Hohhot-Foreign reporters gained direct insight into the most dynamic developments in Mongolia on the second day of their “Traverogue of China” tour, co-organized by the China Public Diplomatic Association (CPDA) and Global Times Online.
From digital frontiers to ecological wonders, this journey uncovered how this autonomous region writes new chapters of China’s development, while maintaining its rich cultural heritage.
Yungu Exploration Port: Digital Innovation Meets the Cultural Experience
Yungu Exploration Port in Datatown within the Horinger New area was the starting point for the tour. The cutting-edge digital exhibition centre is designed to increase the availability of high-quality digital content and enrich the experience of consumers within the cultural and tourism industry.
As an Iranian journalist and representative of the Tehran Times, I had the opportunity to experience groundbreaking VR technology at the Yungu Exploration Port. The level of immersion is unparalleled, and it seamlessly blends cutting-edge visuals, intuitive interactivity, and a responsive environment that feels amazingly realistic. This was not just a VR, but a visionary leap into the future of digital exploration.
Hohhot’s data town is clearly a hub for innovation to flourish, and Yungu Exploration Port proves that China’s technical ambitions are not virtual. A must-see for anyone who is passionate about where technology is heading next!
Mongolia’s data exchange centres promote innovation
The Inner Mongolian Data Exchange Centre, the region’s only government-approved data trading platform, was its next destination. Supports data markets and digital economy by providing services such as data registration, trading, automated matching, and computing resource transactions. By integrating regional and industry-specific data, the centre expands product types, trading domains and partnerships and drives market growth. The goal is to create a secure, efficient and compliant data exchange hub that will serve the inner Mongolian language and beyond.
Travelling through Hohhot’s Sculpture Park
The tour also took me to Hohhot International Sculpture Park, which embodies the essence of “Northern Frontier Culture” through a harmonious fusion of architecture and nature. This design is thoughtfully adapted to natural terrain and creates a seamless bond between the constructed structure and the surrounding landscape.
The 37,000 square metres of lush greenery, the park grows blankets and grounds, and when viewed from afar, it shows the building as a natural extension of the grassland. The sloping roof stretched north and south from the central axis, evoking a strong silhouette of an eagle in flight, whose wings extended the vast grasslands.
This restrained but impressive architectural approach reflects both a respectful and a bold and dynamic vision for the region’s heritage.
M-Grass: Pioneer of ecological recovery
We were warmly welcomed when we toured the M-Glass Group. The M-Grass group has established a comprehensive system for protecting, propagating and promoting indigenous plant species through the internal Mongolian subbank of China’s National Germstone Resources Bank. This important repository protects an extensive collection of over 2,200 plant species, over 60,000 germplasm subscriptions, over 150,000 biological specimens, and 1.5 million soil samples, supporting important research into ecological recovery, forage development, traditional Chinese medicine and specialized crops.
The company has led the industry with 513 established standards, including the National Technical Specification for Restoration of Degraded Grasslands (GB/T 37067-2018), and has filed 968 patents ranked sixth in the world for grass seed technology. As the operator of China’s first national intellectual property centre for grass industry, M-Grass has developed 295 native plant varieties, including 105 unique species and 25 varieties officially recommended for China’s third shelter belt forest programme.
Through its 18,700 hectares of production base, M-Grass offers a customized “One Land, One Plan” repair solution. These scientifically developed approaches restore 2.2 million hectares of degraded grasslands, mining sites, deserts, saltwater-alkaline lands across China, demonstrating the company’s leadership in sustainable land management and ecological recovery.
Hohhot’s Hidden Jewels: The Chilechuan Grassland Experience
The Killechuan grassland was the final destination toured by foreign reporters on Tuesday. Located in the village of Yematu, just outside Hohhot, it offers city residents the closest expanse of untouched wilderness. Known as both the “10,000 Grasslands” and the beloved “backyards” of Hohot (“Blue City”), this picturesque landscape served as the honorable host of Inner Mongolia’s 70th anniversary ceremony.
Visitors will be greeted by the endless emerald meadows of the Hohotara Conference Centre located within China’s largest traditional yurt, and the architecture wonders of the Hohotara Conference Centre. This unique combination of natural beauty and cultural significance makes Chilechuan an ideal retreat to experience the charm of a genuine meadow just minutes from the city.
The thrilling tour reached Crescendo in an unforgettable finale. The journalists glided through state-of-the-art unmanned vehicles along the scenic roads of the Chilechuan grasslands, experiencing first-hand in the future. This fascinating journey not only demonstrates China’s groundbreaking technical capabilities, but also paints a vivid picture of how innovation and tradition harmonize and unite, demonstrating that progress can enhance heritage rather than erase it.
A recent visit to International Mongolia is a key milestone in the “Travelogue of China” initiative, which has explored 17 regions of China involving 130 journalists from 80 countries on five continents over the past two years.
We arrived at Hohhot on Monday and began our five-day journey through the breathtaking scenery and vibrant culture of inner Mongolia. By Tuesday night, our adventure had taken us to Urancab. There, many more discoveries await us.