For reporters, in my working life, the one thing that spends a relatively long time on business travel is to participate in filming work. Whether it is a film and television drama or a feature film, it often takes a long time from initial preparation to implementation. For example, the TV series "Soul Fishing City" and "Chinese National Sports-Mongolian Chapter" that I once participated in Inner Mongolia are two very profound corroborations.

Go to Hohhot (Photo: Li Baoqi)

I remember in the early April 1994 of the last century, as I joined the crew of the TV series "The Soul Fishing City", the preliminary preparations for the series had been fully rolled out. First, he sent a complete script to the CCTV reporter station in Inner Mongolia. Comrades from the Inner Mongolia Station assisted in transferring the script to comrades from the Propaganda Department of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region for review and put forward specific revision suggestions. Soon, we received a phone call from the Inner Mongolia reporter station informing us to go to Hohhot.

Photo taken at Hohhot Airport (Photo: Li Baoqi)

On April 14, 1994, the reporter and the crew members of the Emei Film Studio Li Baoqi and Lin Qi, screenwriters Sun Shanqi and Zhang Baisong, who arrived in Beijing in early April to participate in the filming of the play, started a delayed journey to Hohhot, Inner Mongolia. Although Flight 1130, which was originally scheduled to depart from Beijing Capital Airport at 19:35 that night, was delayed for some reason, the flight only flew for about 45 minutes after taking off, allowing us to successfully arrive at Hohhot Airport at 21:40 that night. Jiao Jian, then deputy director of CCTV's Inner Mongolia Reporter Station, came to the airport to meet us. Two off-road vehicles and a Cadillac sedan drove the reporters and their party from the airport to the Jingxiang Hotel in the center of Hohhot City.

Photo taken by Inner Mongolia Film Factory (Photo: Li Baoqi)

On the morning of April 15, with the assistance of Li Guolin and Jiao Jian, the then director and deputy director of the CCTV reporter station, the reporters and his party came to the Inner Mongolia Film Studio as scheduled. Under the arrangement of Yu Jie, then director of the Inner Mongolia Film Studio, they looked at costumes, props and all equipment that could be rented for photography and lighting. All work is very intense, orderly and compact.

Go to the location (Photo: Li Baoqi)

After leaving the Inner Mongolia Film Factory, we drove directly to the Inner Mongolia Museum. I visited the cultural relics related to the needs of the show, and it had a great impact on the help of Lin Qi, the artist of the show. Unfortunately, due to the dim light in the museum, the shooting effect was not ideal, but it still yielded a lot. I didn't expect my first day of work in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia to go so smoothly.

On location with two screenwriters (Photo: Li Baoqi)

On April 16, we got up at dawn. After simply packing, we traveled with our equipment. Because it was too early, the hotel elevator had not yet been opened, so we had to carry a heavy camera and tripod and come to the interview van that had been waiting for us to go to Zhaohe and Siziwang Banner Inner Mongolia TV Station that day. Accompanied by Director Li of the Inner Mongolia Press Station and others, we immediately drove to the location.

In front of the Showa yurt (Photo: Zhang Baisong)

Around 11 o'clock, we arrived at the first scenic spot, Showa. The grassland here is very beautiful. On the wide and flat meadow, there are also some hilly hills. Occasionally, you can see horse rangers driving groups of white sheep in the distance. The wind on the grassland is very strong, and we took many empty shots at Fenshuanger in Zhaohe that are very appropriate to the plot. After that, in the yurt of an ordinary herdsman, we took a short nap and immediately rushed to Siziwang Banner. Arriving at the seat of the flag government at noon, since it was a big Sunday, the entire office building was empty.

Taking a photo with two webmasters (Photo: Li Baoqi)

After strenuous efforts, director Li Guolin finally found comrades from the local Propaganda Department. It was lunch, and comrades from the Propaganda Department hosted us with the famous local grilled mutton and special methods. It was really warm and generous. After dinner, we rushed to the Grassland of Siziwang Banner in the second location. This place is different from Showa, with a vast expanse of grassland. Unfortunately, due to seasonal reasons, the grass on the grassland has not yet turned green. If it were in June and July, the endless green grassland scenery would be very beautiful.

