Day 2 of the Travelogue of China tour showcased Inner Mongolia’s striking blend of ancient heritage and cutting-edge innovation, from high-tech data hubs to the vast, untouched grasslands.
By Aoon Sherazi
HOHHOT – Jointly organized by the China Public Diplomacy Association and Global Times Online, this five-day expedition isn’t just a media junket—it’s a firsthand look at the blueprint for China’s next chapter.
Our journey began at the Yungu Exploration Port in Hohhot’s fast-emerging Data Town—a digital exhibition space that redefines the tourism experience. And this wasn’t your typical VR demo.
As a journalist from Pakistan, representing Such News and leading its Investigation Cell, I’ve explored high-tech environments before—but what I witnessed here was on another level. Picture a hyper-real digital world, where every movement responds intuitively and every visual feels astonishingly lifelike. This was more than virtual reality—it was a taste of tomorrow.
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Yungu stands as proof: China’s tech ambitions are not just massive—they’re meaningful.
Next on the trail was the Inner Mongolia Data Exchange Center—the only government-sanctioned data trading platform in the region. Think of it as a Wall Street for big data.
This is where data is registered, traded, matched, and monetized in a regulated digital marketplace. It’s an engine room for Inner Mongolia’s digital economy—fueling innovation, attracting partnerships, and setting the region up as a smart-data frontier.
The tempo shifted as we stepped into the serene Hohhot International Sculpture Park—an artistic marvel built to blend into its environment. Grasses drape rooftops, and the architecture mimics the motion of an eagle gliding across the sky.
Here, culture doesn’t shout—it whispers through thoughtful design, paying tribute to the steppe’s past while hinting at the future.
Ecological restoration took center stage at M-Grass, a homegrown giant tackling China’s most pressing environmental challenges. With more than 2,200 native plant species preserved, over 950 patents filed, and land rehab strategies tailored for mining sites, deserts, and degraded grasslands—M-Grass is a green pioneer.
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Their “one land, one plan” model, supported by cutting-edge seed technology and soil regeneration science, has already helped restore over 2.2 million hectares across China. This isn’t corporate greenwashing—it’s ecological action.
Our final stop was the stunning Chilechuan Grassland, just outside Hohhot. Locals call it the “Back Garden” of the Blue City—and for good reason. Rolling green fields stretch endlessly, capped by the awe-inspiring Hohhotara Conference Center, housed in China’s largest traditional yurt.
And just when we thought the day couldn’t surprise us further—we cruised the landscape in driverless vehicles, a surreal collision of raw nature and refined technology.
From high-tech hubs to centuries-old traditions, this leg of the Travelogue of China tour offered a vivid glimpse into how Inner Mongolia is shaping its future—boldly, thoughtfully, and without losing its soul.
Our delegation of 130 journalists from 80 countries has seen 17 Chinese regions so far. As we rolled into Ulanqab by nightfall, one thing was clear: this journey is far from over.
