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| Ordos International Airport Inner Mongolia |
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| Ordos Grassland, Inner Mongolia |
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| Whistling Dune Bay, Ordos Inner Mongolia |
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| Genghis Khan Tourist Area, Ordos Inner Mongolia |
My travel buddy, Thompson Than visited the Nihao China Travel Fair, Pavilion Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur on Saturday June 15 2024. During the Fair, he paid a visit to Confidence Travel & Tour exhibition booth & after been briefed by a company official about a promotional price offer of Rm3,999 (US$898) for a 9 days 7 nights package tour to Inner Mongolia & an interesting itinerary highlighting the various major touristy sites / places (flying Batik Air by chartered flight direct from KLIA > Ordos, Inner Mongolia, 6 hours flight time, currently there is no direct flight from Kuala Lumpur > Inner Mongolia hence a longer flight if transit in another city in China), he thought the deal was too good to refuse, so he paid a deposit of @Rm1,000 x 2 (+ spouse) & made a firmed booking for 2 seats & the rest is history (simply means his Inner Mongolian trip is on) .... On Sunday June 16, me & my wife showed up at the Confidence Travel & Tour exhibition booth & after a brief discussion, both of us decided to sign up this attractive offer too (very much driven by both our heart's desire) & paid a deposit to confirm our booking. This was my wife's first time visit to Inner Mongolia !
The might of Mongul empire, Genghis Khan (1162 > 1227), Kublai Khan (a grandson of Genghis Khan - 1215 > 1294), the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty (1271 > 1368) overthrowing the Song dynasty (960 > 1279), 1st time China was under foreign rule, witnessing a great Mongol political, cultural & trade (tea & silk route) influence in China & Central Asia & this happened 800 years ago, eventually it was the Ming dynasty (1368 > 1644) succeeding the Yuan dynasty; after Ming, the Qing dynasty is the largest imperial dynasty in the history of China & also the last dynasty (1644 > 1911/1912); so a brief history lesson & refresher course for me about the rise & fall (timeline) of the Song, the Yuan, the Ming & the Qing dynasty (history is painful when a dynasty disintegrated & taken over by a new one) & the birth of the Republic of China on 1 Jan 1912 (Dr Sun Yat Sen & Mao Zedong era) leading to the unique status of present Inner Mongolia as an autonomous region of China (visited Manzhouli & Hohhot in May 2011 & Erenhot in 2009) & Outer Mongolia (visited Ulaan Baatar in May 2009), it is interesting to note that the Outer Mongolia (nomadic by nature) offers more opportunities for adventure tourism whereas Inner Mongolia is more focused on cultural tourism ! So there are plenty of tourism activities & sightseeing for overseas visitors to see & explore starting from Inner Mongolia, China (visa free for 15 days) & beyond !
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| Genghis Khan, Founder & 1st Khan of Mongol Empire (1162 > 1227) |
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| Mongol Empire (1271 > 1368) |
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| Mongol's Political / Cultural / Trade Influence in China & Central Asia |
My Good Old Days in Inner Mongolia & Heilongjiang (visited in Aug / Sept 2011) - a lapse of 13 years, my re-visit in Sept 2024 igniting a nice, emotional feeling & bringing back fond memories when our tour bus veering through the Hohhot old city & I spot on some familiar places I visited in 2011 ! After one visit to Outer Mongolia & two visits to Inner Mongolia, I think I have enough of "Mong" visits for the time being & perhaps focus on other regions of China ie re-visiting Beijing, Heilongjiang, Xinjiang & Gansu, Guizhou & Yunnan in the near future !
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| Map of Inner Mongolian Cities, China |
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| Map of Inner Mongolia, China |
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| Map of Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, China |
1) Hohhot of yesteryear, Capital of Inner Mongolia (reminiscing my Good Old Days of 2011)
Saishang Old Street, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia
Da Zhao Lamasery (a history of 400 years old) & Xilito Zhao, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia.
Inner Mongolia Museum, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia.
Hohhot Old City, Inner Mongolia - located diagonally across the road from Dazhao / Wuliang Temple.
The Great Mosque, Qing Zhen Da Si, Huimin Street, Hohot, Inner Mongolia - the Great Mosque was founded during the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1644 > 1911), a great mosque of the Hui Muslim minority migrated from Xinjiang, Ningxia & Shaanxi to Inner Mongolia.
Hohhot Railway Station, Inner Mongolia
2) Qiqihaer, Heilongjiang (visited in Aug / Sept 2011, train transit from Harbin > Qiqihaer > Manzhouli) - the second largest city in Heilongjiang province, China; the UNESCO Heritage site of Hulubuir Grassland (nearest Hailar Railway Station) is approx 9.5hr by train from Qiqihar, Heilongjiang !