Script Symposium (Photo: Li Baoqi)

All our work in Hohhot was proceeding steadily as planned. After finishing the filming of the exterior scenes in the two places, a script symposium on "Soul Fishing City" was held in the conference room on the second floor of Hohhot Jinxiang Hotel on April 18. Relevant experts and scholars from the Script Department, Film Department of the Inner Mongolia Propaganda Department, Inner Mongolia Ethnic Affairs Committee, and Academy of Social Sciences were invited to attend. At the meeting, everyone had an extensive discussion on script issues. Participants put forward many valuable opinions and suggestions on the script, and the symposium was a complete success.

Photo taken in the Wang Zhaojun Tomb Scenic Area (Photo: Li Baoqi)

On April 19, we took advantage of our short free time to go sightseeing at two scenic spots near Hohhot. One was the Tomb of Wang Zhaojun on the River of the Dahei River 9.5 kilometers away from Hohhot. This place is also called "Qingzhong", and it is called "Temur Wuerhu" in Mongolian, meaning "iron base". It is the cemetery of Wang Zhaojun, the Ming Consort of the Han Dynasty, recorded in historical records and folklore. It was built during the Western Han Dynasty BC and has a long history of more than 2000 years. Now it has become one of the eight scenic spots in Hohhot.

Photo taken at Wuta Temple (Photo: Li Baoqi)

The second is the Five Pagoda Temple located in the southeast of the old city of Hohhot City. It is said that there are five Five Pagoda Monasteries in the country, but this place is unique and has high cultural relics viewing value. The Five Pagoda Temple here was originally named the King Kong Tari Pagoda. Because there are five square tari towers on the tower base, it is named the Five Pagoda Temple. The tower was built during the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty and is about 16 meters high. The tower bodies are all made of glazed bricks. The lower level of the tower body is the Diamond Sutra engraved in three languages, and the upper level is thousands of small gilded Buddhas. The carving is exquisite, exquisite and beautiful. It is a brick and stone structure-the pagoda. Today, the Five Pagoda Temple has become one of the landmark buildings for tourism in Inner Mongolia.

Group photo taken by the creators before breaking up (Photo: Li Baoqi)

On April 20, the preliminary work for coming to Hohhot, Inner Mongolia has basically come to an end. However, due to the needs of the plot, we will immediately go to Dali, Yunnan to continue shooting exterior scenes. After the leading troops of the crew had taken a train to Beijing, I left Hohhot City by plane and returned to Beijing. The plane left Hohhot on time at 8:30 and arrived at Capital Airport in about 50 minutes. Although I arrived in Beijing, I couldn't go home because I had to continue my trip to Yunnan.

Photo taken by the crew in Dali (Photo: Wang Chong)

On the same day, after we reunited at the Capital Airport, we flew to Kunming with Huang Jianzhong, the new director of the Beijing Film Studio. After a three-hour flight, we arrived in Kunming at 21:30 that night. Comrade Wang Chong from Yunnan TV came to the airport to meet us and arranged for us to stay at the Yunnan Hotel.

Photo taken with director Huang Jianzhong (Photo: Li Baoqi)

At 9 a.m. on April 21, 1994, we left Kunming for Dali in a van. There were no highways at that time, and the car traveled over mountains and mountains. It took more than ten hours to arrive in Dali and stayed at Cangshan Hotel. That night, the deputy governor of Dali Prefecture met with all our creative personnel. During the meeting, I heard director Huang Jianzhong's passionate speech for the first time, which left a deep impression on me.

The main creators are in Erhai Lake (Photo: Wang Chong)

In Dali, Yunnan, we spent three days filming the ancient city of Dali, the three pagodas of Dali, the ancient street of Zhoucheng, the Bai residential area of Xizhou and other related attractions. From April 14 to April 25, I walked for 12 days from Inner Mongolia in the north of the motherland to Yunnan in the southwest. Although there are only two provinces and autonomous regions, the cumulative journey is thousands of kilometers. However, this was only part of the preliminary work. After more than four months of working-in in the script in Beijing, it finally officially started in Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia.

Arrive at the Ximeng Grassland (Photo: Li Hong)

On August 13, 1994, I flew from Beijing to the Xilinhot location, and finally started the filming schedule of the TV series "The Soul Fishing City". It was precisely because of his month-long life in Xilingol that I left an unforgettable impression for a lifetime. It also gave me a deep feeling with the beautiful Inner Mongolia grassland.

