Inner Mongolia (Mongolian: Öbür Monggol, Chinese: 内蒙古自治区, pinyin: Nèiménggǔ zìzhìqū) is an autonomous region in the northern People's Republic of China, bordering Mongolia and Russia. It was founded on December 2, 1949. According to the 2020 census, Inner Mongolia had a population of 24.049 million. Its capital is Hohhot.
Inner Mongolia borders the Chinese provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin,
Liaoning, Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi and Gansu as well as the autonomous
region of Ningxia. Neighboring countries to the north are Mongolia and
Russia. The capital of the autonomous region is Hohhot. Overall, at the
district level, it is divided into nine independent cities and three
alliances (aimags):
Xilin-Gol Covenant
Hinggan Covenant
(兴安盟ᠬᠢᠩᠭᠠᠨ)
Alxa Covenant (阿拉善盟ᠠᠯᠠᠱᠠᠨ)
Hohhot (呼和浩特市 ᠺᠥᠺᠡᠬᠣᠲᠠ)
Baotou (包头市 ᠪᠣᠭᠣᠲᠣ)
Wuhai (乌海市 ᠦᠬᠠᠢ)
Chifeng (赤峰市ᠤᠯᠠᠭᠠᠨᠬᠠᠳᠠ)
Tongliao (通辽市 ᠲᠦᠨᠭᠯᠢᠶᠥᠥ)
Ordos (鄂尔多斯市
ᠣᠷᠳᠣᠰ)
Hulunbuir
Bayannur (巴彦淖尔市 ᠪᠠᠶᠠᠠᠨᠠᠭᠤᠷ)
Ulanqab (乌兰察布市
ᠤᠯᠠᠭᠠᠨᠴᠠᠪ)
Rail and road border crossings on the main route between Ulan Bator and Beijing are between Erlián/Dsamin-Üüd.
Inner Mongolia (Nei Menggu) covers an area of 1,181,104 km². This is 12% of China's territory, which is larger than France and Germany combined. Stretching from west to east at 28° (97°30' - 126°0' E), the region ranks second in the world among administrative-territorial units in this indicator, second only to Yakutia.
The climate here is sharply continental. Winters are very severe (by the standards of the latitude of the region) and with little snow, or no snow at all. Summers are hot and dry. The average annual temperature is +0…+8.0 °C, the average annual precipitation is 50…450 mm. Sandstorms are frequent, combined with blizzards in winter.
2,351 species of seed and fern-like plants grow here. Some of them are used as raw materials for the production of traditional Chinese medicine (ginseng, ephedra, licorice). There are 114 species of wild animals and more than 51 species of birds. Many of them are protected by the state (snow leopard, elk, tiger, maral, sika deer).
Most of the territory lies on the Mongolian Plateau. Mountainous terrain makes up 50%. The relief decreases from north to south. The highest point is Helanshan Peak (Alashan; 3556 m). In the west there are 5 large deserts: Badyn-Jaran, Tengger, Ulan-Bukh, Mu-Us and Gobi.
The region is rich in water, over 1000 large and small rivers flow through its territory, including the Yellow River. There are also about 1000 large and small lakes. The total surface water reserve is 67.1 billion cubic meters.
More than 120 types of minerals have been discovered in the region. Inner Mongolia ranks 2nd in the country in terms of coal reserves. In early 2000, a large natural gas deposit was discovered in the region, and there are also significant reserves of oil, rare earth metals, and energy resources.
The Xiongnu state (209 BC - 93 AD) ruled Inner Mongolia until the 1st
century AD. Mongolian scholars believe that the Xiongnu was a
proto-Mongol state.
The territory of modern Inner Mongolia was
part of the states founded by nomads: Xianbei (93-234), Northern Wei
(386-535), Liao (906-1125), the Mongol Empire (1206-1368), Northern Yuan
(1368-1691).
After the fall of the Yuan Empire, internecine
strife began in Inner Mongolia, and by the beginning of the 17th
century, the Mongol possessions became practically independent of each
other. As a result, the Manchu Khan Abahai conquered them and proclaimed
himself the Khan of Mongolia. The Manchus introduced a "banner" system
to the Mongols, similar to the one they used themselves. Inner Mongolia
was divided into 49 khoshuns ("banners"), which were part of six
chuulgans.
