Fascinating adventures within and around Baotou
Back in Baotou, the city’s main hotel would again offer a comfortable night before a totally different residential experience the following evening. Just south of the city, a busy road crossed the Yellow river before striking towards what at first looked an almost forbidding landscape. Shimmering great dunes were reaching for the cloudless sky. We were heading in the direction of a real sand desert! From the road that would lead ultimately to Dongsheng, an unpaved track diverted westwards, seemingly towards the sand hills. This led across a wide, mostly dry river bed when suddenly, ahead trees and even grass appeared. This was an oasis, an area where there was water, allowing life to take hold. Set amidst the trees were a group of circular yurts, I would stay in one overnight. Carpets covered the floor on which stood a small tea table. The ‘bed’ was a slightly raised platform covered by a warm quilt.