Directors Huang Jianzhong and Ma Longxiang (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The 30-episode TV series "Soul Fishing City" is an epic masterpiece. The original name of the play was "Fishing Alone in the Central Plains" and then changed to "The Soul of the Fishing City". Due to the film's name changed, we asked General Zhang Aiping to write the title twice, and we both received General Zhang Aiping's calligraphy. As the director of the film and television department of the filming unit at that time, the leaders instructed me to participate in the management of the crew as a representative of one of the filming units. So I followed the crew's main creative staff, except for the above-mentioned places from Inner Mongolia to Dali, Yunnan, and several places in Sichuan Fishing City The ancient battlefield was taken from the exterior.

Photo of starting up and working (Photo: Wang Ju)

After starting up, I went to the location in Inner Mongolia until I coordinated and arranged the post-editing work in the computer room. I devoted a lot of effort to the production of this film. Whenever I look at the familiar and moving pictures taken in Inner Mongolia in the film, I can't help but recall the unforgettable days and nights I spent on the Xilingol Grassland in Inner Mongolia.

Shooting scene (Photography: Wang Ju)

This long-length play, with Huang Jianzhong of Beijing Film Studio as the general director and Ma Longxiang of Sichuan TV as the executive director, is based on the historical facts of Mengge Khan and Kublai Khan, the outstanding leaders of the Mongolian nation in the 13th century AD, leading hundreds of thousands of cavalry to complete the reunification of the north and south of China. They fought from south to south, endured many hardships, but finally lost under the "Fishing City" of the Bashan Shu River. It describes a tragic, desolate, and full of love and love. The story of joys and sorrows.

Taking work photos (Photography: Wang Ju)

The film depicts the vast grassland and the rough, bold and chivalrous nature of the ancient Mongolian nation with solemn pen and ink; it also reproduces Tianfu Chengdu, the mountain city of Chongqing and the magnificent and majestic war scenes that took place here with epic cleansing; It contains rich ink and heavy colors to vividly express the conflict between love and family, the collision between humanity and reason; calling out China, it is the China of all Chinese nations! The descendants of the Yellow Emperor in the world are indeed one. They want unity, not division; they want peace, not war.

Opening ceremony (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Although the story center of the film takes place in the Fishing City in Hechuan County, Sichuan Province, since the creative members of the crew are mainly composed of Inner Mongolia Film Studio and Emei Film Studio, and there are many Inner Mongolia plays, and August is the best shooting cycle on the grassland, the film took the lead in opening filming in the Xilingol Grassland, Inner Mongolia.

Taking work photos (Photography: Li Hong)

It is said that the Mongolian people have a custom that they go to Aobao to worship before doing a big thing to ensure that things go smoothly and safely. Considering that the majority of Mongolian actors were in the crew and they were filming in Inner Mongolia, whether it was to do as the Romans did or for good luck, it was decided that all the crew members would go to pay homage.

On-site work photos (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

On the morning of August 17, 1994, except for a few people who did not go for some reason before the start of the game, all other comrades drove to an Aobao 16 kilometers southeast of Xilinhot City to pay homage. Under the leadership of the older Mongolian actors, the comrades of the crew held a worship activity that was in full accordance with Mongolian customs.

Taking work photos (Photography: Li Hong)

At that time, not far northwest of Xilinhot City, there was a large tent of Genghis Khan left after the filming of the film "Genghis Khan" directed by Zhan Xiangchi, a professor at the Beijing Film Academy. It has been listed as an important tourist attraction locally. Near this golden tent, the film crew held a grand opening ceremony for the TV series "Soul Fishing City". At the opening ceremony attended by relevant leaders of the Xi League, firecrackers were sounded and colorful flags flew. The shooting work started immediately after the start-up was completed.

At the scene with Huang Jianzhong and Li Baoqi (Photo: Kuang Yuming)

The chief photographer Li Baoqi is a famous photographer at Sichuan Emei Film Studio. With the cooperation of director Ma Longxiang and him, the first day of shooting went smoothly, with more than 20 shots completed in more than two hours. Among them are pictures taken with elevators. When I watched the playback that night, all the materials were finished. I thought that the filming would go so smoothly, but who knew that in the next month or so, the reporter witnessed with his own eyes the extremely intense and difficult work and life of the crew.

