The Ordos wedding ceremony is a cultural wonder that the city presents to the world.

As one of the fastest-growing cities in China, Ordos in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region will never place cultural development behind its dynamic economic progress, said the city's Party secretary Yun Feng.

"It is cultural development that is decisive for the city's overall progress," Yun said in a recent interview with China Daily.

A recent cultural project has thrilled locals.

Dongsheng district government and a private enterprise will jointly invest 4.5 billion yuan to build a large-scale cultural park covering 1.46 million sq m.

The park will include 100 buildings designed by 100 world-famous architects recommended by the two chief designers of the Bird Nest, or the National Stadium, in Beijing.

"The implementation of a number of cultural programs will guide Ordos into a major cultural development period along with the city's transformation to a post-industrial society," Yun said.

Last year its gross domestic (GDP) value stood at 115 billion yuan, up 26 percent from 2006. The government's revenues from taxes surpassed 20 billion yuan, up by 38 percent year-on-year.

Its GDP value per capita amounted to more than $10,000 in 2007, even higher than Beijing's $7,200.

Yet the city has not neglected its cultural sector along the path to economic prosperity.

Over its thousands of years of history, Ordos has been noted for its rich cultures related to the many peoples who lived in the area - the Huns, the Dangxiangs, the Mongols and the Hans, to name some of the most well-known.

Today the development of culture in Ordos is still based on its cultural legacies.

The Ordos wedding ceremony dates back more than 700 years and is considered a symbolic cultural wonder that the city presents to the world.

It is now on the national list of intangible heritage protection.

The ceremony in Ordos is famous for its solemn etiquette, unique procedures, fervent atmosphere and lyrical congratulatory speech. It is an important feature of Mongolian customs.

Today the wedding ceremony is one of the key displays of Ordos culture. Visitors have the pleasure of enjoying the reenactment of the ancient ceremony.

"Ordos songs and dances are also famous because they contain such characteristics as tolerance, generosity and enterprise, as well as willpower," said Wang Kai, a local press agent.

"For decades the songs and dances have attracted spectators with different cultural backgrounds from 20 countries and regions," he added.

In August 2006 Ordos unveiled its second symbolic cultural attraction - a group of bronze sculptures of Genghis Khan (1162-1227), located at Kangbashi new district of the city.

Created by Chinese master sculptor He E, they form the largest-ever bronze art depicting the legendary Mongolian warrior and world conqueror, whose mausoleum is in Ordos.

The world-class art then attracted a number of famous city designers, architects as well as other sculptors to come and learn about the city.

In just two years the city completed seven symbolic cultural buildings - including the Ordos exhibition hall, the city library and the city theater - at a total investment of 3 billion yuan.

"We welcome all advanced cultures," Yun said.

"Our goal is to build Ordos into a modern city with both industrial and cultural civilization serving not only the people of Inner Mongolia, but also people in the entire country and the rest of the world."