The next and last Chinese city on this trip was Hohhot, the administrative center of the province of Inner Mongolia. We did not expect something supernatural from him, but the city turned out to be very interesting and large.
First of all, we visited the National Museum of Inner Mongolia, which is located on the eastern outskirts of the city (the intersection of Xinhua east and 2 nd Ring streets). The building of the museum is very beautiful and new, the museum itself is large and interesting, and most importantly, it is completely free. You can get from the center to the museum on numerous city buses (fare 1 CNY), you need to go to the Bo Wu Yuan stop. On three floors of the museum, the course of the history of Inner Mongolia is reflected, and in addition, many elements of flora and fauna are presented. Many additional rooms tell about the evolution of technology and household items, dinosaurs and some kind of war. Everything is done very lively and beautifully, so it's worth visiting the museum. It impressed us even more than the National Museum of China in Beijing. A cursory inspection will take at least half an hour, a detailed one all day.
By all indications, Hohhot is a city that is now experiencing a large influx of population. There are a lot of construction projects here, even by Chinese standards, and everything is being built on a grand scale, on the outskirts houses are being built in whole blocks, and shopping malls in the center. Although, despite all the civilization bonuses from the Chinese government, the people still show discontent. So one day we were traveling by bus along the main street of the city and witnessed the blocking of traffic. Traffic in both directions on the main street of the city was blocked by some young people with a banner, it all happened right in front of our bus, so the overview of everything that was happening was good. A couple of minutes later, several police patrols arrived, but somehow they did not try to influence the situation, but simply stood and calmly talked to people. Fifteen minutes later, the demonstrators began to miss public transport, and eventually, probably cars. The reasons for the rally were not clear to us at that time, but it was not coordinated with the authorities, and despite this, no one dispersed them by force. In the evening, the girl we stayed with said that it was most likely a rally by students or applicants who were not counted for some exams.
In the center of the city there is a large Muslim quarter, there are several beautiful and one ancient mosque built in 1636. All the houses in this quarter are also decorated in an oriental style, so the city looks very oriental. There are also enough parks and places for walking.
In general, the province of Inner Mongolia, or rather the Autonomous Region of Inner Mongolia, is one of the largest regions in the country, but most of it is endless steppes. V. M. borders on Mongolia and the Trans-Baikal Territory of Russia, so for many travelers coming to China for the first time from these regions, it becomes a hallmark of China, but in fact it is very different from the rest of the country. Yes, the towns here are also large and civilized, but they are located quite far from each other. The population density is low compared to the rest of China, there is no duplication of road signs in English, they are all duplicated in Mongolian, which is written in a strange vertical script, somewhat reminiscent of Arabic script, and not Cyrillic, as someone might think. Cyrillic is used in Mongolia itself, but only since 1956, before there was such an old Mongolian script. Among the inhabitants of V.M., a rather large percentage is occupied by the Mongols, and therefore in many cities, including Hohhot, one can notice signs of their culture and traditions, for example, yurts.
Hitchhiking in V.M. is good, the police do not try to take off the autobahn here, and the cars stop quickly. You can also meet people who know Russian here, especially in Hohhot, where we met not only people who know Russian, but also Russians themselves, in the form of Kalmyks who study here.
Having visited Hohhot, we set off towards the border with Mongolia, capturing another city of Ulantsab along the way, which turned out to be large and also very interesting, but we did not find anything outstanding there and therefore spent very little time.
By clicking anywhere on our site or clicking "Accept", you agree to the use of cookies and other personal data processing technologies. You can change your privacy settings. Cookies are used by us and our trusted partners to analyze, improve and personalize your user experience on the site. In addition, these cookies are used for targeted advertising that you see both on our site and on other platforms.Hohhot (Hohhot)- a city in northern China, the administrative center of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the economic and cultural center of the region.
Hohhot is the capital of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
There are few historical and tourist sites in the city.
Attractions
dazhao temple(Dazhao) is a major center of Tibetan Buddhism. Around this temple, the ancient Hohhot arose. The whole ensemble stretched from south to north and consists of the main gate, the palace of the Heavenly King, the Hall of Insight, the Hall of the Canons, the Hall of the Buddha, the building of nine rooms and the eastern and western side buildings. Currently, Dazhao is the largest and best preserved temple of wooden construction in Hohhot.
Monastery of the Five Pagodas is a monument of the Qing Empire. The height of the monastery, built of brick, is 16.5 m. It consists of three parts: the base, the pedestal of the vajra and five graceful pagodas. On the back wall of the temple are engraved a diagram of six metapsychotic circles, a diagram of Sumeru and an astrological chart in Mongolian. The map with explanations in Mongolian is unique and of high scientific value.