In the grassland with the cavalry soldiers of the Beijing Military Region who collaborated in the filming

On August 18, in order to film the sunrise, the reporters and his party got up before 4 o'clock in the morning. After getting on the bus, everyone except the driver was still sleepy and confused. It was the severe bump of the jeep on the grassland that hurt the reporter's head. Only then did they feel refreshed. After getting off the bus, everyone carried equipment and walked in the dark night with each other in the wind on the grassland. From time to time, I would fall over and fall. Fortunately, it was on the grass, otherwise I would have fallen hard.

Photo taken at the location (Photo: Wang Ju)

Set up a plane in an ideal place, and in order to ward off the cold, everyone crowded together and waited for the arrival of the sunrise. Unexpectedly, when we talked about working, we saw that the cameramen and others seemed to be on stimulants, and everything was left aside, focusing on the handle and looking at the end of the grassland sky.

Shooting horse battle scenes (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

After waiting for a while in the rustling cold wind, a bright red band suddenly appeared on the horizon, and everyone was immediately excited. As the center of the bright band gradually revealed a golden-red light, the sun revealed a corner in an instant. Soon, the sun slowly rose from the end of the grassland. The multicolored light on the distant horizon gushed out in all directions, and the grassland was gradually clearly visible. A new day began.

Photo taken at the shooting site (Photography: Kuang Yuming)

In future filming, there was fun but more hardship. Basen, an actor from the Inner Mongolia Film Studio, who has played the leading role in films such as "The Legend of the Heroes Returning to the East" and "Genghis Khan, a generation of prodigies", plays Mengge in the drama "Soul". He rides quite well and his movements are smart and beautiful.

Basen, who plays Mengge (Photo: Li Baoqi)

But no one expected that he would accidentally fall off a galloping horse during a shooting shoot. Fortunately, the injury was not serious. Afterwards, everyone thought about it and found that he was the only person who did not go to Oobao to worship before the opening ceremony that day. So whether it was superstition or accidental, this became an interesting thing in the crew and was laughed about by people.

Taking a photo with the actors on site (Photo: Li Hong)

The hard work of shooting is commonplace at work. In the location of the Xilin River, some of the knee-wide weeds have been invaded by long-term rainwater and a small number of tributaries of the Xilin River into a dead pool due to the low-lying terrain. In the play, several scenes in which Bala assassinated Mengge and Huo Licha were emotionally frustrated and heartbroken were filmed here.

Grassland with high clouds and strong winds (Photo: Wang Ju)

In order to grab a set of shots before sunset, director Ma Longxiang took off his shoes and slipped into the pool. Immediately mosquitoes bit his calves. He ran across the pool in continuous bursts and immediately directed the camera to turn on the camera. Afterwards, his legs became red and swollen for more than half a month, and he took a lot of medicine to slowly heal.

Odengawa dressed as a fire trap (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Odengawa, the actor of the Inner Mongolia National Song and Dance Troupe who plays Huolicha, fell into the pool twice for the plot's needs, and crawled in tears in the cold and smelly water. The two boots on his feet were stuck in the mud and could not be pulled out, so he had to lie in the water with his bare feet, let the camera position change constantly, endure the pain, and perform seriously under the director's direction.

Taking a photo with Odengawa (Photo: Li Hong)

At that time, all people present were moved by it. Director Ma said well, you must have some dedication for art. I used to sit at home and watch TV dramas just to have fun. I didn't expect that during the filming of TV dramas, actors sometimes had to pay a hard price for artistic authenticity.

With the actor playing Kublai Khan (Photo: Li Hong)

The blue sky and white clouds on the grassland are like beautiful pictures with distinctive layers and beautiful colors; they are pleasing to the eye. But sometimes it brings some trouble to filming. Especially when shooting mid-range and close-range emotional scenes, this problem is particularly prominent. For example, when the scene where Mengge returned triumphantly and threw spoils of war to the herdsmen, the sun came out and in several times, interrupting the original good play many times.

