
Wudangzhao Monastery in Baotou
Wudangzhao is a privileged political and religious temple with prisons, courts and armed forces. And the murals and sculptures of the building itself and the halls reflect high artistic value.
Type: Monuments and Temples
Chinese Name: 五当召
Recommended Visiting Time: 2~3 Hours
Open Hours: Off season: 8:30-17:00 peak season: 8:30-17:45
Admission Fee: 50 RMB/ person
Address: Wudangzhao, Shiguai District, Baotou City(包头市石拐区五当召)
Wudangzhao, also known as Bada’gar Zha (巴达嘎尔召) in Mongolian, meaning “White Lotus” in Tibetan, is a significant Tibetan Buddhist monastery located in Baotou, Inner Mongolia. The term “Zhao” (召) refers to a temple, and the original name Bada’gar Zha was later renamed Wudangzhao, named after the “Wudang” (五当) mountain area. The monastery was first constructed during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty (1662–1722) and was later renovated during the Qianlong period in 1749, where it was granted the Han name Guangjue Temple (广觉寺). The first living Buddha, Lobsang Gyalatso, based the monastery on Tibet’s Tashilhunpo Monastery.
Historical Significance and Development
The Wudangzhao Monastery is situated in the heart of the Daqing Mountain (大青山) within Wudanggou (五当沟), approximately 45 kilometers northeast of Shiguai District in Baotou City, Inner Mongolia. The monastery’s construction was extensive, expanding from the original temple to the current monumental scale over several Qing Dynasty reigns, including the Kangxi, Qianlong, Jiaqing, Daoguang, and Guangxu periods. Due to its strategic location on a hill, it gradually expanded across a 1.5-kilometer long slope, covering an area of over 300 acres with more than 2500 rooms, including halls, scripture halls, and monk dormitories.
Today, Wudangzhao is one of the largest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in Inner Mongolia and a national key cultural heritage site. It is also ranked as a 4A-level scenic area. Together with other renowned Tibetan Buddhist sites such as Potala Palace in Tibet, Ta’er Monastery in Qinghai, and Labrang Monastery in Gansu, Wudangzhao is one of the “Four Major Tibetan Buddhist Temples” in China.
Architectural Features
Wudangzhao consists of several impressive structures, including eight scripture halls (six of which remain), the residences of the living Buddhas, and a hall enshrining the relics of past living Buddhas. The architectural style is rooted in traditional Tibetan Buddhist design, characterized by large, white, terraced buildings nestled amidst the mountains, surrounded by ancient pines and cypress trees.
The main structures include:
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Suguqin Hall (苏古沁殿): The largest hall, used for communal prayers.
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Dongkor Hall (洞科尔殿): The place where astronomical, mathematical, and divinatory teachings are delivered.
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Qieyilin Hall (却衣林殿): A hall for the study of Buddhist teachings.
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Ahui Hall (阿会殿): Dedicated to medical and tantric studies.
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Rimuren Hall (日木伦殿): A hall focused on Buddhist doctrine and ethics.
These halls are home to stunning statues, murals, and intricate thangka paintings (scroll paintings depicting Buddhist deities and teachings). The largest statues include a 10-meter-tall Shakyamuni Buddha and a 9-meter-high statue of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism.
Key Attractions
The Monastery’s Main Halls:
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Suguqin Hall: This hall, located at the forefront of the monastery, is used for communal prayer gatherings. It features dragon-patterned carpets, elaborate murals, and a large statue of Shakyamuni Buddha. It can accommodate over 1,000 monks for prayers.
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Dongkor Hall: Built in 1749, this hall is dedicated to the study of Tibetan Buddhist astronomy, mathematics, and time cycles. It is the tallest building in the monastery and was originally granted the name Guangjue Temple by Emperor Qianlong in 1756.
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Qieyilin Hall: A place of learning for Buddhist philosophy, featuring a 10-meter-high Maitreya Buddha statue.
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Ahui Hall: Located on the highest point of the monastery, this hall is dedicated to medical and tantric studies.
Notable Monasterial Buildings:
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Suguqin Palace (苏古沁宫): Located at the forefront of the monastery, this three-story building features the monastery’s largest copper statues and serves as the center for prayers.
