INNER Mongolia’s Xilingol League – recognised as the Chinese capital of horses for its famed Mongolian breed of horses and well-preserved grasslands – is keen to generate greater international awareness of the destination.
Domestic traffic currently comprises an approximate 80 per cent of tourism figures, according to deputy chairman of Xilingol League Tourism Bureau Inner Mongolia of China, Ge Relitu.
“We want to reach out to international markets more aggressively because we are still relatively unknown to them although we have so much to offer as a tourist destination,” he said.
“Our international tourists are mostly from South Korea and Japan but hopefully we can enter new markets soon.”
To reach out to more international tourists, Ge said the bureau is participating in more tradeshows to boost awareness of Xilingol and rolling out new itineraries to include more adventurous activities.
Xilingol, celebrated as China’s best preserved grassland area covering 202,580km2, offers key attractions such as horse riding, cow milking, goat shearing and hiking.
Ge said: “Tourists to Xilingol can even experience authentic culture by staying with a real Mongolian family.”
As the home ground for the Mongolian horse, one of the most important breeds found among the indigenous horses of China, Xilingol has held various equine events in recent years, which have become a big lure for horse lovers, Ge added.
