Transcript THE FUN NEVER ENDS IN THE AUTONOMOUS REGIONS OF CHINA:

THE FUN NEVER ENDS IN
THE AUTONOMOUS REGIONS
OF CHINA:
INNER MONGOLIA
Background Information
• A region of the People’s Republic of China
• Hohhot is the capital city
• Temperate continental climate
– Spring: warm & windy
– Summer: short & hot with much rain
– Autumn: temperatures begin to plummet
– Winter: long, bitter, & extremely cold
• Geography:
– 7.22 million hectares of cultivated land
– 86.67 million hectares of grasslands
– 18.67 million hectares of forests
– 50% of the land is above sea level
– Over 1000 rivers of various sizes, including
the Yellow River
– Major mountain
ranges:
• Big Xingan Mountain
• Yinshan Mountain
• Helan Mountain
Major plains:
Liaohe Plain
Songnen Plain
Tumochuan Plain
River Bend Plain
• Natural Resources
– Livestock industry
– Abundant mineral resources (more than 120
kinds)
– Luminous energy & wind energy
– Inner Mongolia is one of the most important
bases of energy, raw material, iron and steel
manufacture, coal products, forestry and dairy
industries in China.
• Population
– 23.77 million people
– Growth rate: 4.98%
– 49 ethnic groups within the population,
including Mongolian, Han, Manchu, Oroqen,
and Korean
– 3.97 million Mongolians, 18.75 million Han,
and 900,010 of other ethnicities
– Rural population of 13.78 million
– 96.8% of young and middle aged people are
literate
• Economy
– GDP in 2000: 140 billion yuan ($16.9 billion)
– GDP per capita in 2000: 5,350 yuan ($646)
– Industries:
• Iron, steel, coal production bases
• Forest, farm produce processing, electricity,
electronics, textiles, sugar, paper making
• National production base of cash grain, oil, & sugar
– Unemployment Rate as of 2000: 3.34%
– Trade:
• Conducted with 100 countries
• Exports divided into 1,000 categories
– Foreign Investment in 2001: 18.4 billion yuan
($187 million)
A Brief History of Inner Mongolia
• The region has been the home of many ethnic groups of North
China in ancient times
• During the 12th century, the Mongol ethnic group rose up, and
Genghis Khan unified various tribes on the Mongolian plateau, and
founded the nomadic noble state (Inner Mongolia being part of it)
• Became Inner Mongolia in 1635 after Likdan Khan of the Chahars
was defeated by the Manchus,
• The Manchus soon annexed Inner Mongolia and by the end of the
17th century they also conquered Outer Mongolia
• To be continued...
Customs and Traditions
(Stuff they usually do)
The Nadaam Festival
(Which was apparently everyday in Inner
Mongolia)
Main Parts:
- Wrestling
- Archery
- Horse Racing
When does it take place?
- Usually between the 11th
and 13th of every July
Why have a festival?
- The festival was originally
created to celebrate the passing of
winter. The Mongolians would (and
still) celebrate with three days of
basically nothing but booze, grits, and
some Karaoke. (Maybe not those
specific things but there is food, liquor
and singing involved.)
Customs and Traditions… contd.
Wrestling
- For centuries the
Mongolians have been known for
their legendary grappling skills
- The present-day form of
competition is nearly 1,000 years
old, and has increased in popularity
since the founding of The People's
Republic of China
Note:
If you have wrestled a Mongolian, be
proud of yourself… You went up
against somebody from one of the most
feared ancient civilizations.
Food…in Mongolian Culture
(even though we were in Inner Mongolia)
Milk Tea
Milk tea is the traditional hot drink the
Mongolian people like best. It is made
by boiling the water with brick tea and
fresh milk. People usually put a little salt
into the milk when they drink it.
Sometimes they put a little butter or stirfried millet into the milk tea.
Sour Milk
Generally, the Mongolian people like
drinking sour milk, instead of drinking
fresh milk… I don’t know why but….
Cooked Mutton
This is the delicacy which the Mongolian people
like best. It is only prepared for the special
occasions, such as offering sacrifices to gods or
ancestors, holding weddings or celebrating the
elder's birthday. When the dinner party begging,
it is customary for the Mongolian people to cut a
piece of meat from the fat tail first and have a
taste of it.
Ger (a.k.a. Yurt) Life
• Mongolian Felt Tent
• Traditionally used by nomadic Mongols as
year-round housing
• Design allows it to be warm during the
winter and cool during the summer
• Collapsible structure facilitates easy
transport needed for nomadic lifestyle
• Parts of a Ger:
– Lattice Walls (khana) – crisscrossed lattice
work resembling a baby gate
– Door with wood framing
– Roof Ring (toghona) – hoop of wood
containing slots that roof poles can lock into;
allows for smoke/air flow but can be covered
with felt
– Roof Poles (uni) – wooden beams that form
the roof skeleton
– Felt (isegei) – locally made; similar to canvas;
secured using ropes
• Entrance traditionally faces the south
• One must not step on the threshold when
entering the ger
• Traditionally, male guests sit on the eastern side
& female guests on the western side
• Fireplace is situated in the center
• Kitchen is situated on the eastern side
• Beds of the master and mistress are situated on
the northeast side
• Opposite to the door, sacred possessions are
displayed
• New gers are built for newly wedded couples;
presented by the boy’s family and furnished by
the girl’s
Pictures
THANK YOU
The End...