3) Manzhouli, Inner Mongolia (visited in Aug / Sept 2011) - a small Mongolian settlement, a sub-prefectural city located in Hulunbuir, bordering Russia, a major land port of entry.
4) Erenhot, Inner Mongolia (visited in May 2009) - took a Tran-Mongolian train from Moscow > Irkutsk / Lake Baikal, Russia > Ulaan Bataar, Mongolia > Erenhot, Inner Mongolia, China - the longest train ride I had experienced in my world of traveling thus far !
My Good Old Days in Outer Mongolia (visited Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia in May 2009) - took a Russian train from Irkutsk for a border crossing to Ulaan Bataar, Mongolia, visited the Ulaan Baatar city centre, Sukhbaatar Square, Gandan Khild Monastery, temples etc
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Overall, the itinerary highlight of Confidence Travel & Tour has an excellent mix of historical, cultural, nature & fun / entertainment activities, well crafted for all the age group so there was no dull moment as soon as we landed ourselves on Day 1 in Ordos International Airport. Upon arrival, our tour group was greeted at the Arrival Hall with a traditional Mongolian welcoming ceremony involving presentation of blue hada (scarves placed around our necks) by the local tourism authorities & the presence of local press media ! At this moment, all our tour members were over the moon as we were treated like VIP visitors - the 1st batch of Malaysian tourists arriving by chartered flight from Kuala Lumpur to Ordos International Airport, Inner Mongolia ! Malaysia-boleh !
For this 9 days 7 nights visits, our tour group was well looked after by a Malaysian tour leader (Shin Ju) & a local China tour guide; I believe all our tour members eat well, sleep well (hope so !) & transport well thus we were able to follow the Confidence's itinerary highlights which took us to 16 major touristy sites / places in & around Ordos, Kangbashi District, Baotou & Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia (but sacrifices had to be made especially on daily morning calls & often late hotel check-ins so it could be quite stressful for the elders !). All in all, I have these 4 things with me in Inner Mongolia ie walk well, sleep well (occasionally), eat well (hotel buffet breakfast, sit-in lunch & dinner) & a good bowel movement every early morning ! In a typical traveling day, you may have to endure say over 2 to 3 hours or more of the bus journey as some of these touristy places are in remote or mountainous region. If a particular day the weather is bad, the visit will be re-scheduled to another day ! Though I & my wife did not participate in all the optional tours except one Nadam Horse Folk Show but both of us were overtly happy with the overall outcome of this Inner Mongolia package tour !
In summary, for this 9 days package tour, I converted my RM (Ringgit Malaysia 3,999) to KM (Kilometer, a distance of 4,152 km or 2242 nautical miles from Kuala Lumpur to Ordos International Airport + 1,653km domestic travel) & a thousand of pictures were taken during the trip for posting into my KM Cheng travel journal & share with my readers for their reading pleasure ! Happy travelling, KM ! What's next - a free & easy visit to Beijing, Tianjin & Shijiazhuang (Hebei) & Gubei Water Town in mid Oct 2024 coming soon ! My last visit to Beijing was in Aug 2015 ! How time has flown ! Probably about time for me to show up again in Beijing as during the last decade, Beijing's rapid economic growth echos this popular China's slogan " China Like Never Before " !
A brief lesson in geography & history about Inner Mongolia, China - the Mongol empire was founded by Genghis Khan (1206 > 1368), his grandson, Kublai Khan expanded the empire & found the Mongol-rule Yuan Dynasty ruling the whole China, useful & informative maps of Inner Mongolia, an autonomous region of northern China bordering Russia, nomadic tribes, vast grassland, green steppe, livestock grazing area, desert, sand dunes & lengthy sections of the Great Wall of China, Mongolian food ie lamb & mutton, milk, yogurt & cheese ! Hohhot is the capital of Inner Mongolia, a province rich in cultural tourism besides possessing large deposits of coal & fluorite (fluorspar), copper, gold, silver & other metallic ores; this exotic feeling of Inner Mongolia is enough to enthuse you to show up in the Land of Blue Sky ......
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| Inner Mongolia, Autonomous Region of China |
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| Hohhot, Capital of Inner Mongolia, China |
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| City Map of Inner Mongolia, China |
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| Grassland Map of Inner Mongolia, China |
A big thank you to Confidence Travel & Tour Sdn Bhd - Confidence's blue background's tour brochure covering my 9D7N Package Tour to Inner Mongolia (The Land of Blue Sky) Aug 29 > Sept 6 2024 ! A comprehensive travel itinerary covering a mix of historical, cultural, nature & fun activities in Inner Mongolia (Ordos, Kangbashi District, Baotou & Hohhot) for all age groups. Well done !
