Hohhot (呼和浩特)

1. Introduction

Hohhot (Mongolian: ᠬᠥᠬᠡᠬᠣᠲᠠ, Chinese Pinyin: Hohhôt, Bawden transcription: Kökeqota, Cyrillic: Хөх хот, meaning "Blue City"), commonly referred to as Hushi, formerly known as Guisui, and also nicknamed Blue City or Zhao City, is the capital of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, located in the south-central part of Inner Mongolia. The city borders Ordos City to the southwest, Baotou City to the northwest, Ulanqab City to the northeast, and reaches Xinzhou City and Shuozhou City in Shanxi Province to the southeast. Situated on the southern edge of the Mongolian Plateau and at the southern foot of the Yin Mountains, the northern part of the city is dominated by the Daqing Mountains, the southeast by the Manhan Mountains, and the southwest by the Tumochuan Plain. The Yellow River flows along its southwestern border, while the Dahei River runs from northeast to southwest through the urban area and empties into the Yellow River. The Han ethnic group constitutes approximately 87% of the city's population, and the Mongolian ethnic group about 10%. The municipal government is located at No. 1 Xinhua East Street, Xincheng District. The main urban area of Hohhot was formed by the merger of the two cities of Guihua and Suiyuan during the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, hence its former name "Guisui." Hohhot lies at the junction of agricultural and pastoral cultures and has historically been under the alternating control of Central Plains dynasties, infiltration dynasties, and conquest dynasties. As a result, it exhibits strong cultural integration. In addition to Han culture, Mongolian culture, the Islamic culture of Xinjiang (the Western Regions), and Tibetan Buddhism have also exerted significant influence on the city.

2. Etymology

Hohhot means "Blue City" in Mongolian, where "Hoh" (Mongolian: ᠬᠥᠬ, Poppe transcription: köke, Cyrillic: Хөх) means blue, and "hot" (Mongolian: ᠬᠣᠲᠠ, Poppe transcription: qota, Cyrillic: хот) means settlement, city, or town. The name derives from the city's location north of the Daqing Mountains. The name Hohhot first appeared in the Mongolian historical text "The Biography of Altan Khan," which records: "The great and renowned holy lord Altan Khan, in the Water Monkey Year (i.e., 1572 AD, the sixth year of the Ming Dynasty's Longqing era), gathered unparalleled skilled craftsmen and artisans. Imitating the lost capital Dadu (present-day Beijing), he began constructing the magnificent and beautiful Hohhot, with its eight towers and glazed gold and silver halls, on the southern side of the Haran Mountains and along the banks of the Khatun River." The reference to Hohhot in "The Biography of Altan Khan" is the earliest recorded mention of the name found to date.

3. History

The area around the Yinshan Mountains in Hohhot has a long history of ancient human activity. In 1973, the "Dayao Culture," dating back 500,000 years, was discovered northeast of Hohhot. This culture existed from the early to late Paleolithic period, contemporaneous with the Peking Man at Zhoukoudian in Beijing.

Before the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, some northern nomadic tribes, such as the Xiongnu, Linhu, and Loufan, lived a nomadic life in what is now the Hohhot region. During the Warring States period, King Wuling of Zhao promoted the adoption of "nomadic clothing and cavalry archery." After defeating the Linhu and Loufan nomadic tribes, he established Yunzhong City in present-day Tuoketuo County, Hohhot. The Huaxia people of the Central Plains began to settle in Hohhot. The "Zhao Great Wall" passes through the Daqing Mountains north of Hohhot.