Elevated shooting (Photography: Feng Ganyong)

In order not to destroy the actors 'emotions as much as possible, on the one hand, people were sent to observe the illumination of the sky, and on the other hand, they stepped up segmented shooting. Even so, sometimes a good scene during shooting has to be retaken repeatedly because the sun suddenly burrowed into the clouds. The weather on the grassland is sometimes unpredictable, especially after a rain when the temperature drops sharply. In addition, there is always wind on the grassland, so it can be okay in normal times, but it is really hard to catch the strong wind. Not only are the sandstorms heavy, but the temperature is also low. Coincidentally, several scenes of Meng Ge's expedition were filmed as planned just in time for the rare windy days after the rain. Because it involved the coordination of cavalry troops, the plan could not be changed, so we had to go against the wind. At the shooting scene, hundreds of horses galloping with flags waving and soldiers wearing armor performed freely. The scene was extremely spectacular.

Wear drama costumes on location to keep out the cold (Photo: Li Hong)

Looking at the crew, it was miserable. Although men, women and old all wrapped their heads tightly with scarves or cloth like "grandma wolf", they were still shivering from the cold. In order to keep out the cold, the director made a temporary decision to ask the clothing department to distribute temporarily unused props and costumes to everyone. This was great. For a time,"poor people" and "high-ranking aristocrats" appeared one after another, all of whom were "ugly", and the shooting scene was very lively.

Juanzi, played by Chunni (Photo: Wang Ju)

The "Soul" drama has five or six locations in Ximeng, including Xilin River, Jindazhang, and Junma Factory. Distributed around Xilinhot City. Even the nearby one is about ten kilometers, and the far one is nearly 50 kilometers away. Moreover, most of the grassland roads are not easy to walk on. Due to the scattered locations and the long distances, the comrades of the crew had to go out early and return late every day, working very hard.

Huang Jianzhong tells the actors about the play (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

For example, when filming the re-scene of Mengge's expedition and triumphant victory, the crew had to set off at six o'clock in the morning for the military horse grazing scene 50 kilometers away from the city. Since August and September are the grazing season for military horses, only four or five soldiers of the cavalry units participating in the cooperative filming are grazing on the pasture, and the rest are stationed in Xilinhot City. Therefore, the cavalry set off two hours earlier than the crew to complete a series of preparations such as tidying up horses, saddling, changing clothes, and wearing armor.

Taking a photo with Ma Tianfang and Juanzi (Photo: Wang Ju)

In this way, although the crew went out for fifteen or sixteen hours a day, the actual filming time was less than half, excluding round-trip travel and preparation work. In response to this situation, after careful study, the crew members decided to concentrate on filming exterior scenes, and then moved all the yurts originally located in the Golden Account exterior scene back to the guest house to shoot the scenes in the bags at home. In this way, although the working hours have not been shortened, it is a real dozen hours, and the shooting progress is obviously much faster.

With a Mongolian maid (Photo: Li Hong)

In fact, it is common to endure hardships and hardships in the crew. Whenever they go to locations to shoot, the actors have to work the hardest. They have to get up at 4 a.m. to put on makeup in advance, and then leave with the crew to the scene at 6 a.m. The sun is long on the grassland, and the sun usually sets at around 7 p.m. before the crew ends work.

On the scene with the extras (Photo: Li Hong)

Although it was already eight or nine o'clock when we returned to our place, some comrades still had to watch the playback after dinner. The creative staff also had to exchange opinions on some issues, so that people generally felt that they were not getting enough sleep every day. But in order to seize time and make progress, I persisted. During one month in Ximeng, more than 80 scenes were filmed in the drama "Soul", with a total of more than 1000 shots. There are many big scenes in between, and you can deeply feel the great charm of them on the shooting scene. Whether it is the scene of a fire burning a house or the scene where a hundred cavalry galloping horses and hundreds of extras participated in the filming, the feeling of being there is extremely unforgettable, and you will involuntarily be shocked by it.

Selected stills (Photography: Feng Ganyong)

Huang Jianzhong's play in which Zhang Jue's house burned down in a big fire was a big scene. There were more than 60 extras participating in the play that day. Since the filming was at night, local fire trucks were specially invited to help out in order to ensure safety. The burned house was temporarily built using the side of a local farmer's house. For the sake of authenticity, the pyrotechnic crew set up lighting points on the roofs and houses of the farmers after carrying out protective treatment, and filmed at the same time.

