Yijinhuoluo Grassland in Ordos

Erdos is located in the southwestern part of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The Mongolian word "Erdos" means "many palaces." Erdos has a long history and diverse cultures. Visiting the desert scenery, feeling the coolness of Lake Engebei, and then riding a camel to explore the Mongolian folk customs, all combine to create a very special and memorable experience. Erdos also hosts the Yellow River Canyon, where visitors can admire the cliffs and attractions on both banks. There are also historical sites such as the Tomb of Genghis Khan, Site of the "Hetao People" and the Twelve Connected Cities.
English Name: Yijinhuoluo Grassland in Ordos
Chinese Name: 鄂尔多斯伊金霍洛草原
Recommended Visiting Hours: One day
Season: Spring and Autumn
Address: Xini Town in Hangjinqi, Ordos City, Inner Mongolia

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Yijinhuoluo-the Holy Land of the Mongols

Yijinhuoluo Grassland sets in the southeast part of the Ordos Plateau. There, little brooks surround green grass, and flocks and herds are leading a happy life. On the grassland, there is a unique and elegant palace, whose brilliance and grandeur can be seen from miles away, and this is the Holy Land of the Mongols—-the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan, where the god favored man of the time rests in peace.

Introduction of Yijinhuoluo Grassland

Mausoleum of Genghis Khan

The total area of the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan is over 55,000 square kilometers, and the floor space is more than 1500 square kilometers. The palace faces south, and is built on a one-meter-high rectangular base. It can be divided into 6 parts: the front palace, the east palace, the west palace, the palace where the royal couple sleeps, the east corridor and the west corridor. The height of the front palace is 26 meters, with a yurt-like vaulted roof and in the roof, there are also pretty column-shaped decorations and pictures of auspicious clouds inlaid with yellow-and-blue colored glaze. Under the roof, there are double-layered blue aniseed upturned eaves. The east and west palaces are a little lower than the front palace, but the roofs are the same, except that the eaves are single-layered. The three palaces are connected with each other. The stature of Genghis Khan is placed in the front palace, and in the sidewalls of the palace, there are frescos, indicating his great achievements. The back of the palace is directly connected with the palace where the royal couple sleeps, and there are four yurts covered by yellow silk. In the yurt, there are the coffins of Genghis Khan, his wife Boertie, his second wife Hulun, third wife Yixu, his brother Bieligutai, sister Hasaer, his fourth son Tuolei and daughter-in-law Yixihatu. In front of the yurts, there are many precious relics like Genghis Khan’s saddle etc. that are handed down through generations.

History and Legend

Genghis Khan is a great and legendary man. There are many stories and records about his death, the place he was buried, his coffin and so on. As is told, when Genghis Khan fought against Western Xia dynasty, he had passed Yijinhuoluo. He stopped his horse, looked around, and was reluctant to leave this beautiful grassland with lush grass, flowers and flocks. Just at that time, the horsewhip dropped from his hand, and he seemed to realize something, and chanted: “a place where flowers and deer inhabits, a home where hoopoes give birth to their babies, a terra where the declined dynasty revives, and a garden where gray-haired man enjoys his life.” And he told his servants: “after I died, bury me here.” After Genghis Khan was dead, the hearse carrying his corpse was on the way to return to Mongol, but when it came to the place where he had chanted the poem, the cartwheels suddenly sank into the mire, and no matter how many horses drew it, it remained still. Then, people recalled the words that Genghis Khan had said, and built a Mausoleum palace for him just at that place, and called it “Yijinhuoluo”(in Mongol, it means “the holy land of the emperor”). The old Ordos folk song sings like this:

The rich home where the golden deer wander and play,
The happy garden where the hoopoes sing their melody,
The holy place where the emperor was esteemed for generations,
That is Yijinhuoluo, where all pilgrims come to worship….

Legends are mysterious and interesting, but in fact, Genghis Khan was not buried there. According to the custom of the Mongol noble class, “there should be no tomb. Once the corpse is buried, hundreds of horses will trample on it and make it smooth. Then, a camel will be killed on spot and thousands of soldiers will guard it. In the next year, when the grass grows again, all the camps and soldiers will leave the place, and no one will know the exact place of the burial”, the real place where Genghis Khan rests has become a secret forever.

Solemn Ceremonies

Although because of the Mongolian custom of burial, Genghis Khan’s body is not really in the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan today. But during hundreds of years, the Mongols have always taken it as the place where their emperor rests in peace, and paid great respect and yearning for the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan. It is often wreathed by smokes and sacrifice activities never end. Till today, every year, there are four solemn ceremonies on March 21, May 15, August 12 and October 3 in the lunar calendar. On each day of the ceremony, many of the visitors come a long way here devotionally. They stand in front of the great man, present the pure white Hada, the bright candles, the fragrant joss sticks, the tallowy sheep, the yellow ghee, the mellow koumiss and such offerings. They recall his great talent and bold vision, and express their honor.

The Best Time to Visit Yijinhuoluo Grassland

Yijinhuoluo Grassland is located 9 kilometers southwest of Sini Town, Hangjin Banner, Ordos City, Inner Mongolia. In summer, the average temperature here is only over twenty degrees, so it is a good choice to take a summer vacation. Standing on the grassland, you can see the clear sky, white clouds, green grass, as if in the fairy tale world. The sunrise and sunset in the grassland are amazing. Looking up at the stars at night, the vast Milky Way hangs across the sky! Horse riding, archery and other recreational activities are also provided here. You can visit them when you have time.