China attractions - Wudangzhao Lamasery (Wudang Zhao) is composed of six halls for chanting Buddhist scriptures, three Living Buddha mansions, one mausoleum and multiple lama dormitories. All of the buildings have a Tibetan-style, flat-topped, square structure. All of the buildings have a Tibetan-style, flat-topped and square structure. All the buildings have a special appeal at different levels. Among the pine and cypress trees, the temple looks even grander.
It is surrounded by mountains. Located about 70 kilometres northeast of Baotou, the branch of Buddhism practiced here is of the Yellow Hat Sect (Gelukpa), which has had a strong following in Mongolia ever since the Mongols invaded Tibet in the 13th century. In modern times, this area is still attracting a multitude of pilgrims.
Located about 70km to the northeast of Baotou, the 250-year-old Lamasery is the largest of its kind in western Inner Mongolia. The style of Buddhism that is practiced here, of the Yellow Hat Sect (Gelukpa), has a strong following in Mongolia, ever since the Mongols invaded Tibet in the thirteenth century, and nowadays this area still attracts pilgrims in a multitude. The Lamasery is named Wudangzhao, literally Willow Lamasery in Mongolian, because the area around the temple has long been covered by these wispy trees.
Rimulun Hall: Built in 1892, it was a Doctrine Department and the place to study the history of Lamaism and its doctrine and canons. A bronze statue of Tsongkhapa with a height of 9 meters is worshipped in the center of the hall and the statue is the biggest one of Tsongkhapa in Inner Mongolia. One-thousand small statues of Tsongkhapa are worshipped in the two areas upstairs and downstairs.
Ahui Hall: Built in 1800, this was the place for medical education. Therefore, it was called the "Medical Department" or "Medical School." Two wings -"Esoteric Recipes" and "Medicine" - were set up. The 18 arhat and the four deva-kings of the four quarters statue, steep and vivid clay sculpture cave, apothecary Buddha, Amitabha and White Tara are worshipped in the hall.
Queyilin Hall: Built in 1835, it was second in scale only to Suguqin Hall. This was a place for special instruction in doctrine, and was therefore known as the "Religion Department" or "Philosophy School." The highest Sakyamuni Buddha bronze statue in Wudangzhao is in the hall. With a height of 10 meters, it is the biggest bronze Buddha statue in Inner Mongolia.
Dongkuo'er Hall: Built in 1749, Dongkuo'er is a central building of Wudangzhao, as this was the place for the teaching of astronomy, geography, divinity, the calendar and mathematics. It was also named the "Auspicious and Mathematics School." Every March 15, an academic exam was held here. Both the examinees and examiner stood on the spacious platform in front of the hall. The examiner asked questions and the examinees answered and argued with each other.
Suguqin Hall: Built in 1757, it is the biggest building in Wudangzhao, located in the forefront of the temple. The front hall is for chanting Buddhist scriptures. The Sakyamuni statue and 31 Bodhisattva statues are in the center. There are frescos depicting Sakyamuni's life story on both sides of the hall. Suguqin Hall is the gathering place of the temple.
Hostels: If you are still in the monastery after the last minibus, and do not wish to take a pricey taxi ride, there is a dorm in the monastery that has very simple facilities for between RMB10-15.
Opening hours: 8am-6pm.
Cost: RMB15.
How to get there and away: The easiest way to get to the lamasery is to take a minibus (about RMB10) from outside the Donghe railway station, at around 8am (sometimes after). If this fails you may take bus No.7, also from near the railway station, to its terminus at Shiguai (40km from Baotou). From the Shigai bus stop there are normally minibuses that will take you the rest of the way (25km), but if there are none, a taxi from here should be no more than RMB30. It is also possible to take a tour with CITS, although this is not really worthwhile, except for convenience. Getting back there are a number of minibuses that will take you before 5pm.