Wulanbutong Grassland Really Blow My Mind

One of my highlights of the recent China trip was spending 1 day in Wulanbutong grassland (乌兰布统草原）

Perhaps you may not have heard the name before, but if you’ve ever came across photos of vast lands, short grasses, herds of cattle, sheep and running horses, you have probably glimpse the grassland.

I was pretty contend to say I truly feel what is blue sky and green land after come back from Wulanbutong grassland. The air is fresh. The lake waters are clear, blue skies and white clouds, horses racing.

blue sky

Frozen lake water

The best word describes the Wulanbutong grassland is no pollution. It is in line with an ancient Chinese poem depict the grassland

"The sky is blue and the grass is boundless; when 

the grass bows in the wind, the horses and sheep 

will appear". 

The following is the recap of the Wulanbutong grassland visit:

1. Seeing the animals in the close distance

Seeing the cows on the way to the Wulanbutong grassland. Can you spot the differences cows and horses between China and Malaysia.

The answer is the cows and horses China have long, thick hairs so that they are bigger.

Do you what Papa says while he speculates the animals’ level of freedom?

“Have these horses, sheep and cows return nest every night?”

“They won’t be in the nest every night.”

“So good being animals”

“It’s even good becomes their employers. They have no worries about their animals’ safety and well-being”

Papa can’t sing animals’ praises high enough!

2. Counting down sunset

Feeling romantic counting down sunset with Mama and sisters in grassland China. It’s been a while since I catch sunset. So relax by not thinking all the study woes.

Gorgeous, isn’t?

3. Climbing highest stone

My useful advice in here are: 

1) applying sunblock and using shades to filter UV. Don’t underestimate the UV at Wulanbutong grassland as the jeep car driver. The UV of Wulanbutong grassland are strong and damaging despite the cooler weather. 

2) Wearing winter hats especially you climb up to the highest stone. This is to block the chilly winds.

wood trails for seeing the stone

I have no energy to climb to the highest level to watch the stone. Naruto and Mickey finally do it. Young is good. Climbing totally has no effect for them. Both of them laugh, singing and play with us shortly after climbing.

The two tour guides also accompany the tour members reach to the top for seeing the stone. One of the tour guide celebrates his success by climbing to the highest stone shouting “I’m here” loudly.

I thought “American Indians” reach over the highest stone. LOL. 

4. Wu Cai Mountain

It is the mountain with five types of trees colors. I’m not the only one who found less than five colors. The tour guide explained it is driven by the seasons. The best seasons can see all the five colors is spring and summer season.

5. White Birch Trees Woodland

It is very easy to identify the white birch trees. They are always eye catching. The white colors trunks and branches are strongly attracts attention in the woodlands. It turns to be the wonderful contrast to the fallen yellow pale colors leaves. 

This place is so cool, I must say.

Have you seen in the movies settings white birch trees can be scary too, evoking memory of death, symbolized monsters seduction?

Sisters laughter brings me back to photos taking reality. You are welcomed to copy the following photo poses.

First, Naruto’s kung fu master/practitioner poses. I get Naruto’s message “wind ar wind, you’re allowed to slap on me, I won’t hit you”.

Second, JoJo’s throwing fall leaves fake smiling poses.

Third, Mickey replicates JoJo throwing leaves poses but in genuine smiling.

Last but not least, sister's complete photo, all acting naturally 

6. Aobao

I don’t know isn’t too cold or exhausted, all the tour members don’t get down from the cars except sisters, I and Beijing tour guide.

What welcomed me is the stone tower, a long rope at the top with a piece of cloth, surrounded by multi colors flags.

Probably this is Aobao? My assumption is confirmed seeing the signboard.

Next to the signboard is the map of Wulanbutong grassland. It is necessary to take 2 or3 days to completely explore Wulanbutong grassland. Such a huge piece of land!!!

“I want to come again”. Naruto voices out. And in that infinite moment, it was love.

