Ashley Dairy -- in Erlianhot

We wandered through a sandy, scraggly park to get to the town theater, which had just opened the day before. There, we took in a variety show featuring local youth Latin dancing, jumping around to Mongolian fight songs, and singing in a local, frog- like style informally known as throat singing. Bemused, we loaded up and crossed back through immigration to the Chinese side of the border.

That evening, we drove to the outskirts of town for dinner in a traditional Mongolian yurt, a tent-like structure which serves as housing for the nomadic herdsman. Admittedly, our yurt was better appointed than one would expect of a tent, with full lighting, ornate beams supporting the center, and a picture of the Khan prominently displayed. We feasted on fresh lamb, a local specialty called sand chicken, and savory naicha, or milk tea. Sated, we headed back to the hotel to pack up for the next day's journey to remote Xiwuqi.