During the Xinhai Revolution of 1911-1912, Mongolia
declared its independence. The princes and Buddhist clergy of Inner
Mongolia participated in the declaration of independence and declared
their accession to a single Mongolian state, but Inner Mongolia, where
the majority of the population by that time was Chinese, remained part
of China. In 1928, after the unification of China under the rule of the
Kuomintang party, the authorities of the Republic of China divided Inner
Mongolia between the newly formed provinces of Suiyuan, Chahar and Jehe.
In 1931, Japanese troops occupied the Chinese Northeast. In 1932,
the state of Manchukuo was proclaimed there, which included the lands of
the northern half of the modern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. In
1933, Japanese troops began an offensive on the province of Rehe, and
the Tanggu Truce, which ended the hostilities, led to the activation of
Mongolian nationalists. In 1935, the North Chakhar Incident occurred,
after which, as a result of the Qin-Doihara Agreement, China effectively
lost control over Inner Mongolia. Taking advantage of this, Prince
Demchigdonrov created the Mongolian Military Administration in 1936.
After the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War in 1937, on September 4, the
Japanese authorities established the South Chahar Autonomous Government
in the territory they had occupied by that time, and on October 28, the
Second All-Mongolian Congress was convened under Japanese control, which
proclaimed the establishment of the Autonomous Government of the United
Mongolian Aimags. On September 1, 1939, the Autonomous Government of the
United Mongolian Aimags, the South Chahar Autonomous Government, and the
Northern Jin Autonomous Government merged into the Mengjiang United
Autonomous Government.
After the end of World War II and the
liquidation of the pro-Japanese puppet states, the Mongols were faced
with the question of their future. On September 9, 1945, the Congress of
People's Representatives of Aimags and Khoshuns of Inner Mongolia was
held in Sunid Yuqi. The congress was attended by over 80 people
representing all the khoshuns of Shilin Gol, 7 khoshuns of Chakhar, and
the Ulanchab khoshun Sizzywang. The three-day congress proclaimed the
establishment of the People's Republic of Inner Mongolia and elected a
provisional government. The Communist Party of China, which was closely
monitoring the situation, sent Ulanfu to Inner Mongolia. Arriving in
Sunid Yuqi in November, he managed to take control of the situation and
reorganized the Provisional Government of the People's Republic of Inner
Mongolia into the Mongolian Autonomous Government. Meanwhile,
representatives of the Mongols living in Xing'an Province (which during
the war was not part of Mengjiang, but of Manchukuo) went to Ulan Bator
in October 1945 with a proposal to annex the territories inhabited by
Mongols to the Mongolian People's Republic, but were refused. In
November, they met with representatives of the Northeastern Bureau of
the CPC in Shenyang, as a result of which it was decided to create an
autonomy that could then unite with other autonomous governments of the
Mongol-populated lands of China. On December 9, 1945, a preparatory
meeting of the Congress of People's Representatives of Eastern Mongolia
was held in Wanyamiao, and on January 16, 1946, the Congress itself was
held, attended by representatives of 36 khoshuns of Eastern Mongolia. On
January 19, the Congress elected the People's Autonomous Government of
Eastern Mongolia.
In March-April 1946, a session of the United
Assembly of the Inner Mongolia Autonomy Movement was held in Chengde,
which accumulated the structures of the Mongolian Autonomous Government
and the People's Autonomous Government of Eastern Mongolia. The Inner
Mongolia People's Self-Defense Army participated in the civil war
together with the communist troops, advancing to the southwest, and
gradually more and more lands came under the control of the Autonomous
Government. After the formation of the PRC, the Inner Mongolia
Autonomous Government was officially transformed into the People's
Government of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on December 2, 1949,
and the Autonomous Region government was located in Zhangjiakou.
In 1954-1955, the provinces of Ningxia, Suiyuan, Chahar and Jehe were
abolished, and their lands were mostly incorporated into Inner Mongolia.