7. Additional information

a) Regarding accommodation, I stayed at You Yi Bin Guan (友谊宾馆）which I would highly recommend. The room is quite large whereas the bed is absolutely fantastic and very comfortable. The bed lines are the best ever I experience in China trip honestly. I sleep very well. The room has plenty of sockets in each side of the bed. Towels and toilet amenities i.e body and hair shampoo, tooth brushes are all there. Hotel breakfast, lunch and dinner are great.

Here’s the contact information You Yi Bin Guan:

No Hp: 13848864288

No fax: 0314-7805369

Website: www.bstzsy.com

You Yi Bin Guan (友谊宾馆）

Breakfast

Lunch 

b) If you want to explore Wulanbutong grassland, you better use the jeep cars with drivers driving you around. The drivers are the locals who know better than anyone about the grassland environment. I was quoted RM 176 per pax under the help of Chengde tour guide for 4 hours exploration.

JoJo & Jeep cars accommodate 4 persons 

c) Don’t go out at night times. Wolves scattered around Wulanbutong grassland. There’s nothing to explore at night. All the restaurants and shops are closed. In fact, the restaurants and shops stop operation during travel off season. 

Grassland song repeated in the jeep car. 

I can guarantee Wulanbutong grassland won’t bore you with possibilities. Do you want to feel what is blue sky and vast grassland? Or you want to close to the horses and sheep? Do you want to ride the jeep car on grassland’s bad road condition?

If any of this sound very interesting, you may come to Wulanbutong grassland. Give Wulanbutong grassland a chance, it may blow your mind.

China, Why You're Not Easy To Travel?

I have travelled to several countries so far but I have to say China is not the easy place to travel. Even though I do travel to Hong Kong, i.e part of China, I have higher level positive feelings about my times there.

I experience some Hong Kong amazing foods; the perfect breakfast set-scrambled eggs, 2 slices thick toasts, macaroni and ham soup where I can’t get in other parts of the world; French toasts which has deep fried until beautifully crispy and topped with butters and condensed milks; the awesome wanton noodles with freaking soft skins and springy noodles. 

I witness the peaceful, relax environment of Discovery Bay and wowed by it. The Hong Kong public toilets are very cleans results of efficiency and high productivity of cleaners. It is convenient to find the hand sanitizers and toilet papers in each Hong Kong public toilets.

However, when comes to China, it has huge differences in foods, culture, behaviors, buildings and streets compared to Hong Kong. I can conclude travelling to China is fascinating but at the same time is exhausting.

Yes, I would go back in one day to see other places but guarantee with the tour agencies. The tour agencies steer away the troubles and annoyances i.e. prices haggling and fake goods. This is the country I should armed with the knowledge and roughly knowing what to expect so that I can have some degree of control.

Honestly, I don’t prepare.  So, I thought to share some insights and musings why China is not easy to travel. 

1. The people are rude and impolite

This type of electric bicycle users are rude and careless in speeding. Father almost knocked down by them. No apologizes given after that.

China local tourists push and shove others for getting the front place during observing emperor's meeting room. They won't give chance to others no matter he or she been there for 10 minutes.

I have the bad impressions on China people due to the way they behave are impolite and rude. They earn the bad reputations decades and this considers my first time to deal with them. Here are some personal experiences I have encountered in Great Wall of China, supermarkets Beijing and flights.

In flight bound to Beijing 

a) While on the midnight flights bound to Beijing, the passengers are dominated by the China people. A China couple whom thirsty critiqued Air Asia crew members too slow in selling the drinks. So, they kept on requesting for many times. In fact, Air Asia crew members have their own selling goods and services procedures. That means, Air Asia crew members initially offer drinks to the pre-book meal passengers before selling to other on board passengers.

b) There are few young men behind my flight seat who talk and laugh loudly. They substitute with Ipad on Kung Fu movies if they don’t feel want to talk.   The unnecessary noises frustrated me. I can’t have the rest. It drives me to complain. “Could you lower down your voices and Ipad sounds. They are too loud. I can’t sleep.” My request is granted. Thank Buddha the young men understand my Mandarin and behave considerate.

c) China on board passengers insists to leave their seats for taking their personal belonging on compartments although the seat belt signs are on and English safety announcements being made. Since the Air Asia crew members learns that maybe the language problems, they announce the safety reminds in Mandarin. Believe it or not, very little of them remain in their seats for the reason of Mandarin announcements.

