Hatong Mountain Petroglyphs

Hatong Mountain Petroglyphs

Hatong Mountain Petroglyphs

Hatong Mountain Petroglyphs are located southwest of the county seat of Hoboksar Mongol Autonomous County. Most of the Hatong Mountain petroglyphs are distributed on granite glacial erratics within the pre-glacial deposits on the northern slope of Hatong Mountain, totaling dozens of sites. The petroglyphs are generally carved on the smooth fracture surfaces of the erratics, with the size of the surfaces varying depending on the erratic, typically ranging from 0.5 to 2

square meters. A small number of petroglyphs are found on tuff fracture surfaces. The main subjects of the petroglyphs are grassland animals such as sheep, horses, deer, dogs, wolves, and camels. The carvings are delicate, vivid, and remarkably lifelike. Among them, on a 1.2 to 1.4-square-meter granite erratic fracture surface, there is an image of a horse that is 0.75 meters tall and 1.05 meters long, with a herding dog lying beneath it—vivid and rich in everyday charm. Preliminary research suggests that this group of petroglyphs dates back at least 2,500 years. Judging from their scale and carving techniques, these petroglyphs were likely the result of organized engraving efforts. So who organized this “engraving competition” thousands of years ago? This leaves a mystery for future generations. Behind the Hatong Mountain Petroglyphs lies the steep Hatong Mountain, while in front stretches the vast Gobi grassland. Not far away is the famous Bayin Yundur Obo, making for a well-combined tourism resource with certain development potential.