Olkhon Island

Olkhon Island, also known as Olkhon Island, is the larger island on Lake Baikal. The pure scenery and mysterious shamanism make this island a pearl on Lake Baikal. The larger village on the island is Huzhi'er Village, which is the tourist distribution area on the island and the main accommodation point for tourists on the island. Pure natural scenery The natural environment of Olkhon Island is quite well maintained. Half of the island is virgin forest and half is grassland. The pure air is very fresh, and under the refraction of the sun, it becomes a blue sky. There are also rolling grasslands, steep cliffs on the island, and flocks of seagulls flying by the lake. The magnificent sunrise and sunset and the starry sky at night are all shocking. If you come here in winter, the transparent blue ice and dreamy bubble ice will be breathtaking. The inhabitants of Olkhon Island, a famous place of shamanism, are mainly Buryat people. Colorful cloth strips tied to branches can be seen everywhere on the island, and the cloth strips are filled with wishes for blessing in Buryat and Mongolian. The shaman stone next to the village of Huer is a relatively sacred place in the shamanic beliefs. It is said that the gods of Altai live in the stone. The residents of the island will regularly hold rituals around the stone to pray for the blessing of the gods. There are also 13 pillars used by shamans to pray for blessings, and the pillars are covered with prayer flags. How to get there Starting from Irkutsk, it takes about 6 hours by car, and then cross the river by ferry, you can land on the island. Of course, in the harsh winter of Siberia, the ferry boat does not work, and you can take the island on a hovercraft. To play on Olkhon Island, Olkhon Island is mainly chartered. It is recommended to take a "one-day tour" on the island. Under the leadership of an experienced guide, you can better appreciate the charm of Olkhon Island. In summer, you can visit all the attractions on the island in one day, and you can also take a boat trip around the lake, passing sights such as the Shaman's Pillar, and then arrive at Cape Haboye, the northern end of Olkhon Island. The tour on the island in winter can be divided into two lines: the southern line and the northern line. The southern line is a line with a longer tour time along the lake, which can get close to Lake Baikal; the northern line is to run directly on the lake by car. You can also see beautiful blue ice. The best travel time is from May to September, which is the best travel time on the island. The weather at this time is cool and pleasant, suitable for summer vacation. Especially from July to August, the temperature is mostly between 20-30 ℃, which is especially suitable for traveling. This is also the peak travel season on the island. Accommodation and dining The accommodation on the island is concentrated in the village of Huzhir. One of the larger and more famous is the Nikita Manor. Here you can also book "day trips" to the island. The manor is very popular, and it is recommended to book half a year in advance. Except here. Other homestays also have their own characteristics, such as GALA is also very good. The homestays in Huer Village basically include breakfast and dinner, and there are also small restaurants in the village, which are very convenient. There is a relatively large store and several small stores in the village where you can buy basic daily necessities. The shamanic tradition of animism began in prehistoric times and has spread all over the world. The places where shamanism is more worshipped are: the Volga River Valley, the areas inhabited by the Finns, Eastern Siberia and Western Siberia. In my country, the Jurchen who founded the Jin Dynasty once also believed in shamanism. The theoretical foundation of shamanism is animism, and shamans were once believed to have the ability to control the weather, prophecy, interpret dreams, astrology, and travel to heaven.