The First Grassland Tourist Attraction Opened in Hohhot-----Xilamuren Grassland

Situated in the southeast part of Damao Banner and about 90 kilometers north of Hohhot, Xilamuren Grassland is the first grassland tourist attraction opened in Hohhot. It is a 3A-class scenic spot.Xilamuren means "yellow water" in Mongolian. It is also known as Taihe after Puhui Temple, a Lama temple built near the Xilamuren River in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Constructed in 1769 during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, Puhui Temple was initially a resort of the Sixth Panchen Lama of Xilituzhao of Huhhot. With engraved beams and pictured purlins, the temple is ornate.

 

The best time to visit it is in summer and autumn. At this time of year, the pleasant climate, the blue sky and white clouds, the rolling grass, the wandering flocks and herds, the passionate herdsmen and their Mongolian food will undoubtedly leave you with a deep impression. During the Nadam Festival held every summer, tourists can enjoy a series of different activities, including camel riding, horse racing, wrestling, archery, a camp fire party and singing and dancing. You can even take part in some of the competitions that you are interested in. A big surprise is probably waiting for you!

Moreover, on Xilamuren Grassland, there is a Lama Temple built in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It is Puhui Temple which should better not be missed on your trip. Originally it was the temporary palace for the sixth Xilituzhao living Buddha. Now it is a complex of three halls with carved ceilings and painted beams. The beautiful Xilamuren River surrounds the temple, presenting a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere.

And during the Naadam Festival held every summer, tourists can enjoy a series of different activities, including camel riding, horse racing, wrestling, archery, a campfire party and singing and dancing. If you go Inner Mongolia, you must not miss this.

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Sounding Sand Valley-----The Most Famous Valley in Inner Mongolia

Xiangsha Wan, also known as Sounding Sand, is a famous desert in Inner Mongolia. It is located in the territory of Inner Mongolia Dalate flag Kubuqi Desert East, 50 kilometers from the North grassland Gangcheng, tall dunes in a crescent shape is about 80 meters high, which spans several kilometres.

The Xiangshawan Desert, is nicknamed the Sounding Sand Desert because its sands produce the sound of automobile engines, which, to be sure, is an unexplained natural phenomenon.

There's an amazing resort under construction there, too. The Desert Lotus Resort was designed by China-based architecture firm PLaT to resemble and act like a ship sailing through waves of sand. Instead of being built with tiles and bricks, it's made of low carbon environmentally-friendly materials to better use the solar, water and wind energy in the desert. Oh, and they have a pool, spa, and private club.

 

The scene here is rare to see and wonderful. The scenery of vast desert, the first cableway in desert in the world, the biggest community of camel, and the famous, advanced ethnic art ensemble in China are all attractions which would attract many tourists. Tourists can take sightseeing cable, do sand-sliding, and Desert paragliding here. On the other hand, there is many ethnic costumes of Mongolian people. You can experience another culture and another way of life.

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Zhaojun Tomb

The Zhaojun Tomb is located by the Da Hi River nine kilometers south of Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, is said to be the resting place of Wang Zhaojun, a commoner woman from the Chinese Han Empire who married a Xiongnu Chanyu. The cemetery is 13,000 m², with a 33 metre mound containing Zhaojun's coffin, making it a landmark of the region. The tomb is only honorary. Wang Zhaojun is not actually buried here. It is only a memorial. Her true grave and cause of death is unknown. Still the "tomb" is visited by thousands of Chinese tourists each year. It is noted for its attractive scenery.

It is called by the local Mongols Temür Urkhu meaning "Iron Wall". The nickname "Green Mound" refers to a legend that in autumn, when grass and trees wither, those plants on the cemetery mound continue to prosper. it is listed among the eight most popular scenic spots in Hohhot.

In front of the tomb, bronze statues of Wang Zhaojun and her husband , depict a vivid picture of them riding horses and talking to each other intimately. The statues are the symbol of the friendly relations between the Han nationality and the Hun nationality, which was greatly promoted by Wang Zhaojun.

Behind the statues, there are several steles displaying the praises bestowed upon Wang Zhaojun. Among them, the stele marked with the poems of Dong Biwu (a modern revolutionary and a politician) is the most notable one.

The tomb is famous for its spectacular scenery. The summer months are mild, and the wild flowers and grasses grow in abundance, creating a beautiful natural picture together with the towering green trees. When autumn comes in September, unlike grasses which shriveled and yellow at this time of the year, the grass growing on the tomb is still green and vigorous.

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Hulun Buir Grassland----- the “Most unsullied Grassland”

Hulun Buir Grassland is located in Hailaer in the northeast of Inner Mongolia. It is one of the six most beautiful grasslands in China, and this land is one of the world's three top grasslands. The Hulun Buir Grassland also enjoys the reputation of the “Most unsullied Grassland” because of the lack of pollution in this area.

There is a beautiful legend about the origin of this land. The two young lovers called Hulun and Buir are separated and become the lakes Hulun and Buir. The area is the home of many minority ethnic groups, and it is an important place for the festive occasions of the nomadic groups in north China. The Hulun Buir Grassland is known as the Kingdom of Pastureland and has more than 1,000 species of plants. On the grassland are green grass, beautiful flowers, zigzag rivers, crystal-clear lakes, sheep and cows, and herdsmen's yurts sending forth the fragrance of wine and of tea with milk.