After that, the government of Inner Mongolia moved to the former capital
of Suiyuan Province, the city of Guisui, which was renamed Hohhot. In
1969, the main part of Hulunbuir aimag was transferred to Heilongjiang
Province, and its southern part (the lands of the former Khingan aimag)
and Jirim aimag were transferred to Jilin Province, Juud aimag was
transferred to Liaoning Province, Alashan Zuoqi khoshun was transferred
to Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and Ejinqi and Alashan Yuqi khoshuns
were transferred to Gansu Province. In April 1970, the Oroqen and
Mori-Dawa-Dau autonomous khoshuns were removed from the Hulunbuir aimag
and transferred to the Da Hinggan Ling prefecture of Heilongjiang
Province. In 1979, the aimags and khoshuns were returned to Inner
Mongolia and restored to their 1969 borders, but the Jagdachi and
Songling districts of the Oroqen autonomous khoshun remained under the
control of the Da Hinggan Ling prefecture.
There are 35 universities, 8 postgraduate schools, 236 vocational schools, 1,500 secondary and senior schools, 5,850 preschools and primary schools in the region.
There are 110 art groups of various categories, 153 cultural institutions, 1,118 cinemas and concert halls, 31 museums, 109 public libraries, 140 archives and archive departments in the region. There are 13 broadband radio stations, 57 medium-wave and short-wave radio stations, and 14 television centers.
Inner Mongolia is one of the tourist regions of China. The main
attractions are the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan, the Tomb of Wang Zhaojun,
the Wu Dan Monastery and the Temple of the Five Pagodas, as well as the
Russian-Chinese market in the city of Manzhouli. Every summer, the
largest Mongolian national festival, Nadom, is held, which focuses on
wrestling, horse racing, and archery. In May 2007, a new museum opened
in Hohhot — the Huns (Xiongnu) Culture Museum.
The region is home
to the UNESCO-recognized Heshiketen National Geopark and the Arshan
Geopark, which is famous for its 76 hot springs that are beneficial to
health.
Newspapers and magazines are published in both Chinese and Mongolian in Inner Mongolia. The largest newspaper is the official organ of the Communist Party of China, the Neimenggu Ribao.
According to the 2020 census, Inner Mongolia had a population of
24.049 million. The region's population has declined since the 2010
census, when it was 24.706 million.
The region's main population
is Han (Chinese). Inner Mongolia is also home to 49 other official
nationalities, which together make up about one-fifth of its residents.
One of these "national minorities" is the Mongols.
Wulanfu (乌兰夫): 1947–1966
Xie Xuegong (解学恭): 1966–1967
Teng
Haiqing (滕海清): 1968–1969
Zheng Weishan (郑维山): 1969–1971
Yu
Taichung (尤太忠): 1971–1978
Zhou Hui (周惠): 1978–1986
Zhang Shuguang
(张曙光): 1986–1987
Wang Qun (王群): 1987–1994
Liu Mingzu (刘明祖):
1994-2001
Chu Bo (储波): 2001-2009
Hu Chunhua (胡春华): 2009-2012
Wang Jun: 2012-2016
Li Ziheng: 2016 - present
Ulanfu (乌兰夫): 1947-1966
Teng Haiqing (滕海清): 1967-1971
Yu
Taichung (尤太忠): 1971-1978
Kun Fei (孔飞): 1978-1982
Buhe (布赫):
1982-1993
Wuliji (乌力吉): 1993-1998
Yun Bulong (云布龙): 1998-2000
Wuyunqimg (乌云其木格): 2000-2003
Yang Jing (杨晶): 2003-2008
Bagatur
(巴特尔): 2008-2016
Bu Xiaolin: 2016-2019
Shi Taifeng: 2019-2022
Sun Shaocheng: March 26, 2022 – present
Alashan is home to the Jiuquan Cosmodrome and a ballistic missile testing site; Baotou is home to Plant No. 202 (producing nuclear weapons materials and fuel for nuclear power plants).
In 2006, the province's GDP was $60.4 billion (+ 23% compared to
2005). GDP per capita was $2,500 (+ 22.8%).
From 2012 to 2021,
the region's GRP increased from 1 trillion yuan (US$146 billion) to over
2 trillion yuan; 1.57 million poor residents in the region were lifted
out of poverty; the total installed capacity of power units reached 156
million kW, including 56 million kW from new energy sources; about 8.13
million hectares of forests and 19 million hectares of grass were
planted in Inner Mongolia to combat desertification; the proportion of
area covered by pasture vegetation increased from 40.3% to 45%, and the
forest cover rate increased from 20.8% to 23%.