Selected stills (Photography: Feng Ganyong)

After everything was arranged, Director Huang gave the command to "start", and the fire suddenly burst into flames. At this time, the window of the burned farmer's house was kicked open from the inside. The male lead Zhang Jue, played by Beijing Film actor Ma Tianfang,"suddenly" jumped out from the inside. As soon as his feet landed, several Song soldiers rushed forward to fight him.

Selected stills (Photography: Kuang Yuming)

At the same time, many ordinary people fled in panic in front of the burning houses. Some were pulling livestock; some were pulling children, intertwined with the onslaught Song military and soldiers. There were also people wearing protective clothing and covered in fire who were struggling in pain in the moving crowd. The scene was thrilling.

In front of the chariot (Photo: Lin Zi)

However, under Director Huang's careful dispatch, a shocking scene was filmed in one go. After filming, it was found that not only did the fire trucks on the scene not spray a drop of water, but the scene seemed to be shouting and horses. In such a chaotic scene, no work-related accident occurred. However, the reporters at the scene were extremely nervous at that time, afraid that an accident would happen.

Mengge Mercedes on the grassland (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The Mongolian people are famous for their ability to sing, dance, and hospitality. During the filming, the reporter witnessed the scene. A local government hosted a banquet to entertain the crew. The pleasing Mongolian songs and dances continued throughout the banquet. During this period, the enthusiastic host toasted the comrades in the crew one by one. Whether you drank or not, they were brought to you with a small copper bowl full of wine, which was locally called "Grassland White".

Actors took a photo on location (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

At this time, I saw two Mongolian girls singing the "Toast Song" repeatedly to the guests next to the host of the toast. The guests did not drink and the singing kept going. Until you drank the wine, the girls would present you a snow-white Hada. Only then will you walk towards the next guest. This scene deeply touched everyone present.

Photo taken on location (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Although the film crew consisted of many compatriots from the Mongolian and Han ethnic groups, throughout the filming work, everyone united and cooperated, got along like relatives, and forged a deep friendship between each other. Whenever someone in the crew is uncomfortable, the room will always attract crew members who come to visit.

Selected stills (Photography: Kuang Yuming)

Due to the grand scene of the "Soul" drama, tens of thousands of costumes and props were needed. In order to save limited funds, the chemical service department used its brains and tried every possible way to solve the problem without affecting the quality of shooting. "Soul Breaking Fishing City" Thousands of shots were taken by the Communist Party of China in more than a month in the Inner Mongolia area. Only one-sixth of the entire drama was completed, and more than 5,000 scenes were later transferred to Jinyun Mountain in Chongqing, the Ancient Battlefield of Hechuan Fishing City and other places for filming. Due to work relations, the reporter only went to the fishing city location again after the transfer, and did not follow the entire filming after that.

Selected stills (Photography: Kuang Yuming)

Fortunately, during the post-editing period, when the reporter finished watching all the samples, he was deeply moved by this heavy and majestic historical film. It feels like this is another relatively successful TV series that reflects the themes of national history. In addition, although more than a month of living on location is accompanied by bitterness and joy, it brings people a rare and colorful life experience.

Waving a battle flag (Photo: Lin Zi)

Coincidentally, following the TV series "Soul Fishing City", I came to Inner Mongolia again because I participated in the filming of the large-scale TV feature film "Chinese National Sports", and once again experienced a half-month shooting job from Hohhot to Xilinhot.

Photo taken by the national sports crew

On the evening of July 9, 1997, Pan Chun, director of Beijing TV Station, senior reporter of Xinhua Agency and famous photographer Luo Geng Qian, and others took Train 89 to leave Beijing for Hohhot. In this trip, the Mongolian section filmed was the first ethnic group after the launch of the TV feature film "Chinese National Sports". At the same time, July 21 of that year was the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, which shows the importance of this shooting.

Taking a photo with Mongolian compatriots (Photo: Pan Chun)

On the morning of July 10, the reporters and his party arrived in Hohhot and stayed for only two or three hours before chartering a Mazda van and driving to Xilin Gol League. Who would have thought that our car would break down halfway around 18:30 that night? In a hurry, we had to try to intercept passing vehicles for help. However, most of the vehicles along the way passed by for a while. Perhaps the hard work paid off, after hard work, we finally encountered a car belonging to the Dongwusu Banner Procuratorate that stopped. The driver, Geriletu, was a warm-hearted person. After hearing about our encounter, he immediately greeted us on the bus and sent us to our hotel in Dongsuqi.

