By , urban infrastructures had been highly developed, with the bad smell of the city now but a distant memory. Before the s, Ereen protected the border and forbade its crossing. Figure drawn by G. Lacaze from a map of the Nei Menggu zizhi qu ditu ce. The first results of this research reveal the global organisation of the zone. This chapter first examines the transformation of Ereen from to I then examine how the appropriation of the city by Mongolian migrants underlines differential postures in terms of gender, social status and economic power.
It sheds light on a new kind of nomadic activity developed by Mongols who have appropriated for themselves the political management of the city. I conclude with an analysis of the daily life of several Mongolian prostitutes. The type of sex work found in the city of Ereen reveals the contemporary strategies of some Mongolian women.
Both places attract many manual workers since the numerous commercial exchanges lead to new jobs and work opportunities such as, for instance, carrying goods, loading and unloading trucks or wagons, etc. Because Mongolian citizens have the right to stay in China for thirty days without registration, some have been working and living in Ereen for several years without a visa, simply returning to Mongolia once a month. These shoppers also like to travel to Ereen because they have free time to spend in the bars, restaurants, nightclubs and brothels the city has to offer 2.
The chanjuud and jolooch are mostly men, while the naimaachin and yanhan are mostly women. While this means that women are not forced to work as prostitutes, it does not mean that their work is entirely free of coercion either. Prostitution in Ereen is well organised and occurs through ger brothels that are officially registered as commercial establishments.
They are concentrated in red light districts like in many other cities in China Pan The several life stories I have gathered from prostitutes during summer underline the strategies developed by Mongolian women confronted with poverty, temporary economic difficulties or unfavourable relations of domination.