In 221 BCE, Qin Shi Huang unified China and established 36 commanderies, among which Yunzhong Commandery was located near Hohhot. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, Yunzhong served as an outpost for defending against the Xiongnu and as a base for expeditions against them. The remains of an earthen city from the Western Han Dynasty can still be found in Tali Village, present-day Xincheng District. The early Northern Wei capital, "Shengle," was located 40 kilometers south of Hohhot, north of Shangtucheng Village in present-day Helingeer County and west of the Shengle Economic Zone. During the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty, the Tang army defeated the Turks at Baidao (present-day Wugongba north of Hohhot City). In 708 (the second year of the Jinglong era), the Tang Dynasty established three "Surrender Cities"—east, central, and west—in the Hetao region. The Liao Dynasty's "Fengzhou" was also located here. In the early 10th century, the Liao state established Tiande Army and Fengzhou here. The old site of Fengzhou is near present-day Baita Village, approximately 20 kilometers southeast of Hohhot. In the early 12th century, the Jurchens overthrew the Liao and established the Jin Dynasty, still referring to the area as Fengzhou. It was a military stronghold and one of the densely populated, commercially prosperous prefectures of the time. During the Yuan Dynasty, Fengzhou experienced rapid economic and cultural development. The scholar Liu Bingzhong wrote in a poem: "The pagoda in the temple stands tall against the clear sky, / The city tower gleams under the morning sun. / Amidst the clamor of carriages and horses, untouched by dust, / With a whip in hand, I pass through Fengzhou."

After the Yuan Dynasty was overthrown by the Ming Dynasty, the Mongols retreated beyond the Great Wall, continuing the Northern Yuan regime. The Ming Dynasty established over 40 garrisons in the southern Mongolian region, which were divided among the Thirteen Great Frontier Princes. At that time, Hohhot was under the jurisdiction of the Prince of Jin and served as the location of Dongsheng Garrison. In 1388, the Northern Yuan split into the eastern Tatars and the western Oirats. By the end of the 15th century, Dayan Khan unified eastern Mongolia, achieving a "revival." In 1572, Altan Khan (grandson of Dayan Khan), the leader of the southern Mongols, led the Tumet tribe to settle in Hohhot and built the city of "Hohhot" in present-day Yuquan District. From then on, the Tumet tribe transitioned from nomadic life on the grasslands to settled living. Altan Khan had previously established a tributary relationship with the Ming Dynasty and was granted the title "Shunyi Wang" (Prince of Obedience and Righteousness). During the Wanli era, the Ming government bestowed the Chinese name "Guihua" (meaning "to submit and assimilate") upon Hohhot, signifying the expectation for ethnic minorities to submit, assimilate, and obey Ming rule. This city became known as Guihua City (the Old City).

From the 13th year of the Yongzheng era (1735) to the fourth year of the Qianlong era in the Qing Dynasty, a new military garrison city was built east of Guihua City and named "Suiyuan City" (the New City). Later, the two cities of "Guihua" and "Suiyuan" were merged into Guihua County.

In 1913, the Republic of China renamed it Guisui County. In 1928, Suiyuan Province was established, with Guisui City designated as its capital, formed from the urban area of Guisui County. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Japanese-controlled Mengjiang regime renamed Guisui City "Houhe Special City." After Japan's defeat, the name Guisui City was restored. In 1950, the People's Republic of China abolished the county and established Guisui City. In 1954, Inner Mongolia and Suiyuan merged. The People's Government of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region moved here from Zhangjiakou City, establishing Hohhot City as the capital of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

• In 1960, the Tumet Banner, originally part of the Ulanqab League, was transferred to Hohhot City.
• In 1963, the Tumet Banner was transferred back to the Ulanqab League.
• In 1970, Tumet Left Banner and Tuoketuo County, under the Ulanqab League, were transferred to Hohhot City.
• On November 21, 1995, Helingeer County and Qingshuihe County, under the Ulanqab League, were transferred to Hohhot City.
• On May 18, 1996, Wuchuan County, under the Ulanqab League, was transferred to Hohhot City.

