Xilingol League

Xilingol League (also transliterated as Xilin Gol or Shiliin Gol; Chinese: 锡林郭勒盟; Mongolian: , Шилийн Гол аймаг, Shiliin Gol aimag, pronounced [ʃɪ̆ˈliŋ ɢɔl ˈɛːmə̆k]) is one of the three leagues of Inner Mongolia. The seat is Xilinhot, and the area is 202,580 km2 (78,220 sq mi). The league's economy is based on mining and agriculture. Xilingol borders Mongolia to the north, Chifeng, Tongliao and Hinggan League to the east, Ulanqab to the west and Hebei to the south. This is the only prefecture-level division of Inner Mongolia in whose southern border nomadic culture is still vivid. Some divisions, such as Tongliao, have a much higher percentage of Mongolian population, but agriculture is extensive among Khorchin Mongols there. Xilingol League is also the closest Inner Mongolian prefecture-level division to Beijing; although, among those Inner Mongolian prefecture-level divisions bordering Hebei, the province surrounding Beijing, Xilin Gol is also the most unapproachable one. With a significant population of Chakhar Mongols, who speak a Mongolian dialect closely related to the standard dialect of Mongolia, the dialect also spoken in Xulun Hoh Banner, Xilin Gol League's variety is chosen as the standard language of Mongolian in China. Nevertheless, the de facto common standard is a mix of Khorchin-Kharchin and Chakhar, due to the extensive presence of Khorchin Mongolian speakers in China.