Though not especially easy to get to, the Resonant Sand Gorge (Xiangsha Wan) is a good place to get away from the din and crowds of the city.  Here, in this little chunk of the vast Gobi desert, travelers can try their hand at parasailing, dune sledding, or try going on a camel ride.  Though most locals consider these imposing dunes to be totally useless (you can't graze goats there??), simply listening to the susurrations of the desert’s shifting sands and forgetting… everything, can be reason enough to go.     Located about 50 kilometers south of the city, the easiest way to get there is probably to go ask about tours at the Baotou hotel, or you could call CITS (Tel: 04-72-511-54615) and ask about joining a tour with them.  Getting there independently is a little more involved, but will probably save you a little money. Take a bus going to ... more >>

The putative location of Genghis Khan's remains, Genghis Khan's Mausoleum is a little underwhelming considering the stature of this legendary figure, but will probably prove memorable nonetheless. What you'll find is a historical figure treated as a god, complete with bowing worshippers, offerings of fruit, random knick-knacks and bottles of alcohol. The story of his remains is one of considerable intrigue.  History has seen the Khan's remains abused and manipulated by a variety of interests for political ends. During WWII, the Japanese apparently had plans to set up a puppet Mongol state to be centered around a Genghis Khan shrine. The plans they drew up for an elaborate mausoleum to house his remains were later appropriated by the Chinese Communists - who built the mausoleum themselves in 1955 to curry favor with the Mongolian population. It was a succ... more >>

Wudangzhao, which means "Willow Lamasery" in Mongolian, is purported to be modeled after its distant Tibetan cousin, the Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse. Though the legion of local and foreign tourists that flood its grounds have a way of dampening its charm, Wudangzhao's 1,500 Buddhist statues and abundant fine murals, which depict historical myths and beautiful landscapes, make it worth the visit. Besides, escaping the crowds can be as easy as taking a few steps into the surrounding hillsides, verdant with abundant pines, cypresses, and of course, willows.   A result of the Mongolian conquest of Tibet in the thirteenth century, the style of Buddhism practiced here since 1749 is that of the Yellow Hat Sect (Gelukpa), nowadays practiced by the multitude of pilgrims that journey here every year. Among the temple's many halls are monks worshipping the lau... more >>