4. Geography

Hohhot is located in the south-central part of Inner Mongolia. To its north lies the Daqing Mountains of the Yin Mountains range. It borders Baotou City and Ordos City to the west, Ulanqab City to the east, and the Hetao region to the south. The city covers a total area of 17,224 square kilometers, with terrain gradually sloping from northeast to southwest and an average elevation of about 1,000 meters. Major rivers include the Dahei River and Xiaohei River. The Red Scarf Reservoir, constructed in 1958, has a storage capacity of 16.5 million cubic meters and irrigates an area of 110,000 mu.

Hohhot experiences a mid-temperate semi-arid climate with four distinct seasons and significant monsoon influence. Winters are cold, dry, and often windy. Summers are warm and relatively humid, with precipitation accounting for over 65% of the annual total. The area enjoys ample sunshine throughout the year, with annual sunshine hours exceeding 2,860. The average annual precipitation ranges from 335.2 mm to 534.6 mm, concentrated mainly in July and August. The southwestern area receives about 350 mm of precipitation annually, the plains around 400 mm, and the Daqing Mountains area between 430 mm and 500 mm.

The average January temperature is -11.6°C, with an extreme low of -32.8°C recorded on February 6, 1951. The average July temperature is 22.6°C, with an extreme high of 38.9°C recorded on July 30, 2010. The annual average temperature is 6.7°C.

Hohhot City Meteorological Data (1981–2010)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |-----------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|----------|----------|----------|----------| | Record high °C (°F) | 8.0 (46.4) | 17.0 (62.6) | 19.4 (66.9) | 33.4 (92.1) | 35.0 (95.0) | 35.7 (96.3) | 38.5 (101.3) | 36.8 (98.2) | 32.4 (90.3) | 26.5 (79.7) | 20.4 (68.7) | 11.6 (52.9) | 38.9 (102.0) | | Average high °C (°F) | -4.9 (23.2) | 0.4 (32.7) | 7.5 (45.5) | 16.7 (62.1) | 23.4 (74.1) | 27.7 (81.9) | 29.1 (84.4) | 26.7 (80.1) | 21.9 (71.4) | 14.5 (58.1) | 4.5 (40.1) | -3.2 (26.2) | 13.7 (56.7) | | Daily mean °C (°F) | -11.0 (12.2) | -6.1 (21.0) | 0.9 (33.6) | 9.6 (49.3) | 16.6 (61.9) | 21.3 (70.3) | 23.3 (73.9) | 21.0 (69.8) | 15.4 (59.7) | 7.6 (45.7) | -1.7 (28.9) | -9.0 (15.8) | 7.3 (45.2) | | Average low °C (°F) | -15.8 (3.6) | -11.4 (11.5) | -4.9 (23.2) | 2.5 (36.5) | 9.2 (48.6) | 14.5 (58.1) | 17.3 (63.1) | 15.4 (59.7) | 9.3 (48.7) | 1.8 (35.2) | -6.4 (20.5) | -13.4 (7.9) | 1.5 (34.7) | | Record low °C (°F) | -30.5 (−22.9) | -29.4 (−20.9) | -19.4 (−2.9) | -11.5 (11.3) | -3.5 (25.7) | 2.3 (36.1) | 8.3 (46.9) | 4.6 (40.3) | -2.0 (28.4) | -10.1 (13.8) | -20.2 (−4.4) | -26.4 (−15.5) | -32.8 (−27.0) | | Average precipitation mm (inches) | 2.1 (0.08) | 4.3 (0.17) | 10.6 (0.42) | 14.4 (0.57) | 32.4 (1.28) | 48.9 (1.93) | 101.6 (4.00) | 101.8 (4.01) | 52.0 (2.05) | 20.6 (0.81) | 4.4 (0.17) | 3.3 (0.13) | 396.4 (15.62) | | Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 2.5 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 3.7 | 6.0 | 8.9 | 12.9 | 12.7 | 8.3 | 4.5 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 69.9 | | Average relative humidity (%) | 58 | 50 | 43 | 36 | 38 | 46 | 57 | 62 | 59 | 56 | 55 | 58 | 52 | | Mean monthly sunshine hours | 180.7 | 198.3 | 245.5 | 268.6 | 294.5 | 291.3 | 264.9 | 255.2 | 252.1 | 244.8 | 195.3 | 171.0 | 2,862.2 | | Percent possible sunshine | 61 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 66 | 65 | 58 | 60 | 68 | 71 | 66 | 60 | 65 |

5. Administrative Divisions

Hohhot currently administers 4 districts, 4 counties, and 1 banner.