Wang Zhaojun's grave located 9 km south of Hohhot. The grave belongs to the Han era. It is a mound, 33 m high, the base area is 13,000 sq.m. The grave was overgrown with dense greenery, for which it received the name "green grave".
great mosque(1639) - the oldest and largest Muslim building in the city. It features a traditional Arabic dome and exquisite carvings. In Hohhot, it is also worth visiting the Museum of Inner Mongolia with a collection of household items and works of art of Mongolian nomads.
Xylitu Jao(Xilitu Zhao) is the largest Buddhist temple in the city and the premier seat of Buddhism in Inner Mongolia.
Story
Since the era of the Ming Dynasty, the Chinese began to settle here, who gave this place the name Guihua. In the 16th century (around 1580), Altan Khan founded the Mongolian city of Khukhe-Khoto (which is translated into Russian as “blue city” or “blue city”) here, which soon became an important political, commercial, religious (Tibetan Buddhism) and cultural center.
Hoh Hoto is a small town by Chinese standards (only about 2 million people) in the north of the country, the capital of the Autonomous Region of Inner Mongolia . Inner Mongolia attracts with its endless expanses. Nomadic shepherds graze their flocks of sheep and herds of horses on green plains stretching to the horizon.
Endless steppes begin immediately outside the city. Traces of the former greatness are imprinted in the architecture of the city. Representatives of about 36 ethnic groups live in the city, although the Mongols themselves make up only 9% of the population.
Everyone argues how its name is translated from Mongolian: it would be more correct to say “blue city” or “blue city”, but it is more often called “green”. The Chinese changed the name according to their habit, and in translation it turns out “a place where the whistle of the wind is not heard”.
Theatrical costumes and cartridges are produced here, there is a government, a theater and a museum. And in the national system of theatrical, exhibition, concert and other cultural events, the city of Hohhot is absent.
In Hohhot, the remains of an ancient man were found, whose age is more than 500 thousand years . France is one of the countries whose scientists took part in the study of the remains found. A permanent settlement appeared here 2,300 years ago during the “warring states period”, when the city of Yunjun was founded here by King Zhao. After these lands were incorporated into the Ming Empire, the Wanli emperor founded the city in the 16th century, from which Hohhot grew. The ancient city was built in 1581, and some time later a new town grew up to the northeast side. In Hohhot, there has been cultural and economic exchange between the Han and northern peoples since ancient times.
Due to a number of its attractions, Hohhot is considered a major Buddhist center. The most famous of them are Da Zhao Monastery and Five Pagoda Temple. The Dazhao Temple, built in 1580, houses a 25-meter-high silver Buddha statue, which was personally blessed by the 3rd Dalai Lama in 1586. The temple complex with a total area of 30,000 square meters combines Tibetan and Han traditional styles.
In addition, the city has the unofficial title of "China's Dairy Capital" as the headquarters of Chinese dairy giants Mengniu and Yili are located here. When people talk about Hohhot, they usually praise its cuisine, which has features of both Chinese and Mongolian. Here, for example, lamb and suutei tsai (salty Mongolian tea with milk) are popular. Such a cuisine for an amateur.
The sun is the source of life on the planet. Its rays give the necessary light and warmth. At the same time, ultraviolet radiation from the Sun is detrimental to all living things. To find a compromise between the beneficial and harmful properties of the Sun, meteorologists calculate the ultraviolet radiation index, which characterizes the degree of its danger.
What UV radiation from the sun is
The ultraviolet radiation of the Sun has a wide range and is divided into three regions, two of which reach the Earth.
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UV-A. Longwave radiation range
315–400 nmThe rays pass almost freely through all atmospheric "barriers" and reach the Earth.
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UVB. Medium wave radiation range
280–315 nmThe rays are 90% absorbed by the ozone layer, carbon dioxide and water vapor.
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UVC. Shortwave radiation range
100–280 nmThe most dangerous area. They are completely absorbed by stratospheric ozone without reaching the Earth.
The more ozone, clouds and aerosols in the atmosphere, the less the harmful effect of the sun. However, these saving factors have a high natural variability. The annual maximum of stratospheric ozone occurs in spring, and the minimum - in autumn. Cloud cover is one of the most variable weather characteristics. The content of carbon dioxide also changes all the time.
At what values of the UV index is there a danger
The UV index gives an estimate of the amount of UV radiation from the Sun on the Earth's surface. UV index values range from safe 0 to extreme 11+.
