Across boundaries, beyond trade

The city of Erenhot, located in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, is often called China's "Northern Gate", as it is the critical entry point where the China-Mongolia railway first touches Chinese soil from the neighboring country.

In this bustling hub, the city center lies just 9 kilometers from the center of Zamyn-Uud, its Mongolian twin.

For many, this brief distance translates into a rapid crossing, often taking just about an hour, seamlessly blurring the boundaries between the two nations.

For Badrakh, a 56-year-old tailor from Mongolia, these mere 9 km transcend a simple geographical divide.

For over two decades, Badrakh has crafted traditional Mongolian robes with scissors and needles. But years ago, he made a pivotal decision: to move his established shop from Mongolia to Erenhot.

The seeds of this cross-border move were planted in 2018, when his cousin, who had married and settled in Erenhot, brought him a special order: dozens of Mongolian dance costumes for a local middle school. This gave Badrakh his first glimpse of Erenhot's market potential and vibrant commercial energy.

By 2023, Badrakh had opened his shop, PuBa Tailor, in Erenhot, drawn by the city's convenient access to a wide array of fabrics and competitive prices.

Today, Badrakh's life is inextricably linked to both Erenhot and Zamyn-Uud. He said many of his Mongolian friends cross the border daily, engaged in purchasing, transportation, and trade.

"Erenhot and Zamyn-Uud are critical hubs for China-Mongolia trade. Without these two cities, large-scale goods transfer would be impossible," Badrakh said.