Urad Aobao Culture Expo Park. [Photo by Ukhaanbileg/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Visitors to North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region may be attracted by piles of stones on the vast plains.
Known as aobao, such piles of stones are buried with a Buddha statue or metal weapon inside, decorated with colorful ribbons, and widely worshipped in the region. 
They functioned as landmarks and boundary monuments for the local herdsmen in ancient times and have been listed as part of the national intangible cultural heritage.
For those interested in experiencing the unique culture, one of the best choices is a visit to the Urad Aobao Culture Expo Park in Urad Rear Banner of the region's Bayannur city.

Urad Aobao Culture Expo Park. [Photo by Ukhaanbileg/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

With 99 such piles, the expo park was recently recognized as the country's largest scenic spot for aobao culture by the Shanghai China Records Headquarters, a nongovernmental organization based in Shanghai, according to the local government.
Covering an area of 20 hectares, the expo park started construction in 2015 and saw the completion of its main area by 2018.
Among the aobao on display, 74 have been built in accordance with well-known historic examples in Inner Mongolia.