• Districts: Xincheng District, Huimin District, Yuquan District, Saihan District
• Counties: Tuoketuo County, Horinger County, Qingshuihe County, Wuchuan County
• Banner: Tumed Left Banner

| Division Code | Division Name Traditional Mongolian | Hanyu Pinyin Latin Transliteration | Area (km²) | Permanent Population (2020 Census) | Seat of Government | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 150100 | Hohhot City ᠬᠥᠬᠡᠬᠣᠲᠠ | Hūhéhàotè Shì Kökeqota | 17,186.12 | 3,446,100 | Xincheng District | 010000 | 31 | 29 | 16 | | 150102 | Xincheng District ᠰᠢᠨᠡ ᠬᠣᠲᠠ ᠲᠣᠭᠣᠷᠢᠭ | Xīnchéng Qū Sin-e qota toγoriγ | 660.56 | 699,672 | Genghis Khan Street Subdistrict | 010000 | 8 | 1 | | | 150103 | Huimin District ᠬᠣᠲᠣᠩ ᠠᠷᠠᠳᠤᠨ ᠲᠣᠭᠣᠷᠢᠭ | Huímín Qū Qotong arad-un toγoriγ | 194.40 | 436,042 | Gangtie Road Subdistrict | 010000 | 7 | 1 | | | 150104 | Yuquan District ᠢᠤᠢ ᠴᠢᠤᠸᠠ ᠨᠲᠣᠭᠣᠷᠢᠭ | Yùquán Qū Iui čiuvan toγoriγ | 207.17 | 524,573 | Zhaojun Road Subdistrict | 010000 | 8 | 1 | | | 150105 | Saihan District ᠰᠠᠶᠢᠬᠠᠨ ᠲᠣᠭᠣᠷᠢᠭ | Sàihǎn Qū Sayiqan toγoriγ | 1,002.90 | 902,384 | Zhaowuda Road Subdistrict | 010000 | 8 | 3 | | | 150121 | Tumed Left Banner ᠲᠦᠮᠡᠳ ᠵᠡᠭᠦᠨ ᠬᠣᠰᠢᠭᠤ | Tǔmòtè Zuǒ Qí Tümed ǰegün qosiγu | 2,765.16 | 382,218 | Chasuqi Town | 010100 | | 7 | 2 | | 150122 | Tuoketuo County ᠲᠣᠭᠲᠠᠬᠤ ᠰᠢᠶᠠᠨ | Tuōkètuō Xiàn Toγtaqu siyan | 1,407.76 | 166,192 | Shuanghe Town | 010200 | | 5 | | | 150123 | Horinger County ᠬᠣᠷᠢᠨᠭᠡᠷ ᠰᠢᠶᠠᠨ | Hélíngé'ěr Xiàn Qoringer siyan | 3,447.78 | 162,476 | Chengguan Town | 011500 | | 4 | 4 | | 150124 | Qingshuihe County ᠴᠢᠩ ᠱᠦᠢ ᠾᠧ ᠰᠢᠶᠠᠨ | Qīngshuǐhé Xiàn Čing šüi hë siyan | 2,818.14 | 76,674 | Chengguan Town | 011600 | | 4 | 4 | | 150125 | Wuchuan County ᠦᠴᠤᠸᠠᠨ ᠰᠢᠶᠠᠨ | Wǔchuān Xiàn Üčuvan siyan | 4,682.31 | 95,869 | Kekeyiligeng Town | 011700 | | 3 | 6 |

6. Economy

In 2018, Hohhot achieved a gross domestic product (GDP) of 290.35 billion yuan, representing a year-on-year growth of 3.9% at comparable prices. The added value of the primary industry accounted for 3.7% of the city's GDP, the secondary industry for 27.6%, and the tertiary industry for 68.7%. Specifically, the added value of the primary industry grew by 2.1%, the secondary industry by 2.4%, and the tertiary industry by 4.6%.