All these behaviors make me conclude they think they can do whatever they want because they have paid the flight tickets.

d) One night in supermarket Maliando street Beijing, my sister pick 3 bin tang hu lu, the staff yelled at my sister loudly “you only take 3 bin tang hu lu arh?” I don’t feel the staff feel guilty with such poor attitudes. The staff has no smile on her face, looking intense and closed up which corresponds with her way to treat my sister.

It draws attention from the vegetables, meat sellers and other staff who stared at us. We are the sources of the yelling. What’s wrong if only pick little bin tang hu lu? It doesn’t mention the minimum numbers each customers should take for bin tang hu lu.  Our solution is walk away, knowing arguing a lot bring troubles.

e) This is what the tour member describes to us. She has severe coughing and gets the medicine at Tong Ren Tang. Since she doubts with the medicine prescription, she clarify with the Tong Ren Tang. The staff reply her “where is your eyes? It writes down everything at the back of the medicine”.  If I was the tour member, I give up on purchase. So, don’t expect good customer service in China.

f) I notice a bad habit of the winter coats owners at the wholesale market Beijing. They talk bad about the customers behind their backs i.e. who just out from the shops seconds ago in the high pitch voices. Besides talking at the back, they talk in front of you. E.g., mummy wants to get the bigger size of the winter coats. The lady owner supposes to persuade and convinces mummy the small size is good to her. Tropical country citizens lack of knowledge in the winter coats aspect. Instead, she blames mummy is not the serious customers, playing her by giving more works for her.

g) China people are good at queue jumping. For instance, I entered the public toilets and queuing. Suddenly, a mid-aged tall woman who is not in the line walks straight in front of other toilets users. She is not even looking at other users. I don’t want her to make all to wait longer no matter with good reasons or no, I ask her to queue but she ignored me. Luckily, one tour member in front of me disallowed her to make her way to the toilets. She finally using her shoulder touched my shoulder strongly and a hate stare before leaving.

2. The “trough” style public toilets

It doesn’t refer to the toilets in the western brands fast food restaurants and restaurants.  This is different when I travelled to the rural areas of China-Wulanbutong grassland. I encountered “trough” style public toilets-squatting over the holes on the ground with no toilet doors; looking down the holes, there are many poo of unknown users and the pee smells filled the air. As the tour member said “going toilet China 10 times, puking 10 times”. We all unmarried lady feel shy to pee in such condition, but the old tour member teach us: whatever you have as woman I have, I won’t peek you, don’t worry. Also, no toilets papers there. No hand sanitizers. No soaps. No hand towels. So, it’s actually the great ideas to carry all of them before heading out. Another thing that shocks me-the women didn’t close the toilet doors even though the toilets do have the doors.

3. Disconnect from the world

Assessing whatsapp, google, facebook and youtube are restricted in China. Can you imagine the life without whatsapp, google, facebook and youtube? This drives me crazy. My sister vote China is the best place to away from the workplace. The bosses and colleagues have no chances to find you, earning the calm days. At least they are China sites are available-wechat, youku, weibo, just to name a few. It is suggest getting a good VPN in the hope of to keep up with people in facebook, whatsapp and youtube before arriving in China.

4. Lack of hygiene

What going on in the public place China are people constantly spitting all over the places. It’s unspeakable horrible listening to their coughing spitting sounds. Be careful walking as the roads full with spits. Littering is other part of life China as people throw garbage and cigarettes scattered everywhere.  