Female blogger (Photo: Pan Chun)

That night, Geri Letu also invited the leaders of their hospital, the chief prosecutor and the head of the local radio and television bureau. While everyone communicated together, we accidentally learned a rare piece of information, that is, a herdsman 15 kilometers away was going to hold a ceremony for a five-year-old child to shave the head. I heard from the comrades of the procuratorate that despite this small ceremony, many herdsmen from nearby will be gathered to cheer up. In addition, competitive performances of traditional Mongolian sports such as blogs, horse racing, and chess will also be held at the party.

Male Boke athlete (Photo: Pan Chun)

This is really a great opportunity to break through iron shoes and nowhere to find. So with the strong assistance of the Dongwu Banner Procuratorate and the Radio, Television and Television Bureau, on the morning of July 11, we took the car arranged by the Procuratorate and went to the grassland to participate in this grand event. After arriving there, as expected, it was extremely lively. Hundreds of herders gathered there, and more than 70 Mongolian children held horse racing performances; at the same time, more than 100 pairs of Bock athletes who attended the competitive competition appeared. The youngest participating players are only five or six years old. We filmed a lot of material here, and this experience was a blessing in disguise.

Taking a photo on the way to Ximeng (Photo: Luo Gengqian)

On July 12, after a tortuous episode of arriving in Inner Mongolia after a trip, we continued our journey in the repaired car and arrived in Xilinhot City that night to stay at the Baima Hotel. After that, in Xilingol, we returned to Hohhot after completing shooting a large amount of material.

Photography at Ximeng's location (Photo: Luo Gengqian)

After returning to Hohhot from Ximeng, we continued to work intensively for five consecutive days. In order to shoot, the reporters and his party got up early and late, sometimes getting up at around 4 a.m. and rushing to the shooting site. The training of horse teams and Bok athletes participating in the 50th anniversary celebration of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region was filmed one after another. and filmed the rehearsal of the Nadam Conference.

Photo taken at the Nadam Conference (Photo: Luo Gengqian)

On July 21, 1997, we participated in the unprecedented Nadam Conference to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. In the brand-new event venue in Hohhot City, the Inner Mongolia Racecourse, one of the largest racetracks in Asia, is particularly colorful. The venue dressed in festive costumes is filled with flowers and colorful flags flying. Athletes of all ethnic groups from the entire autonomous region gather here to compete on the same stage to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in traditional Mongolian sports.

Photo taken at the commemorative meeting (Photo: Luo Gengqian)

The Mongolian word "Nadam" means entertainment or games. In the hearts of the Mongolian people, it is ancient and sacred. It is like a living "Mongolian Culture Museum" with a long history. The earliest record of the "Nadam" activity was the "Genghis Khan" engraved on a stone cliff in 1225 in Wuer Mongolian script (ancient Mongolian script). During the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, archery, horse racing and wrestling competitions were combined to form the men's "triathlon" and form a fixed form of competition at the "Nadam" Conference. In the Qing Dynasty,"Nadam" gradually became an organized and purposeful entertainment event regularly convened by the government, and its scale, form and content developed compared with before.

The camera crew took photos on site

On the same day, at the two grand events celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and the Nadam event, there was a scene of warm and jubilation. Flowers and smiling faces complement each other, and parades and rides from all walks of life shine brightly. It demonstrates the major achievements made by Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in its 50th anniversary. The large-scale artistic performance "Inner Mongolia Unite and Forge" pushed the atmosphere at the venue to a climax.

Photo taken at the entrance ceremony of the horse team (Photo: Luo Gengqian)

The moment they entered the venue with colorful flags in their hands, the cheering applause was deafening. With the performances of various ethnic sports, we were so busy at the scene that we couldn't wait to keep every wonderful scene in our lens. The telephoto lens of Xinhua Agency reporter Luo Gengqian allowed him to capture many wonderful moments.

Taking a photo with Pan Chun at the conference (Photo: Luo Gengqian)

It can be said that the half-month filming in Inner Mongolia from Hohhot to Xilinhot made the opening ceremony of our "Chinese National Sports" feature film, the Mongolian people, so successful that we were full of confidence and expectation in the face of the crew's upcoming trip to Xizang in August. (Photo: Feng Ganyong)