Bashang Grasslands trip, July 2016
Photos from our July 2016 weekender at the Bashang Grasslands.
After the five hour drive from Beijing, we were welcomed in the traditional Mongolian style: songs, and a shot of “Baijiu” to drink.
After we found our rooms and settled in we soon were invited to dinner for a delicious taste of local cuisine and some entertainment in the form of singing, dance and music.
On the second day we got up early and set out for a long hike after breakfast. The hike started out soft on a dirt road, but soon enough it got steep as we stepped onto the turf. The grassy hills are endless – a pleasant change of scenery to city people, which most of us are.
Another highlight on this trip is the grilled lamb meal in the evening on day two. You’ll find at least one photo of that in here as well.
We conduct this trip several times every summer. As this part of Bashang is on an altitude of approximately 1,000 meters, it’s a good way to escape Beijing summer heat!

Plenty of dishes to choose from at dinner!

The meals are perfect for getting to know each other better

Performance of Mongolian music

Everyone having fun learning some new customs

A very warm welcome to the Grasslands

The easiest part of the hike on the second day!

Pressing on, up the hill

Rescuing a little bird?

We followed a trail up a ridge, heading for a high point

Rocks and flowers near the top

Group shot at the top

Hikers making their way down from the highest point

The group spread out a little as we made our way back down

On the way home for the night

Whole, grilled lamb for dinner on day two – delicious! And of course Driver Ye has an opinion on how it should be cooked.

We went for a shorter hike on the last day of the trip – we were a bit sore from the previous day!

Rounding another hill

Endless grasslands

We even saw some horses grazing

Time for some stretching

Finally the sun broke through!

Fields of flowers, such beauty!

Pretty, and rare flowers are everywhere out there. One just need to pay attention!