Gegentala Grassland Tourist Area

　　Gegentala means "vast and bright grassland" in Mongolian. Established in 1979 and privatized in 1996, in recent years, through large-scale renovation, expansion, and reconstruction, it has now become a unique grassland-themed tourist destination integrating dining, accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, shopping, and entertainment. Gegentala is also the largest grassland tourist area in Inner Mongolia, closest to Hohhot, and the only cross-league-operated largest tourism enterprise in the region. It is one of the first national 4A-level tourist attractions. The main landing site of the world-renowned manned spacecraft is located on the Siziwang Banner grassland, just 50 kilometers from Gegentala. Gegentala is also the gateway to the border city of Erenhot.

　　Today’s Gegentala Grassland is even more beautiful and enchanting, with lush grass, rolling hills, horse herds like waves, camel caravans against golden clouds, and sheep flocks like drifting clouds moving through the green sea. Horseback herders hold slender lassos, pointed sharply toward the sky like spearheads. Traditional Mongolian yurts and modern ones complement each other, forming a picturesque scene on the Gegentala Grassland.

　　Every August is the season for the Naadam Festival. The Gegentala tourist site hosts its annual Tourism Naadam from August 15 to August 25, which is also an excellent time for escaping the summer heat.

　　A grand temple fair is held here annually, along with a smaller one each month and an annual Oboo worship ceremony. During the Oboo worship, visitors can witness traditional Mongolian competitions such as wrestling, horse racing, and archery.

　　Visitors here can dress in Mongolian robes, wear Mongolian boots, ride swift horses, or take a ride on sturdy camels to roam the grassland. They can enjoy Mongolian song and dance by the light of a bonfire, sip the rich and fragrant mare’s milk wine, and taste the aromatic hand-grabbed lamb and whole roasted lamb amid enthusiastic toasts. Standing at the Oboo, not only will you be reminded of the romance in the song “Meeting at the Oboo,” but you’ll also feel your horizons broaden and your spirit lifted. The rich milk tea and traditional dairy products at herders’ homes offer a glimpse into nomadic life. Spending the night in a yurt, listening to the melodies of pastoral songs and counting the stars above, you immerse yourself in nature, while traditional Mongolian activities like horse racing, archery, and wrestling become even more captivating.

　　The vast and boundless Du'erbot (Mongolian for Siziwang) Grassland becomes a breathtaking sight in summer and autumn—lush green grass, birds chirping, fragrant flowers, blue skies, clear waters, white clouds, rainbows, wisps of cooking smoke, the sound of shepherd’s flutes, the laughter of people, and the chase of cattle and sheep create a mesmerizing grassland scene.

　　Here, you can wear vibrant ethnic costumes, ride swift horses, mount sturdy camels, or take a ride in a traditional wooden cart called a "lele." As you gallop or meander across the grassland and visit herding families who have lived here for generations, the hospitable Mongolian herders will welcome you with traditional etiquette. You can indulge in their rich wine, milk tea, sweet and crispy fried rice, and a variety of exquisitely prepared dairy products. White hadas (ceremonial scarves) and melodious singing express the herders' heartfelt hospitality. This is your chance to experience nomadic grassland life firsthand.

　　To enrich your activities on the grassland, daily events include horse racing, Bökh (Mongolian wrestling), equestrian performances, Oboo worship, and bonfire parties. If you want to join in, many activities allow you to compete with local Mongolian youths and share the fun together.

　　When night falls, the Inner Mongolia Gegentala Art Troupe performs distinctive Mongolian song and dance around the bonfire under the starry sky. Visitors can sing and dance along with the performers, leaving behind the hustle and bustle of the city and joyfully immersing themselves in nature. The graceful and energetic Andai dance will bring your grassland adventure to a thrilling climax.

　　Spending the night in a yurt, you can gaze through the skylight at the twinkling stars above, reflect on the lives of the simple and hardworking Mongolian people who have thrived on this land, and listen to the distant, melodious sound of the horsehead fiddle. At this moment, you may feel like a true Mongol, realizing that this day has been not just a leisure trip, but also a grand exhibition of nomadic culture and history.