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Sumeru Tower (塔陵): Located at the top of the monastery, this small stupa houses the relics of past living Buddhas.
Buddhist Education and Culture:
Wudangzhao is renowned for its educational system, featuring separate divisions for Tibetan Buddhist studies:
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Kālacakra Division (时轮学部): Focuses on the study of time cycles, astronomy, and Tibetan calendar systems.
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Exoteric Buddhism Division (显教学部): Dedicated to the study of Buddhist teachings and philosophy.
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Esoteric Buddhism Division (密宗学部): Specializes in tantric practices.
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Bodhi Path Division (菩提道学部): The most recent addition, teaching the Bodhisattva path and ethics.
Living Buddha Lineage
The monastery is also famous for its lineage of living Buddhas. The first living Buddha, Lobsang Gyalatso, was a renowned scholar in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and was instrumental in the monastery’s establishment. His successors, including the seventh living Buddha who passed away in 1955, have played a significant role in the development of the monastery. The current (eighth) living Buddha was found in 2006.
Cultural and Spiritual Events
Wudangzhao hosts two major annual events:
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Temple Fair and Spring Festival: Held during the lunar July 25th to August 1st, this event includes prayer ceremonies and traditional Mongolian dances.
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Spring Rituals (春祭): Celebrated on the 21st of the third lunar month, the ritual is marked by offerings, prayers, and traditional Mongolian games such as horse racing, archery, and wrestling.
Cultural Heritage and Preservation
The monastery houses an extensive collection of Buddhist relics, thangka paintings, and ancient scriptures. Wudangzhao’s artifacts include valuable items such as Qing Dynasty porcelain, sacred statues, and finely crafted mandala copper cities. The monastery’s management has taken great care to preserve its collections, with an official registry of nearly 2000 items completed in 2011.
Local Cuisine and Food
The local cuisine reflects the flavors of Northwestern China, with dishes predominantly featuring beef, lamb, and various noodles. Baotou, located nearby, is famous for its vibrant street food scene, where visitors can taste unique delicacies such as fermented mare’s milk, smoked chicken, and the region’s iconic “guokui” bread.
Popular Local Snacks:
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Fermented Mare’s Milk (马奶酒)
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Oatmeal (燕麦片)
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Smoked Chicken (熏鸡)
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Vegetarian Guokui (素锅盔)
How to Get There
Travel with China Dragon Tours(Top Recommended)
If you want to get rid of hustle of public transportation and troublesome navigation, you can book a private tour package which covers sightseeing dining and transfer from us. Our local tour guide and driver will escort you to Wudangzhao with speed and convenience, and take care of all the details. You just need to focus on sightseeing.
Independent Travel
Take No.7 bus (first and last: 07:10-17:20) from the square in front of the east railway station in Donghe District, Baotou, about 2 hours by car;
Take No. 19 (first and last shift: 08:50 – 16:10) from Chater, Kundulun District, Baotou, about 2 hours and 50 minutes by car.
Useful Travel Tips
Best Time to Travel
Every year, on March 21 of the lunar calendar, a Spring Festival ceremony is held in the main hall. On this day, people come here from all directions to offer hada, incense and sacrifice. After the ceremony, there are also traditional activities such as horse racing, archery and wrestling.
Flavor Food
Baotou’s catering features still have a strong northwest flavor, mainly cattle and sheep pasta. Baotou’s flavor snacks include horse milk wine, oatmeal, smoked chicken, vegetable pot helmets, etc. In addition, at the intersection of Huancheng Road and nanmenwai street, there are night market stalls where you can taste all kinds of local snacks, and the price is very cheap.
Accommodation
There are hotels of various grades in Baotou city. You can choose places with convenient transportation. There are some Hotels with good service and environment in the South Gate Street in front of the east railway station. In addition, in the west of the city and in front of the municipal government, there are also a large number of hotels on the steel street, which can solve the accommodation problem for you.
More Attractions in Inner Mongolia
● Great Khingan Mountains in Inner Mongolia
● Hulunbuir Grassland in Inner Mongolia
Edited by Winnie/张赢