Ordos Travelogue 51 - Ordos

Date: 20240513-20240516 Although the flight was delayed by 4 hours, it doesn't get dark here until 8 pm, so I went straight to the Mongolian Origin Scenic Area. 'Ordos' means 'numerous palaces' in Mongolian, and indeed, I felt it right away. In fact, 'The Origin of the Mongols' is a historical book written by Sanaqchen in the Qing Dynasty, completed in 1662, and is an extremely important work in the development of Mongolian historiography. The next morning, I walked along the Ulamburen River, rising with the sun. Besides the waterfront walkway, there are also several kilometers of huge murals along the banks. After crossing Bridge No. 3, I intended to stroll through the Kangbashi District and come back via another bridge. I realized that was a mistake, as I would end up limping. So I decisively turned back. Isn't the Mother's Park next to where I was staying delightful? According to old Mongolian customs, no one can find the burial place of Genghis Khan. So when I learned that this city has a mausoleum of Genghis Khan, I thought it was a far-fetched infrastructure project by the wealthy local government. I was superficial. In fact, the name of this city is because of Genghis Khan. 'Numerous palaces' is a broad term, specifically referring to the 'White Eight Palaces (Tents)', and 'Ordos' is the name of a tribe specifically responsible for guarding the relics of the Great Khan. In 1649, Erenchin, the 20th generation descendant of Genghis Khan from the Ordos tribe, was appointed as the Dorbet Juren King by Emperor Shunzhi of the Qing Dynasty and became the first leader of the Ikh Juu League. Today, the area around the Prince's Mansion has been turned into a square, with an elegant canopy nearby. The museum, worth visiting for its appearance alone, is also rich in content. Ulan Mulun Square, located at the southern end of the central axis of the Kangbashi District, boasts the largest musical fountain in Asia and is famous for its dazzling night scene. But I didn't see it, as I was staying 30 kilometers away in the Dongsheng District. In recent years, many people have called Ordos a 'ghost city' because of its many buildings, wide roads, few people, and few cars. That's because they don't know that Dongsheng District has always been the real city center, and it still is. I personally think that even the district government building is much nicer than the city government building with a pair of kissing horses standing at the entrance. Further north, there is the seventh largest desert in China, the Kubuqi Desert. I have long admired the Lotus Hotel, which charges over 3000 yuan per night. If you can't afford it, you're not allowed in, and can only admire from afar. Looking at the map, I designed a route that crosses the Kubuqi Desert. The open-pit coal mine, one of the 'four treasures of Ordos' - sheep, coal, earth, and gas - is also on the route. The Dongsheng District Museum has been renamed the Ordos Bronze Ware Museum, as there is a classification of 'Ordos-style' bronze ware in the industry. These bronze wares appeared no later than those in the Central Plains, are numerous, and come in a wide variety. However, unlike the Central Plains, which focuses on ritual vessels, they emphasize practicality and portability. Yikezhao League is the old name of Ordos City, starting from 1649 and ending in 2001. Yikezhao Aobao, built in 2015, is known as China's number one Aobao, standing 57 meters tall and overlooking the entire Kangbashi District. Donghonghaizi Wetland is located across the river in Yijinhuoluo Banner, meaning 'Holy Lord's Mausoleum'. The Mausoleum of Genghis Khan, the Origin of the Mongols, and the airport are all here.