a 40-metre-tall silver statue, and Dadal, the former is his legendary birthplace.
10 Ulaanbaatar Nights
Ulaanbaatar, formerly known as Kulen, is home to nearly half of Mongolia's population, and with its empty squares and noisy street markets, centuries-old temples and newly opened bars, it may take you two or three days to get used to the contrast. In a sense, Ulaanbaatar may be the only city in Mongolia. Perhaps it will only be late at night that Ulaanbaatar will return to the feeling of being the capital of the world's most sparsely populated country, as the song says.
Outer Mongolia, which is extremely familiar in history, now seems very mysterious to most Chinese people. Will you ever travel to this neighboring country one day?
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