An Inner Mongolian song and dance performance.	Inauguration of China Milk City sculpture.	A folk commemoration of Wang Zhaojun, the beautiful Han envoy that married an ancient Mongolian king.

Huhhot, capital city of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, is an historical city on the beautiful Chile Plain of western China. Its pure blue sky and high air quality have earned it the “National Hygienic Sanitary City,” “One of China’s Top Tourism Destination Cities” and “China’s Milk City” awards. The millennium-old Song of Chile, so celebrates its beauty:

“The Chile Plain sits under the Yin Mountains,

The sky envelops the plains like a huge yurt.

The heavens are deep blue and the steppe broad,

When the wind blows, livestock can be seen among lush grasses.”

Hohhot is 478-mile, four and a half hour drive from Beijing. The express railway line to be built between Beijing and Huhhot during the Eleventh Five-Year Plan period (2006-2010) will shorten travel time between the two cities to 3 hours.

Located on the Tumochuan (formerly the Chile) Plain, Huhhot is linked to the economically developed Jing-Jin-Tang (Beijing, Tianjin, Tangshan) area and the Bohai Sea Port in the east. It connects to the second Eurasian Continental Bridge to the west, and neighbors Mongolia and Russia to its north. Huhhot’s advanced transport makes it a major intersection of the northern border opening belt and the Yellow River Economic Zone, as well as a trade bridgehead among China, Mongolia, Russia and other eastern European countries.

Huhhot means “green city” in the Mongolian language. A little over 500,000 years ago it was site of an ancient civilization. Today, it is home to 36 ethnic groups, including the Mongolian, Han, Manchu and Hui peoples. The city is renowned for its pleasant climate and scenic spots. Its historical sites include the Dayao Culture relics and the remains of the State of Zhao Warring States Period (475BC--221BC) Great Wall. Its Zhaojun Museum and Wusutu National Forest Park also attract hordes of domestic and overseas visitors.

Grassland City with Ethnic Characteristic
Great changes are ongoing in Huhhot, on a daily basis. Streets are being widened and more new houses are being built. What was formerly a garbage dump has been transformed into an amusement park, while elegant gardens now stand on on an obsolete factory site.

In anticipation of the 60th anniversary of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2007, Huhhot has invested RMB 46 billion in construction over the past two years. More than one hundred buildings have been built this year alone. Han Zhiran, Secretary of the Huhhot Municipal Party Committee believes that: “Every city should have its specific characteristics. The ultimate aim in rebuilding our grassland city and provincial capital is to celebrate its history and reflect its diverse, buy mainly Mongolian, cultural atmosphere. This is manifest in the newly built Genghis Khan Avenue and Multicultural Characteristic Sight Area.” Judging from the culturally diverse style of the new city streets, Huhhot’s city planners have spared no effort in achieving their objective.

City Built within Five Years

In 2000, Huhhot city occupied a mere 83 sq km and its population was a sparse 1.06 million, the smallest among China's provincial and autonomous capitals. Today, its area has practically doubled to 159 sq km and its population stands at 1.5 million. This expansion constitutes the successful construction of a new city within a five-year time frame.

Genghis Khan Avenue is 13 kilometers long and accommodates two-directional four-lane traffic. At its western section are the city’s sports and city administration organs. Along its central stretch are cultural and education institutions and its eastern section is devoted to ecological projects. The architectural styles of the newly-built Inner Mongolia Gymnasium, Huhhot Stadium and International Conference Center all celebrate the rich Mongolian culture, and as well as the city’s innate character and energy.

The 287m long by 120 m wide Inner Mongolia Museum covers an area of over 50,000 square meters. Built at an investment of RMB 430 million, it is in traditional Inner Mongolian architectural style, and will become a citylandmark. Museum exhibits will focus on Mongolian history, culture, folk customs and modern development

The 60,000 seat capacity Huhhot Stadium is the main celebration venue for Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region’s 60th anniversary. Built at an investment of RMB 600 million, it is the largest and most functional stadium in west China.

The Inner Mongolia International Conference Center resembles a roc about to take flight. It was built at a total investment of RMB 490 million and covers an area of 60 hectares. The center held its first exhibition - the China Northern Tourism Fair -- on July 7th, 2007, and it was venue for the first China Ethnic Commodity Fair on August 2nd.

Provincial Capital and “Green City”

The storm of construction that has occurred in Huhhot in the past two years includes a business area, administrative zone and art and cultural center. There are now even more characteristic sight seeing areas in Huhhot now, such as the Nanhu Swamp Park and the Daqingshan Game park. Top-quality residential areas and luxury hotels have also appeared. A modern residential area with a green environment and complete facilities will have replaced the shabby bungalows currently standing in the city’s downtown area by the end of 2008. Affordable and low rent housing will also be available to residents on a low to medium income.