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Itinerary Highlights:
- Ordos Grassland + photo session in traditional Mongolian attire
- Xiangshawan Aerial Cableway + Camel Riding Experience
- Yellow River Grand Canyon + Laoniuwan Tourism Area
Local Flavours:
- Grassland Bone-in Meat
- Northwest Regional Dishes
- Specialty Shaomal Dumplings
Optional Tours (PYO - Pay Your Own)
- Zhamayan (Zhama Banquet) Rmb480
- Nadam Horse Folk Show (Equestrian Performance) Rmb280
- Xiansha Island, Whistling Dune Bay Rmb280
Total costs incurred: Rm4,152 + Rmb436 = Rm4.426 (US$1,006) per pax
Promotional package tour price (9D7N): Rm3,999 (inclusive of return airfare, hotels, food & entrance fees, 1st Batik Air chartered flight to Ordos, Inner Mongolia)
Airline: Batek Air (KLIA 15.00 > Ordos 20.50; Ordos > KLIA 21.50 > 04.05)
Travel Insurance: Annual Travel Easy Plan Rm62 (pro rata)
Optional Tour (Ordos Grassland Equestrian Performance show): Rmb280
Food: Rmb50
Transport (buggy tram): Rmb10
Medicine: Rmb56
Grab (KLIA): Rm75
Sim Card: Rm16
Sundries: Rmb40
Currency Exchange: CNY1 = Rm0.63; US$1=Rm4.40
Travel itinerary: KLIA > Ordos, Inner Mongolia (Flight time 6hrs) > KLIA, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Weather: 10c - 25c, UV radiation in Inner Mongolia is strong (10.00 > 15.00) hence use of sunblock / hat is highly recommended.
Confidence Travel Highlights (fully guided tour): Ordos Grasslands + Photo session in Traditional Mongolia Attire, Xiangshawan, Ariel Cableway + Camel Riding Experience, Yellow River Grand Canyon + Laoniuwan Tourism Area.
My travel buddies: my wife + Thompson Tham & spouse + 19 package tour members
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| Genghis Khan Mausoleum Tourist Area Ordos, Inner Mongolia |
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| Baotou Golden Street Inner Mongolia |
Confidence Travel & Tour Sdn Bhd (organiser), Malaysia's Batik Air chartered flight package tour group members (approx 100 people) for this 9 days Inner Mongolia, China visit (Aug 29 > Sept 6 2024).
Smiles everlasting smiles, Confidence A, B, C & D Team, leaving behind their footprints, laughter & joy in Inner Mongolia (Aug / Sept 2024). For the young ones, let them yell one more time "I shall return" one fine day with my loved ones to Inner Mongolia ! For the oldies (if you are able & healthy), your dream does not have an expiry date, visit Inner Mongolia one more time with your siblings or grandchildren or fellow friends ..... thank you all for the friendship, team spirit & good times we all shared in this 9 days Mongolian trip ! A sweet memory for many years to come !
Celebration time ! A Happy Birthday song & birthday cake for tour members who were born in the months of August & Sept ! The happy & cheerful birthday "kids" appeared on stage - the magnificent 12 inclusive of my wife !
Travel Highlights (9 Days & 7 Nights in Inner Mongolia, fully guided tour):
Ordos & Kangbashi District, Inner Mongolia
1) Qizhuang Shanhe Memorial Gate & The Sculptured Group of Iron Horses / Golden Hordes, Genghis Khan Tourist Area, Ordos, Inner Mongolia
2) Kangbashi New Area Grassland Love Square, Ordos, Inner Mongolia
3) The Inner Mongolian Buddhist Culture Museum, Yihe Ecological Culture Park, Ordos, Inner Mongolia
4) Ordos Hot Air Balloon, Ordos, Inner Mongolia
5) Prairie Resort of Ordos, Inner Mongolia
6) Whistling Dune Bay, Ordos, Inner Mongolia
7) Junwang Mansion, Ordos, Inner Mongolia
8) Ordos Cultural Industrial Park, Inner Mongolia
Baotou, Inner Mongolia
9) Saihantala Urban Prairie, Baotou
10) Baotou Golden Street, Baotou
11) Miafa Temple, Baotou (DIY Visit by KM)
Hohhot (Capital), Inner Mongolia
12) Dazhao Historical & Cultural Tourist Area, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia
13) Ancient Style Saishang Street, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia
14) Laoniuwan Yellow River Grand Canyon, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia
15) The Tomb of Wang Zhaojun, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia
16) Hasuhai Lake, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia
17) Mengliang Ethnic Park, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia
3 Optional tours (PYO - Pay Your Own)
1) Nadam Horse Folk Show, Ordos, Inner Mongolia - all our tour members opted for this Rmb280 (US$63) optional tour & ticket holders are eligible to pick 12 in-house or outdoor events, games, sports & entertainment activities. As for me & my wife, we had the opportunity to attend & participate the following events / activities ie Nadam Horse Folk Show, Mongolian dressing experience, acrobatic show, Campfire party performances, photography pose on horse riding, grass skiing, the Prairie train ride, archery, grassland golfing & Mongolian artillery (a total of 10 indoor & outdoor activities for me).
