Harqin Banner 喀喇沁旗

History

The banner government lists sites of the Xinglongwa (兴隆洼), Zhaobaogou (赵宝沟), Hongshan (红山) and Xiajiadian (夏家店) cultures within the banner, the oldest dated to about 8,000 years ago. It links the middle reaches of the Laoha River (老哈河) with the 'Zimeng plain' (紫蒙之野) where the ancestors of the Shang are recorded as living. Under the Yuan, Uriankhai (兀良哈) descendants of Genghis Khan's companion Jelme settled here.

The banner itself was founded in 1635 under Hong Taiji as the Harqin Right Banner. In 1692 the Kangxi Emperor's fifth daughter married into its ruling house, which the banner government credits with bringing crafts, building skills and gardening to the area. Prince Gungsangnorbu (贡桑诺尔布), born in the mansion in 1872, set up three schools inside it from 1902, including a school for girls; the banner government counts them among the earliest schools in Inner Mongolia.

What to see

The Harqin Prince's Mansion (喀喇沁亲王府), in Wangyefu town (王爷府镇), is a national protected site and a 4A scenic area. The banner government describes it as the largest and best-preserved Qing Mongol prince's residence built to official standards that survives in China. Longquan Temple (龙泉寺), 5 km north of Xifu village near the banner seat, is traced to a monk from Xi'an who came to spread Buddhism around the first year of Kublai Khan's reign; it has an old well inside.

Maanshan National Forest Park (马鞍山国家森林公园), nicknamed the 'Little Huangshan beyond the Pass', is known for old pines, frozen waterfalls, peaks and seas of cloud, and was one of the first scenic areas opened in the Chifeng region. Wangyedian National Forest Park (旺业甸国家森林公园) holds an Asia-Pacific forest experience base. Meilin Valley ski area (美林谷滑雪场) is a 4A scenic area and national ski resort that hosted events of the 14th National Winter Games.

Food and local products

The banner promotes itself as a home of glehnia root (北沙参) and platycodon (桔梗). Harqin sticky bean buns (喀喇沁黏豆包) appear in a 2019 China News Service report from Maanshan village (马鞍山村), where the wife and daughter-in-law of a farm household are shown making them. The village's two main earners are mountain grapes and rural tourism.

Highlights

• Harqin Prince's Mansion 喀喇沁亲王府: Qing Mongol prince's residence, a national protected site and 4A scenic area.
• Maanshan National Forest Park 马鞍山国家森林公园: Old pines, frozen waterfalls and seas of cloud; one of the earliest scenic areas in the Chifeng region.
• Meilin Valley ski area 美林谷滑雪场: National ski resort that hosted events of the 14th National Winter Games.
• Harqin sticky bean buns 喀喇沁黏豆包: Shown being made by a farm household in Maanshan village.