Inner mongolia

Travel to Inner Mongolia

Experience the Mongolian and Han Chinese culture in Inner Mongolia’s Baotou in our newest 2-week program. Great for educational professional development for teachers and cultural exchange trips for students. Immerse in Mandarin Chinese, enhance your Chinese language classroom or engage in field studies in vast grassland.

Cultural Exploration

Explore the unique Mongolian-Han rural, nomadic culture

Service Learning

Engage in field studies, earn college credit and study Mandarin Chinese

About this Program

Spend two weeks in Inner Mongolia’s Baotou!

Explore the Mongolian-Han culture in the heart of Inner Mongolia at Baotou Normal University, surrounded by vast grasslands. Enjoy Mongolian cuisine, visit heritage sites, and experience the gorgeous landscapes. Learn about the history and cultural traditions of Inner Mongolia and gain insights into frontier history and the dynamic integration of Mongolian and Han cultures of today first-hand.

Originally designed for US-based Mandarin Chinese language teachers and pre-service teachers, college students can join also and can earn 4 graduate-level master’s credits in this program. Junior high and high school students are also welcome. Optional PD Teacher Trips are exclusively open to teachers of Chinese language and culture, social studies, and science teachers wanting to travel together, or are interested in developing a student service-learning trip to Baotou, China.

Popular Program Destinations

Baotou Normal University: This teacher-training university focuses mainly on Advanced Chinese, education, arts, sciences, and teacher preparation. It plays an important role in preparing taechers and professionals for regional development in Inner Mongolia.
Advanced Study on Chinese Language and Culture: Mandarin Chinese and Culture, Integrating Grassland Culture into the AP Chinese Curriculum: Exploring Themes of Family, Community, and Environmental Stewardship, Integrating Cultural Immersion into World Language Classrooms, Leveraging AI and Digital Media and more!
Wudangzhao Monastery: One of the most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in northern China and the largest in Inner Mongolia. Located in the mountains northeast of Baotou, it belongs to the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, the same tradition as the Dalai Lama.
Saihantala Urban Grassland: One of the largest urban grassland parks in Asia and a unique ecological landmark in Baotou. It combines natural prairie landscapes with city accessibility, offering a rare “grassland in the city” experience. Preserves a natural steppe ecosystem featuring native vegetation and wildlife habitats, small lakes and wetlands, and grazing animals.
Xiangshawan Desert: Famous for its acoustic sand dunes! Listen to the drums and humming of the dry sand as it slides down the steep slopes. See towering golden dunes, dramatic desert scenery.
Mausoleum of Genghis Khan: A major cultural and historical site dedicated to Genghis Khan, the 13th-century conqueror who established the vast Mongol Empire. Serves as a memorial shrine with cultural artifacts and historical displays within yurt-shaped halls.
Optional Trip to Xilamuren Grassland: Located North of Baotou and features wide, open grasslands, rolling hills, and seasonal wildflowers. Offers horse-back riding, traditional performances, and typical local foods like roasted lamb, Mongolian-style milk tea and dairy products.