2) Xiansha Island, Ordos Whistling Dune Bay, Ordos, Inner Mongolia - all participated except my wife & me ! Rmb280 (US$63) ticket price for participation in major indoor & outdoor fun games & entertainment activities .
3) Zhanmayan (Zhama Feast), Prairie Resort of Ordos, Inner Mongolia - Rmb480 (US$108) for this evening feast event. 8 of our tour members dressed in Mongolian attire participated in this big feast indoor event. Changing of face, Malaysians with a Mongolian look for this joyful evening !
Mongolian goodies & coughing medicine I bought from our China tour guide (3 varieties RMB260) & local market (milk tea, moon cakes & bread Rmb110) for snacks / buying home & medication (Rmb56) + small eat (beef noodle Rmb20) & small treat in various touristy places our group visited ! As our Mongolian trip coincided with the Mid-Autumn (Moon Cake) Festival, I bought a few brands of moon cakes from local minimarkets & had a few bites & bought home a few packets - a trip full of " mooncake" memory !
Confidence Itinerary Day 1 itinerary quotes " Assemble at the International airport & proceed to check in & take an international flight to Ordos "
Day 1 Thursday August 29 2024 - meet up with Confidence's tour leader at the KLIA1 Airport & boarding the Batik Air flight from KLIA > Ordos International Airport (6 hrs flight time). Upon arrival, a traditional Mongolian welcoming ceremony for our Malaysia tour group & finally our late hotel check in ! Looking forward for Day 2 to kick start our package tour program - the best is yet to come !
1) The start of my car drive (driven by my elder son) from my home place, Subang Jaya > Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA 1), total distance approx 44km
3) PR publicity at the KLIA 1 Airport by Confidence Travel & Tour Sdn Bhd, Taman Batu, off Jalan Kuching, Jinjang, Kuala Lumpur. Well done to Confidence Travel for promoting this chartered flight package tour to Inner Mongolia for the 1st batch of Malaysian tourists (4 bus loads of Confidence's tour members), most of them were 1st timers !
4) Flight by Batik Air (Chartered Flight) from KLIA1 > Ordos City (ETD15.00 ETA20.50 approx 2242 nautical miles, flight time 6hrs)
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| Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia > Ordos City, Inner Mongolia (approx 5,400km by car, 70hrs & by chartered flight 6hrs) |
5) Taking a shuttle bus to the main departure hall to board our flight (Batik Air) ETD 15.00 from KILA1 > Ordos International Airport, Inner Mongolia (flight time approx 6hrs).
6) Inflight meal by Batik Air - a warm pack of dry curry chicken rice + drinking water, a late dinner (23.00) but keeping the worms in my body digestive system jolly happy !
7) Safe & happy landing in Ordos ! Arriving (21.30) in Ordos International Airport, Inner Mongolia. Welcome to Ordos ! After immigration clearance & luggage collection (almost an hour of queuing & waiting for passport processing due to the sheer number of over 300 of Malaysia tourists arrival. However our Malaysian group was warmly greeted (each of the tour member was presented a blue Hada) by the local tourism authorities / press media (a great PR exercise) at the Arrival Hall as this was the 1st Batik Air chartered flight to Ordos, most were 1st timers to Inner Mongolia; our local Chinese tour guide also handed a pack of goodies to all our tour members as a gesture of goodwill ! Finally we were on board our tour bus heading towards Ordos City for our late hotel check-in (close to mid-night) ! A long day & a tired body by the time I took a warm shower & retired to bed !
Hotel Accommodation (No 1): Our group's 2 nights stay in Jinsha International Hotel, Ordos City, Inner Mongolia - as for tonight, no hot coffee or tea, please. I am badly in need of a deep slumber ! Good Night !
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