Travel

Starting from Ergon, the destination is Shiwei, the northernmost part of this trip.

There is only a thin gray cloud between us and the blue sky. The gray clouds are getting thinner and thinner, and the sun is shining. The blue sky doesn't seem to have the heart to show its refreshing face. I watched the gray clouds gradually recede and the blue sky gradually appeared. The place where the grassland meets the sky in the distance has been occupied by blue sky and white clouds, and we are heading for that blue sky and white clouds.

There is also an activity on the trip, that is, going to the farmer's house to milk and drink milk. When we arrived, the hostess had put a big cow away and made a demonstration of milking. I also imitated the action of the hostess and squeezed it three times, and the milk came out smoothly. Cows are being squeezed by tourists while eating forage.

After milking, we tasted the fresh milk prepared by our host, which is really different from the bagged milk we often drink. I have heard of the word "milky fragrance" before, but I have never actually experienced it. After drinking the milk here, I finally know what the milk smell is. That pure and faint fragrance is really unforgettable. After I had one drink, I asked for another. The hostess, with dark skin and typical grassland characteristics, smiled faintly and watched us drink milk one after another. I asked her how much her cow was worth, and she said it was about 15 thousand.

Shiwei Town, located in the northernmost border town between China and Russia in Inner Mongolia, belongs to Ergun City. It is mainly composed of the birthplace of Shiwei Mongolians and the village area of Enhe Russians, and the Ergon, the border river between China and Russia, is on the edge of the town. From the town, you can overlook the Russian town of Araques on the other side. Shiwei Town has a strong Russian flavor and is one of the few Russian ethnic townships in China. Most residents are descended from China and Russia. The scenery is unique and charming. The Ergon River flows slowly from the north of the town, with lush greenery on both sides, facing the Russian town of Araques across the river, where you can enjoy the exotic scenery on the other side. Shiwei is also the birthplace of Mongolian Shiwei abrupt tribe.

Stay in the woodcut room of the ranger's house tonight. Mukeren is an accommodation with Russian characteristics. This is a room made of pure wood. The houses are all made of logs, and the interior is covered with wooden floors. It's very clean and elegant.

After arriving in Mukeren, I took a bath first, following the advice of the tour guide, fearing that the power and water would be cut off at night. There is a big window on the west wall of the room, and the sun is shining. The sky is blue, such as washing. I saw such bright sunshine and blue sky for the first time these days. I put my shoes by the window to let them bask in the sun.

Take a rest and go out around five o'clock. Ride the bike provided by the ranger to He Jie Scenic Area. On the way, I saw some cars driving into a shallow river to wash their cars. When I arrived at the scenic spot, I found myself making a mistake. This is not a free park, but a place to swim across the river by boat. So I went back to Wanghe Square in the north of the town. This is the place I have been looking for.

There is a statue of a horse in the square, and its front hoof is in the air. Near the north of the square is an east-west wooden plank road. Walking on the wooden plank road, you can overlook the Russian villages and scenery on the other side of the Ergon River. The weather couldn't be better. The air is pure and the sky is blue. The Ergon River winds not far away. On both sides of the river are two different countries with different languages, but the scenery is the same. The valley is lush with green grass, and in the distance are rolling mountains, smooth curves and soft green. You can clearly see the opposite Russian village. The days here are very long, and the sun will set around 7: 30. It's not yet six o'clock, and the sun is still brightly hanging in the western sky, shining on the scenery of Ergon Valley and its banks.

I walked back and forth along the plank road. The beautiful Elgon Valley is in the north, the unique wooden house is in the south and the bright sunshine is in the west. I walked on the plank road until sunset, watching the red sun gradually disappear behind the mountain on the other side of the Ergon River, and the golden light on the river just gradually disappeared.

Talked to a local. This local is not descended from China and Russia, but came from Shandong with his parents. I asked him if the local Chinese and Russian descendants and the villagers on the other side had any relatives and friends. He said there was, but it was hard to see, and he had to leave the country from Heishan Mountain or Manzhouli hundreds of miles away. Now there are barbed wire hundreds of meters away from the river, so people can't get to the river. Not in the past. When tourists come, they will swim in the river and swim to the other side. Later, barbed wire was installed. Locals say that people on both sides of the strait used to swim in the river, swim together or cross the river, but they would not leave the river and go ashore. I asked him if he communicated while swimming, but he said no, because he didn't know the language. The descendants of China and Russia here have reached the third or fourth generation, and they no longer speak Russian. When I came here just now, I saw a row of beautiful Russian women with blonde hair and long legs sitting in front of the hotel on the south side of the square to attract customers. A row of seven or eight Russian women is really beautiful. I have never seen such a beautiful Russian woman.

The bike I rode was unlocked. I put it in front of a shop and asked the shopkeeper to take a look at it for me. I said I would give him money. I didn't expect the boss to say no, so you can leave it here. It's okay. This makes me feel that the local folk customs are still very simple. Thank the boss for his kindness. I believe he will do well in business.

After sunset, I started from the square, along the main road in the center of the town, and rode all the way south to the southernmost tip. On both sides of the road are two or three floors of Russian-style buildings, all of which are shops and restaurants selling Russian-style goods and eating Russian-style food. In addition to the name of the store, the big Russian doll images painted on many buildings can best highlight the Russian style. The largest and most luxurious hotel is called Sophia Hotel. Because of the Ergon River, I still remember the name of the hotel by the Guna River. Tables are set inside and outside the hotel and filled with tourists, which shows the attraction of this border town.

A little after eight o'clock, I went to my residence and ate a bowl of jiaozi. There is a bonfire party held by the ranger at nine o'clock. I looked at it. A group of young people sang and danced hand in hand around the fire. This is not for me. After feeling, I went back to my room.

On this day, after leaving the Mozgele River in the morning, I spent almost a whole day on the banks of the Ergon River. From Ergon Wetland to Shiwei, it is close at hand. It is said that "Ergon" means "treasure" in Mongolian, which shows that they cherish this river. This reminds me of Chi Zijian's novel The Right Bank of Ergon, which won the Mao Dun Literature Prize. I have time to find it and read it again. Beautiful Ergon River!