An unexpected treasure for me on this trip was our visit to the Erdos Group, which has ranked first in China's textile and clothing industry for 17 years in a row. The company is situated in Ordos, an area that specializes in cashmere products and accounts for 13% of the worlds output of cashmere. The area is a prime spot for the cultivation of cashmere, providing the cashmere goats with all the nutrients they need to grow the soft undercoats they are famous for. Our tour of the group showcased the entire production line for their products, from cultivating the raw materials to the sewing of garment labels. As fast fashion has taken over the world, we as consumers often don't think about the ecological process our clothes come from, so to see it first-hand has really made me think more ethically about sourcing my clothes in the future. The group is dedicated to providing luxury cashmere products whilst manufacturing them in an environmentally sustainable environment.

The ecological efforts the Inner Mongolia is putting into its region are beneficial to its economy and in turn beneficial to the BRI. The region is able to symbiotically rely on its urban and country landscapes to prosper in the modern day era, a feat that is hard to achieve, but somehow Inner Mongolia makes it look effortless.