Food processing, power and energy, petrochemicals, biomedicine, photovoltaic materials, and electronic information are recognized as Hohhot's six major advantageous pillar industries. In 2018, the combined output value of these six industries reached 115.78 billion yuan, an increase of 6.3% compared to the previous year, accounting for 82.6% of Hohhot's total industrial output value.

Hohhot is a renowned dairy base in China. Yili Group, headquartered in Hohhot's Jinchuan Economic Development Zone, and Mengniu Group, located in Hohhot's Shengle Economic Development Zone, are two leading enterprises in China's dairy industry today. Their products are sold across China and in neighboring countries.

In 2005, the Chinese government officially awarded Hohhot the title of "China's Dairy Capital."

In recent years, the service industry in Hohhot has developed rapidly and has gradually become a pillar of the city's economy. Among these, the financial services sector ranks first in the Inner Mongolia region.

7. Transportation

Hohhot has experienced rapid development in transportation and has established a relatively comprehensive transportation system.

7.1. Aviation

In terms of air transport, Hohhot Baita International Airport is the largest aviation hub in Inner Mongolia, located 15 kilometers southeast of the city center. Its flight routes essentially cover major provincial capitals and medium-to-small cities across the country. In 2018, the site selection and reporting for a new airport were completed, and preparations for relocation concluded. Construction on the new site commenced in 2019. Named "Hohhot Shengle International Airport," it is designed according to 4F standards, capable of handling the takeoff and landing of most passenger and cargo aircraft models. Upon completion, the new airport is projected to achieve an annual passenger throughput of 25 million and an annual cargo throughput of 350,000 tons by 2030.

7.2. Railway

Regarding railway transport, there are two major passenger stations: Hohhot Railway Station and Hohhot East Railway Station. There are originating trains to Beijing West, Shanghai, Chengdu, Lanzhou, Xining, Xi'an, Hangzhou, Kunming, etc., as well as passing trains to Tianjin, Harbin, Shenyang, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Urumqi, etc. Within the region, there are originating trains to Wuhai West, Erenhot, Dongsheng West, Tongliao, Ulanhot, Xilinhot, and Ejin Banner, as well as intercity EMU trains to Baotou and Jining South, covering all league cities and prefecture-level cities in the autonomous region. Hohhot Railway Station operates international trains to Ulaanbaatar every Wednesday and Thursday. By the end of 2019, with the full opening of the Hohhot-Zhangjiakou and Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed railways, the grassland bullet train could reach Beijing in a minimum of 2 hours and 9 minutes. The Beijing-Hohhot high-speed railway is a significant component of the Beijing-Lanzhou corridor within China's "Eight Vertical and Eight Horizontal" high-speed rail network. Its full opening greatly facilitates travel for people along the route, strengthens the connection between the Hohhot-Baotou-Ordos region and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, and holds considerable importance for promoting the development of ethnic minority areas and coordinated regional economic and social development. In 2021, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region issued the "14th Five-Year Plan" Integrated Development Plan for Hohhot, Baotou, Ordos, and Ulanqab, proposing the joint construction of a rail-integrated Hohhot-Baotou-Ordos-Ulanqab area. The plan aims to coordinate the integrated development of four networks: trunk railways, intercity railways, suburban railways, and urban rail transit, to build a high-quality rapid rail transit network. On December 8, according to Baotou Station, the intercity EMU train service within the Hohhot-Baotou-Ordos-Ulanqab area launched the "Railway e-Card" service.

