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Shanghai
chaherige@outlook.com
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Aoden was my classmate during university in Inner Mongolia — a bright and spirited young woman of Mongolian heritage.
After graduation, we went our separate ways. She returned to her hometown: Dong Ujimqin Banner, located in the Xilin Gol grasslands.
In 2024, we reconnected. I visited her twice, across two different seasons, and spent time with her and her family.
Deep within the grasslands of Inner Mongolia, you begin to understand how the vastness of the land shapes the people who live there.
Many still maintain traditional nomadic customs and ways of life.
There is no need to make grand declarations about “cultural preservation” — their everyday routines speak for themselves.
Life here is, in itself, a quiet and enduring testament to Mongolian culture.