- 0–2 Low
- 3–5 Moderate
- 6–7 High
- 8–10 Very high
- 11+ Extreme
In mid-latitudes, the UV index approaches unsafe values (6–7) only at the maximum height of the Sun above the horizon (occurs in late June - early July). At the equator, during the year, the UV index reaches 9...11+ points.
What is the benefit of the sun
In small doses, UV radiation from the Sun is essential. The sun's rays synthesize melanin, serotonin, vitamin D, necessary for our health, and prevent rickets.
Melanin creates a kind of protective barrier for skin cells from the harmful effects of the sun. Because of it, our skin darkens and becomes more elastic.
Happiness hormone serotonin affects our well-being: it improves mood and increases overall vitality.
Vitamin D strengthens the immune system, stabilizes blood pressure and performs anti-rickets functions.
Why is the sun dangerous?
When sunbathing, it is important to understand that the line between beneficial and harmful Sun is very thin. Excessive sunburn always borders on a burn. UV radiation damages DNA in skin cells.
The body's defense system cannot cope with such an aggressive impact. This lowers the immune system, damages the retina, causes skin aging and can lead to cancer.
Ultraviolet destroys the DNA strand
How does the sun affect people?
Susceptibility to UV radiation depends on skin type. The most sensitive to the Sun are people of the European race - for them, protection is required already at an index of 3, and 6 is considered dangerous.
At the same time, for Indonesians and African Americans, this threshold is 6 and 8, respectively.
Who is affected the most by the Sun?
people with light
skin tone
People with many moles
Residents of the middle latitudes while relaxing in the south
winter lovers
fishing
Skiers and climbers
People with a family history of skin cancer
In what weather is the sun most dangerous
The fact that the Sun is dangerous only in hot and clear weather is a common misconception. You can also get burned in cool cloudy weather.
Cloudiness, no matter how dense it may be, does not at all reduce the amount of ultraviolet to zero. In mid-latitudes, cloud cover significantly reduces the risk of sunburn, which cannot be said about traditional beach holiday destinations. For example, in the tropics, if in sunny weather you can get burned in 30 minutes, then in cloudy weather - in a couple of hours.
How to protect yourself from the sun
To protect yourself from harmful rays, follow these simple rules:
Get less exposure to the Sun during the midday hours
Wear light-colored clothing, including wide-brimmed hats
Use protective creams
Wear sunglasses
Stay in the shade more on the beach
Which sunscreen to choose
Sunscreen varies in terms of sun protection and is labeled from 2 to 50+. The numbers indicate the proportion of solar radiation that overcomes the protection of the cream and reaches the skin.
For example, when applying a cream labeled 15, only 1/15 (or 7%) of the UV rays will penetrate the protective film. In the case of cream 50, only 1/50, or 2%, affects the skin.
Sunscreen creates a reflective layer on the body. However, it is important to understand that no cream is capable of reflecting 100% of ultraviolet radiation.
For everyday use, when the time spent under the Sun does not exceed half an hour, a cream with protection 15 is quite suitable. For tanning on the beach, it is better to take 30 and above. However, for fair-skinned people, it is recommended to use a cream labeled 50+.
How to apply sunscreen
The cream should be applied evenly to all exposed skin, including the face, ears and neck. If you plan to sunbathe for a long time, then the cream should be applied twice: 30 minutes before going out and, additionally, before going to the beach.
Please refer to the cream instructions for how much to apply.
How to apply sunscreen while swimming
Sunscreen should be applied every time after bathing. Water washes away the protective film and, reflecting the sun's rays, increases the dose of ultraviolet radiation received. Thus, when bathing, the risk of burning increases. However, due to the cooling effect, you may not feel the burn.
Excessive sweating and rubbing with a towel is also a reason to re-protect the skin.
It should be remembered that on the beach, even under an umbrella, the shade does not provide full protection. Sand, water, and even grass reflect up to 20% of UV rays, increasing their impact on the skin.
How to protect your eyes
Sunlight reflecting off water, snow, or sand can cause painful retinal burns. Use sunglasses with an ultraviolet filter to protect your eyes.
Danger for skiers and climbers
In the mountains, the atmospheric "filter" is thinner. For every 100 meters of altitude, the UV index increases by 5%.
Snow reflects up to 85% of UV rays. In addition, up to 80% of the ultraviolet reflected by the snow cover is again reflected by the clouds.
Thus, in the mountains, the Sun is most dangerous. Protecting the face, lower part of the chin and ears is necessary even in cloudy weather.
How to deal with sunburn if you are burned
Treat the body with a damp sponge to wet the burn
Lubricate the burnt areas with anti-burn cream
If the temperature rises, consult a doctor, you may be advised to take an antipyretic
If the burn is severe (skin is very swollen and blisters), seek medical attention.