7.3. Highway

In terms of highway transport, the earliest expressway built was the Hohhot-Baotou Expressway (now incorporated into the Beijing-Lhasa Expressway and the Beijing-Xinjiang Expressway). The Beijing-Lhasa Expressway reduces the driving time from Beijing to Hohhot to 5 hours. National Highways 110 and 209 pass through the area. There are six intercity bus routes operating to border provinces and regions of Mongolia and Russia. The provincial-level Grand Channel traverses the entire Inner Mongolia region. Within the city, a network of elevated expressways has been constructed, significantly alleviating traffic congestion in Hohhot's urban area.

7.4. Urban Transportation

There are over 4,000 taxis in the city, operating 24/7. The fare structure is as follows: starting fare ¥8 for the first 2 kilometers, then ¥1.3 per kilometer thereafter. A waiting fee of ¥1.3 is charged every 5 minutes when stationary or when speed is below 12 km/h. From 21:00 to 06:00, a nighttime surcharge of ¥0.1 per kilometer is added. After 10 kilometers, the per-kilometer rate increases to ¥1.5. A fuel surcharge of ¥1 is added to each trip.

The Hohhot Metro plans a total of 5 lines. Currently, Phase 1 of Line 1 and Phase 1 of Line 2 are both operational. Phase 1 of Line 1 runs east from Bayan (Airport) Station to Yili Health Valley Station, with a total length of 21.72 kilometers and 20 stations. It commenced trial operation on December 29, 2019. Phase 1 of Line 2 runs northeast from Talidonglu Station to A'ershanlu Station, with a total length of 27.3 kilometers and 24 stations. It began initial operation on October 1, 2020.

8. Education

8.1. Universities

• Inner Mongolia University
• Inner Mongolia Normal University (formerly Inner Mongolia Teachers College)
• Inner Mongolia University of Technology (formerly Inner Mongolia Institute of Technology)
• Inner Mongolia Agricultural University (formerly Inner Mongolia College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Inner Mongolia Forestry College)
• Inner Mongolia University of Finance and Economics (formerly Inner Mongolia Finance and Economics College)
• Inner Mongolia Medical University (formerly Inner Mongolia Medical College)
• Hohhot Minzu College
• Hohhot Vocational College
• Inner Mongolia University Entrepreneurship College
• Inner Mongolia Normal University Hongde College
• Inner Mongolia Vocational College of Commerce and Trade
• Inner Mongolia Vocational College of Chemical Engineering

9. Population

According to the 2010 Sixth National Population Census, the city's permanent resident population was 2,866,615. Compared with the Fifth National Population Census, the population increased by 428,717 over the decade, a growth of 17.59%. The average annual growth rate was 1.63%. Among them, the male population was 1,462,277, accounting for 51.01%; the female population was 1,404,338, accounting for 48.99%. The sex ratio of the permanent resident population (with females as 100) was 104.13. The population aged 0-14 was 398,716, accounting for 13.91%; the population aged 15-64 was 2,248,977, accounting for 78.45%; the population aged 65 and above was 218,922, accounting for 7.64%.

At the end of 2018, the city had a permanent resident population of 3.126 million, of which the urban population was 2.183 million, with an urbanization rate of 69.8%. The city's registered population was 2.458 million.

According to the 2020 Seventh National Population Census, the city's permanent resident population was 3,446,100. Compared with the 2,866,615 from the Sixth National Population Census, the population increased by 579,485 over the decade, a growth of 20.21%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.86%. Among them, the male population was 1,740,118, accounting for 50.5% of the total population; the female population was 1,705,982, accounting for 49.5% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 102. The population aged 0-14 was 479,255, accounting for 13.91% of the total population; the population aged 15-59 was 2,345,550, accounting for 68.06% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 621,295, accounting for 18.03% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 412,099, accounting for 11.96% of the total population. The population living in urban areas was 2,727,517, accounting for 79.15% of the total population; the population living in rural areas was 718,583, accounting for 20.85% of the total population.

