Ningxia and Inner Mongolia - Oct 2009

During the October holidays, we joined CCC (China Culture Center) for a 3D2N trip to Ningxia and Inner Mongolia. The day started on 3^rd Oct, where we woke up at 5am and got to the airport around 6am+. The journey to Yinchuan, the capital city of Ningxia took 1.5 hours.

We reached Yinchuan at 10am and our first destination was the ‘Water Cave Gully’ (水洞沟). It was at this place where some foreign archaeologist discovered some dinosaur fossils.

Here, we explored the ruins of the Ming Great Wall made of clay soil and it was used to defend against the Mongols.

We then took a boat ride across the lake where we then ‘boarded’ some donkey carts until we reached an ‘interchange’ and took another camel ride towards the ancient war tunnel.

This is the pathway towards the ancient war tunnels. It is a labyrinth like underground tunnel system where it used to be an army base during the Ming dynasty. It was amazing how they managed to built such a huge underground tunnel and we could see skeletal remains of enemies down in the underground trap.

Hubby walking out from the underground tunnel. It was nice sunny, cool day with beautiful blue sky.

After a late lunch, we headed to Inner Mongolia towards the Tengger Desert. To enter into the middle of the desert oasis, we took a jeep ride. This is truly a live roller coaster ride where the jeep drove up and down the sand dunes at high speed. It was challenging and we really need strong arms to hold on. It was so bumpy and fun during the first 15 minutes, but towards the end of the journey, I almost puke!

When we reached the hotel, we were greeted by the locals who presented us with a welcome scarf, sort of like a tradition thing.

This was our hotel.

It was about 7pm by the time we checked into our rooms and we decided to walk to the Moon Lake situated behind the hotel. This place was infested with mosquitoes at this time and the mosquitoes repellent was useless!! We couldn’t take it and ran back to the hotel. It was terrible! Anyway, I managed to snap a few pictures.

These are some of the camps outside the hotels. It must have been an experience for those who stayed there but unfortunately, it wasn't not part of our itinerary.

We woke up early on day 2 for breakfast and headed for a camel ride across the Tengger Desert to the Sun Lake.

The initial 15 minutes ride was fun, but then I started to get bored as we were riding non-stop for more than an hour. I ended up with a sore buttocks… not easy ok! You gotta balance your body well when the camels are going uphill and downhill and it was not a smooth ride. Camel rides are really bumpy!

Took a couple of pictures of the dessert. The view was surreal and I thought I could only see them on screen savers or computer wallpaper. Couldn’t believe I was there. What a great experience!

This is one of my favourite pic. Dear Hubby walking alone in the middle of the desert.

We returned to the hotel by jeep (can't take another camel ride) and took the boat across the Moon Lake where they have a resort like area full of activities.

After lunch, we checked out from the hotel and left Inner Mongolia. We went back to Ningxia to the Xixia Tomb site where the Western Xia emperors were buried. These tombs were also nicknamed 'Oriental Pyramid'. Hundreds of such tombs lie within this area.

We headed back to Yinchuan and had a muslim dinner near the city's Bell Tower.

On day 3, we headed to Mount Helan where thousands of ancient palaeolithic carvings where found. The sky in this area was eerie... with streaks of clouds.

Here are few of the wall carvings. These are not replicas, they are the originals.

Another carvings of deer and deer hunting. Take a closer look...

There were also ancient Ming Dynasty carvings on these walls, showing that they were also trying to interpret the ancient wall carvings.

Another area with loads of carvings...

Souvenirs at the bottom of Mount Helan. We bought a carving replica decorative.

Our last stop was the nearby twin pagodas of Baisikou. Took a couple of pictures here as the sky was really beautiful. I was glad that we had clear blue skies on all 3 days of the tour.

I was glad that we joined this tour. Me and Hubby had great fun! It was truly an experience for us... all the camel rides, donkey cart rides, jeep rides, walking across the desert... it was something that we had never experience.