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        Inner Mongolia

Inner Mongolia, or Nei Mongol, is an Autonomous Region in northern China. It has a population of over 20 million people, of whom about 2.7 million are Mongols.

Much of the area consists of high plateau or steppe, some of which is over 1000 m above sea level. The region has a severe climate, with long cold winters, low rainfall, and frequent droughts. The climate becomes more arid towards the west.

The capital of Inner Mongolia, and its largest city, is Hohhot. Baotou, in central Inner Mongolia, is the major industrial city of the region, with a large iron and steel complex. However, much of the population is still engaged in more traditional pastoral activities, especially raising sheep, cattle, camels and horses, on the temperate grasslands or steppes. These herds provide wool and leather, as well as meat and dairy products. Inner Mongolia is the largest producer of sheep wool, goat wool, and cashmere in China.

Data sources: The Contemporary Atlas of China, edited by N. Sivin, F. Wood, P. Brooke, and C. Ronan. Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London, 1988. Physical Geography of China, Zhao Songqiao. John Wiley, New York, 1986.