Southern Mongolia: A Nation Within Borders

Southern Mongolia, often called Inner Mongolia by the Chinese government, is a vast region in northern China. It was historically part of the Mongol Empire and shares deep cultural and linguistic ties with Outer Mongolia (now the country of Mongolia).

Today, over 4 million ethnic Mongolians live in Southern Mongolia. While we are classified as Chinese citizens, we are not Han Chinese — the dominant ethnic group in China. We Southern Mongolians speak Mongolian, follow traditional nomadic customs, and use the traditional vertical Mongolian script.

Not Just a Minority — A Distinct Nation

Southern Mongolians are not just an ethnic minority. We have our own:

• Language (Mongolian, not Mandarin)
• Writing system (vertical Mongolian script)
• Religion (Tibetan Buddhism and Shamanism)
• Customs, dress, festivals, and history
  

We are a distinct nation — with our own identity, rooted in the steppes, long before modern borders.

So, Who Are We?

We are Southern Mongolians. We are not Han Chinese, and we are not the "Chinese" known by the world.

We are Mongolian — by language, by ancestry, by culture, and by spirit. Our land was never truly part of China by the will of our people, and our identity cannot be erased by forced assimilation or political control.

Culturally, linguistically, and spiritually, we are fundamentally different from the Han Chinese majority:

• Our language is Mongolian — a completely different language family from Mandarin. We use the vertical traditional Mongolian script, not Chinese characters.
  
• Our religion is rooted in Tibetan Buddhism and Shamanism, while Chinese culture is shaped by Confucianism and Taoism.
  
• Our way of life comes from a nomadic heritage — we revere the grasslands, herding, horses, and seasonal migration. Han Chinese society is historically agrarian and urban.
  
• Our clothing, music, and celebrations — like Naadam, throat singing, and deel garments — are entirely different from Chinese traditions.
  
• Even our spiritual connection to nature, to ancestors, and to the steppe reflects a worldview not shared with the Han Chinese cultural framework.
  

We don’t ask for permission to exist. We speak out to protect our dignity, our language, our land, and our right to live as Mongolians — free and unforgotten.