The most developed
sectors of the economy are metallurgy, agriculture (growing sugar beets,
apples, pears, sea buckthorn, grapes, jujubes, belamcanda and peonies,
production of mutton and dairy products), light industry (cashmere
products).
In 2006, the added value of industrial production in Inner Mongolia
amounted to $23.4 billion (+ 31% compared to 2005). The greatest growth
was observed in the processing of agricultural products (including
livestock), energy production, metallurgy, electronic equipment and
mechanical engineering, as well as in the construction sector.
Inner Mongolia has industrial reserves of coal, natural gas, oil, rare
earth elements, as well as niobium, zirconium and beryllium.
PetroChina's Changqing oil and gas field is the largest in the country,
accounting for 1/6 of the country's total oil and gas production (over
62.4 million tons of oil equivalent were produced here in 2021). Some of
the natural resources are processed in the region, while others are
exported for processing to other provinces of China.
The most
important industries are thermal power, chemical and woodworking
industries, metallurgy, industrial equipment and armored vehicle
manufacturing, and the meat and dairy industry. The largest industrial
companies are Yili Group, China Mengniu Dairy, Baogang Group, Inner
Mongolia First Machinery Group, and Inner Mongolia Yitai Coal.
The thermal power industry is dominated by coal-fired power plants.
Due to strong winds in the lowland areas, Inner Mongolia has great
potential for the development of wind power. Large solar and wind power
plants have been built in desert areas.
In 2022, the power
generation capacity of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region exceeded 640
billion kWh, of which more than 130 billion kWh was generated by new
energy sources (ranking 1st in China). As of June 2023, the installed
capacity of power plants using new energy sources in Inner Mongolia
Autonomous Region was about 70 million kWh.
As of 2006, the added value of production in the agro-industrial
sector amounted to $9 billion (+ 16% compared to 2005). The greatest
growth was observed in the production of beets (+ 50%), paddy rice,
soybeans, fruits, milk (+ 50%) and meat.
In the river
valleys, agriculture predominates; wheat, rice, beets and soybeans
are grown here. In the arid regions, pasture livestock farming is
important; cows, sheep and goats are bred in the region, as well as
horses, camels and deer (mainly in the Evenki Autonomous Khoshun).
Inner Mongolia accounts for about 1/5 of all pastures in China.
In the Greater Khingan region, forestry and hunting are
developed. In the Wuhai district, grape growing and winemaking have
developed. The Inner Mongolian authorities are actively promoting
the construction of “digital villages”, “smart” farms and
greenhouses, introducing digital technologies in various areas of
agriculture (breeding sheep, fish, shrimp, crabs and ducks, growing
rice, managing the microclimate in greenhouses). Corn, soybeans,
potatoes, millet, sorghum and mung beans are exported from Inner
Mongolia to other regions of China.
Baotou National Rare Earth Industrial Development Zone
Erenhot
Border Economic Cooperation Zone
Manzhouli Border Economic
Cooperation Zone
Hohhot Export Processing Zone
Hohhot Economic and
Technological Development Zone
The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region's foreign trade with Belt and
Road countries from 2014 to October 2021 reached 478.6 billion yuan
(about 74.9 billion US dollars), accounting for 63.1% of the region's
total foreign trade during the period. Private enterprises maintained a
leading position in Inner Mongolia's foreign trade. Their trade volume
with Belt and Road countries reached 412.5 billion yuan from 2014 to
October 2021, accounting for 86.2% of the region's total trade with
these countries. Inner Mongolia mainly sells agricultural products to
Middle Eastern countries, and steel and electromechanical products to
Southeast Asian countries. Imports from Belt and Road countries mainly
include coal, crude oil, copper ore, and wood products.
In 2023,
the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region's foreign trade volume was 196.53
billion yuan (US$27.32 billion), up 30.4% year on year; exports
increased 28.1% year on year to 78.57 billion yuan, while imports
increased 32% to 117.96 billion yuan. The region's trade volume with
Mongolia was 69.9 billion yuan, up 50.7% year-on-year, while with Russia
it was 34.66 billion yuan, up 77.3% compared with 2022. Ereenhot Port
handled a total of 3,294 China-Europe freight trains, up 30.8%
year-on-year, while Manzhouli Port handled 5,001 China-Europe freight
trains, up 3% compared with 2022. The freight volume through Inner
Mongolia's border crossings exceeded 100 million tons for the first time
in 2023.