THE AROMA OF HERITAGE

Stepping into Enhe, a Russian ethnic township in Ergune, Hulunbuir, in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, people are greeted by rows of neatly arranged wooden houses, Russian-style carriages, the mouthwatering aroma of freshly baked Russian bread, vibrant ethnic traditions, and stunning natural scenery.

At a family-run guesthouse, the air is richly perfumed with the comforting scents of baked bread and melted cheese. Inside, Sun Yunmei, 63, busies herself by the oven. Wearing a floral apron, she pulls out a steaming tray of freshly baked Russian-style bread.

"My mother taught me this," she says with a warm smile. "Now, visitors come from all over the country just to have a taste."

Sun, who is of the Russian ethnic group, has turned her culinary heritage into a thriving tourism business. Her cheese bread, for instance, stays true to original Russian techniques while embracing local flavors. She kneads high-quality cheese from nearby pastures into freshly fermented dough, creating a soft, fragrant loaf that melts in the mouth.

Another signature dish, kotlet, a hearty serving of beef patties with fried potato strips, showcases the blend of Russian methods and local ingredients. The patty is made from local beef, fried to juicy perfection, and served alongside potatoes mixed with sauteed onions.

These flavorful creations are shared with guests at the family-run restaurant and guesthouse she operates with her daughter and niece. Traditional wooden interiors and the lingering smell of home-cooked food offer an immersive cultural experience.

"Last year, we welcomed more than 4,000 tourists," Sun says. "Some came all the way from the country's southernmost Hainan province just to experience authentic Russian ethnic culture."

With her bright blue eyes and fluent northeastern Chinese dialect, Sun sometimes surprises those who meet her. "When I travel, people often think I'm a foreigner," she says. "But I always tell them: I am a Chinese woman of the Russian ethnic group."

Through her dedication, Sun has not only preserved her family's recipes but also built a tangible, happy life, one where culture, identity and livelihood rise together, as warm and inviting as the bread from her oven.

Enhe, located in the northeastern corner of Inner Mongolia, is the country's only Russian ethnic township that has for years drawn travelers seeking its inspiring blend of Chinese-Russian culture, hearty cuisine and sweeping natural vistas.

In recent years, Enhe has attracted many tourists by promoting a series of activities, such as visiting local families, making Russian bread, and painting Matryoshka dolls.

The township, with a population of less than 3,000, received about 615,000 visitors in 2024, bringing in a gross tourism revenue of 92.25 million yuan ($13.06 million), according to official statistics.