The border town of Erenhot

Erenhot National Gate Scenic Area Erenhot is a small border town in Inner Mongolia and an important trading port. The city’s neighbor to the north is Zamyn-Uud County of Mongolia. Standing at the national gate, you can see its county seat. In the 15th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu (1889), the Qing government built a telephone line from Zhangjiakou to Kulun (now Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia), set up a telegraph office, and included the site in the atlas of the time, naming it "Erlian." This is the original origin of the name Erenhot. "Hao Te" originally meant city and was added after liberation.

Erenhot is 500 kilometers away from Zhangjiakou, 400 kilometers away from Hohhot, and about 700 kilometers away from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. It is an important post station on the ancient grassland and Central Plains passage, and an important node on the modern grassland Silk Road.

There are very few pedestrians on the streets of Erenhot, especially at night, it is so quiet that it makes people feel guilty. The city has a population of only 70,000, which is simply unimaginable in the mainland. For example, the population of a community in Beijing is several times that of Erenhot.

However, the national gate here is very spectacular, and the majestic figure of the Erenhot national gate can often be seen in various pictures. This national gate was built in 2007. It spans two railways and has four floors. It is majestic and magnificent.

Among the permanent residents of Erenhot, the Han and Mongolian ethnic groups have the largest population, and there are also ethnic minorities such as Hui, Manchu, Korean, Daur, Ewenki, and Oroqen. Therefore, in the city of Erenhot, you can see many buildings with Mongolian elements, as well as people wearing ethnic costumes. In many restaurants here, you can eat Mongolian specialties such as milk tea, milk skin, and hand-held meat.

Post by OliviaMcPheey | Sep 1, 2024