Dongsheng District 东胜区

History

Dongsheng began in 1907, when the Qing court set up Dongsheng Subprefecture (东胜厅) to govern Han settlers farming the lands of the Junwang and Jasagh banners; it was one of the twelve subprefectures beyond the Great Wall passes and answered to Shanxi's Guisui circuit (归绥道). In 1912 it became Dongsheng County, although its office was lodged in the old town of Baotou (包头). The county became a county-level city in 1983, and in 2001, when Ordos City was established, Dongsheng was turned into one of its districts.

What to see

The Poerjianghaizi Relict Gull Nature Reserve (泊尔江海子遗鸥自然保护区) is a national nature reserve and a wetland under world-level protection, named for the relict gull. Zaohuohao (灶火壕) is singled out by the Ordos government for its village scenery, and the Eerduofu Lane (鄂尔多福巷), 1980 and Nuancheng Yinxiang (暖城印巷) commercial streets draw visitors. Firms in the district include the Ordos cashmere group, Chery cars and BOE.

Getting oriented

Dongsheng lies 248 km from Hohhot (呼和浩特). The Hohhot–Zhungeer–Ordos intercity railway serves it, the Baotou–Xi'an and Baotou–Shenmu main lines are among those crossing it, and trains stop at Dongsheng East and Dongsheng West stations. The Baotou–Maoming and Rongcheng–Wuhai expressways run through the urban area. The local Chinese belongs to the Dabao group of Jin Chinese (晋语).

Highlights

• Poerjianghaizi Relict Gull Nature Reserve 泊尔江海子遗鸥自然保护区: National nature reserve and internationally protected wetland.
• Eerduofu Lane 鄂尔多福巷: One of the district's commercial streets popular with visitors.
• Nuancheng Yinxiang 暖城印巷: Commercial street named by the Ordos government as a visitor draw.