Hohhot I'm late
The origin of my trip to Hohhot was a check-in photo at the Grand Mosque. The dazzling gem-like green is the symbol of life advocated by Islamic doctrines. It is the vast natural embrace of the Inner Mongolia grasslands. All the shining points about nation, belief, culture and art come together and instantly touch my heart. I want to go to Hohhot.
I have walked into the Juyan Lake and the Badain Jaran Desert, and the immortal Ejina Populus euphratica. I have galloped through the grasslands of Xilin Gol and Hulunbuir, and appreciated the gorgeous colorful forests of Arshan and the exotic customs of Manzhouli, all the way to the Ergun border and the magical Moldaga Forest.
I have traveled through the classic scenery of eastern and western Inner Mongolia, but have never set foot in the capital of this big province. When the hot holiday websites can no longer screen out niche and unpopular places, I have to look back to search for the corners that I once forgot. I once thought they were mediocre and ordinary, and they were just places to stay when I passed by. However, as time goes by and I get older, some consciousness shifts, and things change.
Every city has its own highlights. What matters is how you explore and experience them.
Don't follow the crowd, don't be unconventional, follow your heart, and you can have a rich and exciting time in Hohhot.
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We arrived on a drizzling rainy day, just in time to start our trip to Hohhot with a meal of ice-cooked lamb that was both icy and hot.
Boat says ice boiled lamb
At the Dazhao Square in the evening, the accumulated rainwater on the ground had not yet been drained, but the models in Mongolian costumes were already impatient to start checking in. The white pagodas, red walls, temples and golden plaques, the rough Tibetan style can set off these bright and strong Mongolian costumes.
Adhering to the rule that every city has a tourist street, there is also an old street called Saishang here.
In the bustling shops and stalls, people drink kumis piled high as a drink, and eat ice cream, yogurt and fruit soup while walking. Although the handicrafts are similar, they all have some local characteristics, such as irregular agate bracelets, polished pendants made of sheep's feet, and leather sachets. They can capture some novelty and the prices are really low. The price-performance ratio is far better than that of the Beijing city market.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that there is a Gerile Ama Milk Tea House on one side of the square. It is full of ethnic flavor and the aroma of milk tea. It also sells mutton offal, scallion pie, ice cream, milk rolls, milk chews, butter mushrooms, cheese cakes and all kinds of Mongolian snacks.
Gerile Amma Milk Tea House (Square Store)
Strolling around and admiring Xilituzhao in the night, the gate was closed and only the golden plaque dotted with lights could be seen, "Lingguang Siche". This single word "che" carried the light of a temple, as well as the confirmation and nothingness of the tranquility in the dark night.
The common man walked into the brightly lit dairy shop opposite. The thousand-layer milk skin and exploding cheese tasted intoxicating. This city has a good appetite.
Zhusala Dairy (Zhandong Road Store)
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Every day begins with the Mongolian breakfast of fried rice, fruit noodles, and milk skin, and then rushes to the magnificent Hongshiya grassland with thin-skinned steamed buns with lamb and shallots.
Wandering around the provincial museum's cultural relics, the golden eagle crown, the Jun kiln incense burner, and the princess's golden mask fully demonstrate the grandeur of the grassland.
Inner Mongolia Museum
The architectural style of the General's Office and the Princess's Mansion conveys the evolution of history.
Xiaozhao Five Pagodas Temple has an exquisite and beautiful Vajrasana Relic Pagoda, delicate and varied stone Buddha statues, tall hall pillars and colorful paintings. Compared with the bustling Dazhao Temple, this place offers more privacy.
Wuta Temple
Take a break, and in between the roasted lamb legs and hand-pulled meat, have a cup of milky coffee and cut a piece of yurt milk skin cake.
Dele Haimeng Restaurant
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Of course, there is also the Great Mosque, the starting point for everything.
When we got there, perhaps the sunset had already lost its brilliance, or perhaps it was because it had lost the filter blessing of the internet celebrity's check-in photos, this green palace building was not as stunning and beautiful as we had imagined, and we were not overwhelmed or intoxicated by it at first sight.
Great Mosque
A Muslim elder walked towards the temple and pointed at the tourists who were pouring in: Your shorts are not good, your sleeves are too short, you are underage. . . It seemed that everyone was dissatisfied with the rules for entering the temple, but no one really tried to stop them.
The attitude of local residents towards outsiders reflects the inclusiveness of a city.
Hohhot has this kind of tolerance and this kind of magnanimity.
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The three days arranged were far from enough. I had not had time to explore the Zhaojun Museum, Baoerhan Pagoda, Guanyin Temple, Catholic Church, Kuanxiangzi Food Street, Mongolian Mall and other unknown items on the list, let alone look forward to more unexpected gains.
A treasure city, worth visiting again and again.
2024.7