Hohhot
Wed, 04/28/2010 - 05:31
| Located north of the Great Wall and 580 km (360 mi) west of Beijing, Hohhot is the capital of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Hohhot means "Blue City" in Mongolian language. The Chinese transliteration is "Huhehaote." The origin of the city can be traced back to the 16th century, when a Mongol prince erected the earliest buildings in the city. The emerging city ater was nicknamed "City of Temples" due to the large number of Buddhist establishments in the region. In the modern times Hohhot has been greatly expanded, and the commercial center of the city today is the neighborhood around the intersection of Xilinguole Road and Zhongshan Road. | | | |  | Attractions | Da Zhao Si (Great Temple)Also known as Wuliang Si (Temple of the Infinite), Da Zhao Temple is among the oldest structures in Hohhot and a leading tourist attraction in the region. Created in the late 16th century, Da Zhao Temple played an important role in the propagation of Tibetan Buddhism in Mongolia. Among the treasures sheltered in the temple are a silver statue of Buddha, dragon sculpture, and historical wall paintings. The temple occupies 3 hectares of land and is located on Saishanglao Street, just off Danan Avenue.
Five-Pagoda Temple (Wu Ta Si)The main building of this temple, five pagodas that stand next to one another, were constructed in the early 18th century. On the towers and their base there are inscriptions in Mongolian, Tibetan and Sanskrit, as well as sculpted Buddhist and astronomical icons and symbols. The Five-Pagoda Temple is located in the southeastern part of old Hohhot, about half a kilometer east of Xilitu Zhao (Xilitu Temple) and Da Zhao (Great Temple).
Grasslands (Xilamuren, Gegentala and Huitengxile)When you travel to Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia, you want to go out on the prairie to experience the Mongol way of life, possibly spending a night in a Mongol tent. Grasslands near Hohhot include Xilamuren, 90 km north of the city; Gegentala, 120 km north of the city; Huitengxile, 150 northeast of Hohhot.
Inner Mongolia Museum (Nei Menggu Bowuguan)With 7,000 square meters of exhibition area, the Inner Mongolia Museum makes a comprehensive historical presentation of the life of Mongol people, starting from the earliest traceable times to the present. The museum is located on Xinhua Avenue, half way between Xilinguole Bei Road and the Gulou Overpass.
Palace of Qing Princess - Hohhot City Museum (Qing Gongzhu Fu - Huhehaote Shi Bowuguan)The residential palace was built in the early 18th century. Consisted of five courtyards, the palaces was successively occupied by several princesses of the Qing Dynasty who were married to Mongol princes. The compound is now home of the Hohhot City Museum.
Xilitu Temple (Xilitu Temple)Xilitu Temple is located in the older part of Hohhot, across road (Danan Street) from Da Zhao (Great Temple). The temple was originally built in the late 16th century by a Mongolian prince, who invited the Lhasa-based third-generation Dalai Lama to preside over the temple to preach Tibetan Buddhism. Xilitu is the Chinese transliteration of "Shiretu Juu," which means the "throne temple." The third-generation Dalai Lama Passed away here and his successor, the fourth-generation Dalai Lama was chosen and educated at the temple, who was later returned to Lhasa. Because of its past, Xilitu Temple became the most important Buddhist establishment in Hohhot and Inner Mongolia.
Zhaojun TombWang Zhaojun was a court lady of Han Dynasty who lived in the 1st century B.C. She was married to a king of the Xiongnu who roamed the Mongolian grassland at the time. Wang went with her husband and later played an active part in the interactions between the Han Chinese and the tribal people in the north. Zhao Jun Tomb is 10 km south of central Hohhot. The earthen tome is 1.3 hectares (3.2 acres) in area and 33 meters (108 ft) in height.
| | | Hohhot TransportationAirport:
Hohhot Baita International Airport is 15 km northeast of the city center. The airport is connected to the city by shuttle buses, taxis and city buses.
Railway Station:
Hohhot Railway Station (Huhehaote Huoche Zhan) is located in the northern part of the city, where Xilinguole Bei Road meet Chezhan Dong Street and Chezhan Xi Street.
Long Distance Bus Stations:
Hohhot Long Distance Bus Station (Huhehaote Changtu Qiche Zhan), next to Hohhot Railway Station. Hohhot Long Distance Bus South Station (Huhehaote Changtu Qiche Nan Zhan), on Eerduosi Avenue, east of the street's intersection with Danan Street.
Taxi:
¥6 for the first 2 km; ¥1.3 for each additional km. | | | | | | | | | |
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