Atlas
Xilingol Steppe
The quintessential temperate steppe of the Inner Mongolian Plateau core — the central stage and geopolitical buffer zone of nomadic courts through Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties.
Prefecture: Xilingol League
Province: Inner MongoliaHerders guide a large herd across Xilingol’s rolling grassland, with grazing animals and white yurts scattered beneath cloud-bright hills.
Natural Wonder2
- Xilinhot Xilin River Nine Bends
Like a coiling dragon, the Xilin River loops through the heart of the Xilingol steppe, its lush banks grazed by cattle and sheep.
- Nalingole Primeval Steppe
Among China's best-preserved natural meadow steppes, Nalingole is also the breeding homeland of the Ujimqin white horse.
Residence1
- Xilingol Mongol Khan City & Erdun Oboo
Nomadic court culture from the age of Genghis Khan and steppe oboo worship rituals come alive at this folk culture center in Xilingol.
In its history3
- Kublai Khan1215–1294 CE
Part of Xilingol Steppe's history: Establishment of Dadu; Part of Xilingol Steppe's history: Marco Polo's Journey. Grandson of Chinggis Khan who became Great Khan in 1260, named his dynasty Yuan in 1271 and completed the conquest of the Southern Song in 1279
- Liu Bingzhong1216–1274 CE
Part of Xilingol Steppe's history: Establishment of Dadu. Founding chancellor of the Yuan Dynasty who designed the imperial capitals (Daidu and Shangdu) and shaped the provincial administrative system.
- Marco Polo1254–1324 CE
Part of Xilingol Steppe's history: Marco Polo's Journey. Venetian merchant's son who travelled with his father and uncle to Khubilai's court, stayed some seventeen years in Yuan lands, and dictated the account of his journeys in a Genoese prison
Yuan4
- Liu Bingzhong Builds Kaiping Prefecture1256–1260 CE
In 1256 Kublai commissioned Liu Bingzhong to design and build Kaiping Prefecture; the project was completed around 1259 and later became Yuan Shangdu.
- Establishment of Dadu
Kublai built Dadu northeast of the former Jin capital, using axial palaces and a gridded plan for the Yuan imperial center.
- Marco Polo's Journey
Marco Polo traveled overland to Yuan China, and the account produced after his return described Kublai's Asian realm to European readers.
- Marco Polo Meets Kublai at Shangdu1275 CE
In 1275, Marco Polo arrived at Yuan Shangdu with his father and uncle and met Kublai Khan.
Modern1
- Site of Xanadu Inscribed2012 CE
In 2012, the Site of Xanadu was inscribed for its grassland-capital plan and its evidence of interaction between Mongolian nomadic and Han Chinese agrarian cultures.