At the end of 2022, the city's permanent resident population was 3.5511 million, an increase of 55,500 from the end of the previous year. Among them, the urban population was 2.8339 million, and the rural population was 717,200; the urbanization rate of the permanent resident population reached 79.80%, an increase of 0.12 percentage points from the previous year. The male population was 1.7920 million, and the female population was 1.7591 million.

9.1. Ethnic Groups

The city is home to 36 ethnic groups, including Han, Mongol, Hui, Manchu, Korean, Daur, Ewenki, and Oroqen. Among the permanent resident population, the Han population was 2,943,814, accounting for 85.42%; the Mongol population was 398,688, accounting for 11.57%; and other ethnic minority populations were 103,598, accounting for 3.01%. Compared with the 2010 Sixth National Population Census, the Han population increased by 445,167, a growth of 17.82%, but its share of the total population decreased by 1.74 percentage points; the combined population of all ethnic minorities increased by 134,318, a growth of 36.5%, and their share of the total population increased by 1.74 percentage points. Among them, the Mongol population increased by 112,719, a growth of 39.42%, and its share of the total population increased by 1.59 percentage points; the Hui population increased by 3,217, a growth of 7.77%, but its share of the total population decreased by 0.15 percentage points; the Manchu population increased by 11,246, a growth of 36.71%, and its share of the total population increased by 0.15 percentage points.

Ethnic Composition of Hohhot City (November 2020)

| Ethnic Group | Han | Mongol | Hui | Manchu | Daur | Korean | Miao | Tujia | Yi | Ewenki | Other Ethnic Groups | |--------------------|----------|----------|---------|---------|----------|--------|-------|--------|-------|----------|----------| | Population | 2,943,814| 398,688 | 44,620 | 41,883 | 4,114 | 1,580 | 1,519 | 1,236 | 1,163 | 907 | 6,576 | | Percentage of Total Population (%) | 85.42 | 11.57 | 1.29 | 1.22 | 0.12 | 0.05 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.19 | | Percentage of Ethnic Minority Population (%) | - | 79.37 | 8.88 | 8.34 | 0.82 | 0.31 | 0.30 | 0.25 | 0.23 | 0.18 | 1.31 |

10. Religion

In Hohhot, Tibetan Buddhism is the most prominent religion. In the past, the city was dotted with numerous lamaseries, earning it the nickname "City of Lamaseries." However, Han Chinese Buddhism has not developed significantly. Besides Buddhism, due to the large Hui population in Hohhot, Islam is also practiced within specific communities. Additionally, Catholicism, Protestantism, and Taoism have also seen some development.

11. Culture

The local culture is a typical blend of nomadic and agricultural traditions, further influenced by modern civilization. Cultural and historical relics all reflect the distinctive simplicity, boldness, and grandeur characteristic of northern ethnic groups. There are specialized Mongolian language schools, the Ulan Muqir performing arts troupes for song and dance, and unique ethnic costume performances, among other distinctive features. The melodious tunes of the Morin khuur, a typical Mongolian instrument, accompanied by the resonant and soulful singing of Mongolian vocalists, leave a lasting impression.

Due to its vast geographical span, the agricultural cultures of Inner Mongolia's various leagues blend with those of neighboring provinces. For instance, the language and customs in western Inner Mongolia are closer to those of the northwest, while the dietary habits of the eastern four leagues more closely resemble those of the three northeastern provinces.

12. Sister Cities

• Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
• Batam, Indonesia
• Los Angeles County, United States
• Pont-de-l'Esprit, France
• Ulan-Ude, Russia
• Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

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Mongolian means "Blue City"

New Urban District

Saihan District

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Pinus tabuliformis

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