A cheese cultural industrial park in north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region is combining traditional dairy manufacturing with tourism to boost local economy and enhance people's livelihoods.

Shoufang Xilingol Cheese Culture Industrial Park in Xilinhot city, Xilingol League covers 59,000 square meters — about eight soccer pitches — and houses 40,000 square meters of buildings, including 22,000 square meters of space available for production and processing.

Data shows that the cultural industrial park employs more than 200 workers and expects to generate annual revenue of over 100 million yuan ($14 million) this year.

Workers make dairy products at Shoufang Xilingol Cheese Culture Industrial Park in Xilinhot, Xilingol League, north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Aug. 4, 2025. [Photo by Chen Xinyan/China.org.cn]

"Our unique cheese-making process avoids high-temperature treatment to preserve its nutritional components," said Ulaan, president of the Xilingol League Traditional Dairy Products Association. "This ensures a higher level of proteins, microorganisms and trace elements than other dairy products."

The cultural industrial park produces 21 varieties of specialty dairy products, including naipi (milk skin), milk tofu, jiaoke (fermented milk) and chula (cheese). It holds more than 45% of Xilinhot's market share, according to industry data.

Specialty dairy products are displayed in an exhibition hall at Shoufang Xilingol Cheese Culture Industrial Park in Xilinhot, Xilingol League, north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Aug. 4, 2025. [Photo by Chen Xinyan/China.org.cn]

The park also operates as a tourist destination, offering camping and hosting cheese tastings and cultural festivals. It holds a 3A rating under China's national tourism-rating classification system. The tourism component aims to diversify the local economy beyond traditional industries and boost night-time spending.

A tent shelters tables and chairs at the camping area of Shoufang Xilingol Cheese Culture Industrial Park in Xilinhot, Xilingol League, north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Aug. 4, 2025. [Photo by Chen Xinyan/China.org.cn]

"The park not only improves the livelihoods of people in Xilingol League, but also stimulates wealth-generating industries in Inner Mongolia," Ulaan said. "We hope to present our products as the gift of the grasslands to the world."