Inner Mongolia

The horse that saved me on the Mongolian steppe

Raised in a remote Mongolian temple, writer and adventurer Bateer Chai grew up among horses that define life on the steppe. One black horse became his guardian, shielding him from wolves and shaping his childhood forever. As we enter the Year of the Horse, he reflects on the bond between Mongolians and their horses — a relationship that is both life-defining and timeless.

Bateer Chai

16 Feb 2026

Controversial mind-body therapy attracts over 1 million Chinese seeking miraculous cures

Ajitai Health Group’s Mongolian mind-body interactive (MBI) therapy is captivating over a million Chinese with promises of miraculous cures. This controversial programme, blending modern psychology with traditional medicine, stirs debate between faith and science. While patients flock to its sessions for hope, critics warn of the dangers of its unverified claims.

Caixin Global

18 Jul 2025

Between a rock and a hard place: Mongolia's ambivalent relations with China

Sandwiched between Russia to the north and China to the south, landlocked Mongolia has always had tough choices to make in its foreign policy strategies. Towards China, which it used to be a part of and continues to share kinship ties with the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia, it harbours historical suspicion. But with China being its top export destination and key investment partner, the head may rule the heart.

Loro Horta

24 Nov 2021

Inner Mongolia's new language policy: Will it endanger Mongolian culture and language?

Inner Mongolian students were told that they will be taught in Mandarin instead of the Mongolian language using national textbooks. This policy seems to be for the greater good of fostering national unity in China, but the implementation methods can certainly be better refined. Zaobao correspondent Edwin Ong examines the issue.

Edwin Ong

04 Sep 2020