Map Introduction

I. Geographic Coordinates and Territorial Scope

The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region spans three major regions of China: the Northeast, North China, and the Northwest. It lies between longitudes 97°12′ E and 126°04′ E, and latitudes 37°24′ N and 53°23′ N. Its straight-line east-west distance stretches approximately 2,400 kilometers, making it the provincial-level administrative region with the greatest longitudinal extent in China. It borders Mongolia and Russia to the north, Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning to the east, Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Ningxia to the south, and Gansu to the west.

II. Administrative Divisions and Capital

Its capital is Hohhot City. The region administers 9 prefecture-level cities and 3 leagues (盟), comprising a total of 103 county-level administrative divisions. By 1987, its administrative structure had already formed a multi-level management system primarily based on leagues (盟), banners (旗), and counties (县), which differs only slightly from its current structure.

III. Strategic Significance

Serving as a protective barrier for China's northern frontier, Inner Mongolia played crucial roles in 1987 related to national defense security, ecological protection (such as grassland and desert management), and resource supply (notably coal and rare earths). The design of the 40th-anniversary commemorative coin issued that same year, featuring the office building of the Inner Mongolia Regional People's Congress Standing Committee, also underscored its political symbolism.