Inner Mongolia in January is a different kind of beautiful – rugged, icy plains, ruler-straight horizons and an absence of tour buses. Our writer soaks it all in on her visit during the peaceful off season, and finds it the best time to get acquainted with a region where the clash of the traditional and the modern somehow just works.
“It will feel much colder now that we’re outside the city,” cautions guide and hostel owner Zorigoo. He hops out of the van to attach ice chains to its tyres for extra traction during the last part of our journey, where dirt road melts into a slippery blanket of ice and snow. Once he opens the door, the biting wind whips through our vehicle.
In winter, temperatures in Mongolia rarely climb above zero, and can drop to minus 15 deg C at night. Still, it’s not until we disembark two hours from Hohhot city, Inner Mongolia’s capital, that I fully understand what Zorigoo means. I’m dressed for the frigid weather, yet the angry gale relentlessly batters my exposed nose and cheeks. I gasp involuntarily in response to the cold and the sparse beauty of the landscape.
Little wonder, then, that the peak season for visitors is between May and August, when temperatures hover around the mid-20s – perfect sweater weather. But the trade-off is worth it. The grasslands in the off-peak season are free of tourists and the large buses that take them there.
The first thing I notice is that the horizon is ruler-straight, the sort of view that’s possible only when there’s nothing in the distance to obscure the point where earth meets sky. Out here, there’s little besides the brown of the earth, a thick layer of snow on the plains, and the piercing blue of the sunny, cloudless day.
It’s a perfect day for herding, Zorigoo tells me. While some in their culture of nomadic herders have relocated to the city for work, many families who live in the grasslands still rear livestock for a living.
Esta historia es de la edición January 2018 de Her World Singapore.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición January 2018 de Her World Singapore.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
BACK TO BOLD
Say goodbye to low-key and hello to decadence with over-the-top makeup trends. Here's why maximalist beauty is taking over.
THE CORTISOL CONNECTION
Is it possible to undo the ravages of stress while living in a fast-paced world? We dive into how our levels of cortisol - our body's primary stress hormone - can be regulated, and ways to manage its effects.
Air-dry or blow-dry - which is worse for your mane?
Haircare experts share their advice.
Book Club
More than just a vision-enhancing tool, prescription glasses are shaping up to be quite the fashion statement.
How can I use Artificial Intelligence (Al) more effectively at work?
Govtech engagement manager Nicole Lim answers.
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
Swing by these intimate, hidden bars featuring unique concepts and inventive cocktails.
THE ORANGE PEEL THEORY
Would you break up with your partner over peeled fruit? This latest social media trend might just be the unlikely dealbreaker.
The rise of tradwives
Is this just another fancy name for a stay-at-home mum?
HOW MUCH IS FAMILY PLANNING ACTUALLY COSTING YOU?
It's always prudent to be financially sound and savvy - especially if you're planning to start a family. Find out how you and your partner can map out a financial plan that is realistic, based on advice from parents and experts.
IN THE THICK OF ACTION
Doctor by day, champion for change by night: Dr June Goh-Rin is a whirlwind of energy. This multi-hyphenate doctor, advocate and former president of the Singapore Council of Women's Organisations (SCWO) tackles every challenge whether at work or advocating for women's issues - head-on.