In Qahar Right Wing Middle Banner (County), in the central part of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, there is an expanse of grassland that is terribly chilly in the winter and suffers a sharp, daily difference in temperature during the spring and autumn. In the past, outsiders only visited the grassland from July to September, in an attempt to escape the summer heat. Local residents, thus, named the grassland Huiteng Xile, or "Cold" in Mongolian.
Situated at a high elevation on the pass to the Daqing Mountain, the Huiteng Xile Grassland abounds in wind power resources. Thanks to investment from the state government, a wind power station and a transformer substation have been established on the grassland, offering electric energy to Inner
Mongolia's electric network system and ensuring a power supply for the grassland as well as its eripheral area. The wind power station is still under expansion; and when a total of 300 windmills are built to drive
electric generators, the grassland will acquire an additional breathtaking view.
Even today, visitors to Huiteng Xile tend to pay little attention to the carpet-like grass and large flocks of sheep. They are instead attracted by the wind-driven generators-a scene that is unique to this grassland and rarely seen in other places in China. More than 60 windmills, each 30 tons in weight and 40 meters high, rise up from the grassland, their 20-meter-long sails silently moving day and night.
Besides windmills, Huiteng Xile is home to other scenes that are equally captivating. In autumn, when yellow rape flowers bloom in the ravine, it looks as if a river of yellow flowers is passing through the green grassland. A forest of pines carpets the foot of the mountain range.
Boundless meadows, peaceful villages, and large flocks of cattle and sheep can also be found here.
With its unique features, Huiteng Xile enjoys the increasing favor of tourists, especially those who have traveled extensively and prefer experiencing places that are special and unique. Tourists from home and
abroad have spent not only public holidays, but also weekends here.
Mongolian yurts and houses equipped with heated, brick beds are so popular that aspiring guests need to reserve in advance.
In the early morning, the sails of the windmills move slowly in the midst of the sun's golden rays. When the glow of the sunset shines at dusk, reflections of the windmills in small ponds found in depressed areas of the grassland cause visitors to wonder whether they are in one of South China's waterside towns.The Huiteng Xile Grassland awaits visitors, and will entertain them with its
warm embrace, fresh air, and the rhythmical sound of windmill sails as they rotate in the wind.
Travel tips:
The Huiteng Xile Grassland enjoys convenient transportation.
By car: Take the Beijing-Datong Expressway and drive for three hours, about
310 kilometers, to Datong. Once in Datong take the following route:
Datong-Fengzhen-Jining-Zhuozishan-Huiteng Xile, about 180 kilometers.
By train: Take the Beijing-Baotou Railway line and get off at the Datong
Station, then change to the Datong-Zhuozishan Railway line. At Zhuozishan,
take a bus to the grassland, a 40-kilometer distance.
Need-to-know: Take warm clothes to keep out the cold in the early morning
and late at night. If your clothes are not warm enough, you can always rent
a coat at any of the scenic spots on the grassland.
(china.org.cn April 11, 2003)
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