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Why did Chinese farmers move into Mongolia during the 19th century?

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Wide autumn valley with golden grass in the foreground and low, tree-covered mountains of the Greater Khingan Range in the distance under a clear sky. — Inner Mongolia Da Hinggan (Greater Khingan) Range, southeast of Hailar, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China.

During the 19th century, Chinese farmers moved into Inner Mongolia primarily due to significant population pressure in the regions to the south. Seeking new land to cultivate, these farmers migrated into the area in search of agricultural opportunities.1

This influx of settlers led to increased contact and competition between the agrarian Chinese and the pastoral, nomadic Mongolians who traditionally inhabited the region. The resulting land-use conflicts between the incoming farmers and the local herders created significant social and political tension, eventually contributing to broader regional shifts, including the movement toward administrative autonomy for Inner Mongolia in the early 20th century.1