 

Hulun Buir Grassland is the most beautiful landscape of all the Inner Mongolia Grassland, possessing a meadow of more than 100,000,000 acres and a forest of over 200,000,000 acres, upwards of 500 lakes and some 3,000 rivers. The vast stretch of prairie seems to be a vast green blanket woven by Mother Nature as far as the eye can see. Stepping on it, the feeling of the soft and bouncy quality is breath-taking. Its title is well-deserved as one of the most beautiful, largest and unpolluted grasslands in the world.

In spring, thousands of white swans hover in the sky here; in summer, flocks of cranes, egrets and storks gather; and in autumn wild geese fly over in tight formations to their havens in the south. Summer is the most spectaculars season on the grassland. Green waves of grass wave in the wind, larks sing by the waters, and blue butterflies dance on the petals of the flowers, form a peaceful and harmonious scene in which horses and sheep graze serenely.

Here is China’s best-preserved grassland, home to over 120 enriched pastures, with grasses such as Elymus, Stipa and Chiendent. The total number of plants species is no less than 1300, forming different features of the vegetation scenery. Whenever midsummer approaches, the grassland is full of flowers perfume and birds singing, complete with the pure and fresh air. Smoke rises continuously from the scattered Mongolian Yurts and when a gentle breeze stirs the grass, the cattle and sheep sing with joy.

This fertile land is adorned with hundreds of silver chains and numerous pearls. These beautiful lakes and rivers attract lots of tourists every year. There are many other attractions nearby, you can the fresh air and water, and live a relaxed time.
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Five-Pagoda Temple

Five Pagoda Temple in Hohhot, also called Jingangzuo Sheli Baota, is a unique temple in China as it features classic Indian style architecture. Located in Hohhot City, it was originally a building of the temple constructed during 1727-1732. Now the temple has disappeared, but the pagoda has remained. The temple is 16 meters (52ft) high and is covered with glazed bricks.

Temple of the Five Pagodas is a Buddhist temple located in the older part of the city in the vicinity of Qingcheng Park.  It is not actually a temple but the pagoda of the no-longer-standing Cideng Temple. The remaining pagoda was first built in 1732 and has since been restored.  The distinctive five pagodas surmount contains a temple with 1563 images of Buddha carved into its walls each differing slightly to the other. Inside is a rare Mongolian cosmological map carved into a large stone which illustrates the zodiac and positions of numerous stars.

The pagoda is 16 meters high (about 51 feet) and it is composed of three parts: the base, the seat and the top (five dagobas). The lower part of the seat is inlaid with inscriptions of Diamond Sutra written in Mongolian, Tibetan and Sanskrit. The upper part is niches holding gold-plated statues of Buddha. The body of the pagoda is glazed in greens and yellows.

 

Compared with other pagodas, Five-Pagoda Temple is unique in at least two aspects: its special structure, pagodas over pagoda, and the green and yellow colored glazes on the short eaves and tops of pagodas. Those make Five-Pagoda Temple quite special, a treasure of Hohhot City. And the government of Hohhot City plans to restore the sites in Five-Pagoda Temple. The projected will be finished in July according to the schedule.
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Dazhao Temple-----The Oldest Temple in Hohhot

Dazhao Temple (or Dazhao Lamasery) is the oldest and largest temple in Hohhot. Founded in 1579, Dazhao Temple has been the centre for Tibetan Buddhism in Inner Mongolia and boasts impressive murals and one of the largest silver Buddhas in China.  It is also known locally as the Yinfo Temple (Silver Buddha Temple) because of the rare 2.5-metre high silver statue of Sakyamuni (the founder of Buddhism).  Dazhao Temple owns its fame to a visit by the third Tibetan Dalai Lama in 1586, when he came to dedicate the Silver Buddha statue.

The Temple was originally built in the Han Dynasty. It was completed in 1580 during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) and is the oldest Lama Buddhist temple in Inner Mongolia. It went through a major reconstruction in 1640, but much of the original architectural style was retained. In Kangxi Year of Qing Dynasty about in 1700, the temple was rebuilt again. The roof of the main hall was changed to pave yellow glazed tiles. After rebuilt, the Temple became very beautiful and full of Tibetan Buddhist color.

Dazhao Temple owns its fame to a visit by the third Tibetan Dalai Lama in 1586, when he came to dedicate the Silver Buddha statue. As a consequence Hohhot became a religious center for people from all over Mongolia who came to worship at the temple. Another notable event in the temple's long history was a visit by Emperor Kangxi during the early part of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 AD).

The temple is well-known for the impressive buildings, splendid statues, delicate murals, musical instruments and fine collection of Buddhist scriptures among which the most notable are the "Three Marvelous Treasures"- the Silver Buddha, the carved dragons on the huge golden pillars on either side of the statue and the murals commemorating the Emperor's visit.

There are three famous treasures in Dazhao Temple, the silver Buddha figure, the dragon carvings, and the wall paintings. All of them are the historic treasures in Ming Dynasty with high art and appreciation values.

 Silver Buddha Figure

The silver Buddha figure refers to the state of Sakyamuni which is set in the main hall. This state has a history more than 400 years, as one of the biggest silver Buddha figure n China. With a height of 3 meters, the figure is in a sitting posture.

Dragon Carvings

Dragon carvings refer to the two golden dragons which are set on both sides of the silver Buddha figure. These two dragons are carved on the mail pillars of the hall. The lively figure and the splendid atmosphere are symbols of the elaborate skill of artists.

 

Wall Paintings

Wall paintings are very outstanding in Dazhao Temple. The rich contents, colorful descriptions and lively pictures in these paintings tell visitors various Buddhism stories in an interesting method. These elaborate wall paintings show the professional skills of artists in Ming Dynasty. And they are still kept well till now since the ancient time.

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