Despite the above problems, I still find China is a fascinating country to visit. It has lots of natural beauty to offer. Please bear in mind, this entry is not going to dissuade or discourage you not travelling to China. In contrast, you should explore this country that rich with histories and cultures. Meantime, you should prepare yourself with the above problems. 

Conversations in Beijing, Chengde & Wulanbutong Grassland

# 1

 Google image

“Look, there’s Beijing Electric Power Hospital!” 

“Haven’t seen in Malaysia” 

“Rosamond, do you know about that?” 

“No idea” 

“You guess” 

“China people come for this hospital to report electricity breakdown”. 

“It’s better to confirm with Beijing tour guide.” 

“What’s the function of Beijing Electric Power Hospital, Beijing tour guide” 

“It specifically caters for electricity companies’ staff. It’s part of their employees benefits-cheaper medical costs”

#2 

“Papa applies hair cream today. That’s why he seems different.” 

“Not the hair cream, his hairs getting oily results stopping washing last night”

#3 

“My father once travels with us to Peninsular Malaysia. The taxi driver asks how he lives in the trees after learning he comes from Sarawak.” 

“The trees are big enough, can make many rooms, kitchens and dining halls”. 

“Don’t deny the two idiots talks”

#4 

Wulanbutong grassland

“Are you interested to take photos in the grassland?” 

“Eik, so many people died in the grassland during Genghis Khan’s wars”.

#5 

 Summer Palace/Yi He Yuan

“I prefer Summer Palace (颐和园)”. 

“I want to stay my lifetime in there if possible”. 

“I can go for morning jogging, enjoying the wonderful views across the lake” 

“A place that live up to its name- 颐养天年(i.e retire)” 

“You quickly touch the tree to avoid Empress Cixi call you to be with her”.

#6 

“Come here, Beijing tour guide”. 

“Why these salty vegetables served with not sweetened corn porridges and mantou?” 

“This is the common dishes grassland breakfast”. 

“City people visit grassland for relaxation love to have corn porridge that rich in fibers” 

“It can add with sugars to become sweet corn porridge”. 

“Salty vegetables are the toppings for Mantou” 

“Fermented bean curd is the good stuff I tell you especially for women” 

“Eik, Eik, Eik” 

“Nah, take it. Please get more hard boiled eggs for us, the only thing we want to eat”

#7 

“Aren’t you all going out later?” *Nodding heads* 

“Please go with a group of people, at least minimum 3 people”. 

“lang appears at night times. You all have to be careful”. 

“What kind of night times “lang”? You’ve to tell us clearly?” 

“Lang is the wolves” 

“Ah I see. If se lang/色狼 (i.e pervert) I won’t scare”.

#8 

“Officially a “good man” since today been to Great Wall China” 

“There’s a famous Chinese saying “who has never been to Great Wall China is not the good man”. 

 “Aiya, it’s the marketing slogan entice you to China” 

“Cheat one, don’t believe.”

#9 

“Waiter, I need the rice scooper” 

“Wait a moment” 

“The sky turns bright if we wait them”. 

“Not bright but extremely bright”. 

“Let’s use soup scooper.” 

“You’re the first I noted in using soup scooper for getting the rice”.

#10 

“You don’t have to give me the tomato soup which looking spicy”. 

“That is the famous dish of China-Mian Ge Da”. 

“Try” 

“….”. 

“Does it taste good?” 

“Hmmm….nice. tasty.” 

“Give me more”.

#11 

 meeting room of Kang Xi emperor in Bi Su San Zhuang, Chengde

“Kang Xi emperor’s meeting room is smaller than the park” 

“HAHAHA.” 

#12 

 " Ini si bodoh,everyone climbs up the Great Wall China from right sides staircases except her". 

" I go up to teach her" 

"No, no, no" 

"It's fucking steep, you'll fall down"

(screaming in prohibiting is useless at the end) 

#thingswesay #conversations #beijing #Chengde #Wulanbutonggrassland