Inner Mongolia

American  

[in-er mong-goh-lee-uh, ‐mon] / ˈɪn ər mɒŋˈgoʊ li ə, ‐mɒn /

noun

1. an administrative division in northeastern China, adjoining the Mongolian People's Republic. 174,000 sq. mi. (450,660 sq. km). Hohhot.

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Inner Mongolia British  

noun

1. an autonomous region of NE China: consists chiefly of the Mongolian plateau, with the Gobi Desert in the north and the Great Wall of China in the south. Capital: Hohhot. Pop: 23 800 000 (2003 est). Area: 1 177 500 sq km (459 225 sq miles)

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Etymology

Origin of Inner Mongolia

First recorded in 1830–35

Example Sentences

One is the Inner Mongolia region's Bayan Obo mining district on the edge of the Gobi Desert, which is rich in "light" rare earths used for magnets in everyday items.

From Barron's • Dec. 21, 2025

The city of Ulanqab and neighboring Horinger County in Inner Mongolia, around 200 miles northwest of Beijing, were designated one of eight hubs in the government’s “East Data, West Computing” program.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 11, 2025

During Chinese New Year, Xingchao tracked a group of Pallas's cats on the frozen plateau of Inner Mongolia.

From BBC • Aug. 28, 2024

The container will be transferred to a reentry capsule that is due to return to Earth in the deserts of China’s Inner Mongolia region about June 25.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 3, 2024

Our guest explained that from Inner Mongolia the Chinese authorities had sent out a strong detachment, mobilized from among the most warlike tribe of Chahars, which wander about the region just outside the Great Wall.

From Beasts, Men and Gods by Ossendowski, Ferdinand