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| Genghis Khan's Mausoleum |
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Genghis Khan, "Khan of Khans", was the great leader of Mongolians.
At the end of 12th century, he united Mongolian tribes and challenged
other powers to expand his huge Mongolian empire, which extended from
South China to the Caspian Sea. In 1277, Khan attacked the West Xia
Kingdom (presently Ningxia) and encountered strong resistance. He
died of disease and age. The great emperor was later buried secretly
according to Mongolian custom. It says that after the burial 2,000
men were slaughtered by some 800 soldiers who were in turn executed
so that the location of the real tomb remains a secret.
Genghis Khan's Mausoleum, rebuilt in 1954, 185 kilometers south
of Baotou, is a mausoleum, in which only his clothing is buried
in memory of the great leader. The 5.5 hectares mausoleum includes
three giant yurt halls which house coffins of the Khan, his wife,
his son and his generals.There are four sacrifice ceremonies held
annually to commemorate the great hero and leader of the Mongolian
people. The ceremony, held on March 21st on lunar calendar, is the
grandest. After the ceremony, horse racing, archery and wrestling
are held as entertainment.
The halls are all connected and the central hall houses a 5 meter
(52ft) statue of Khan against the backdrop of a map of his 13th
century empire. The chances that the actual remains of Genghis Khan
are housed in this so-called mausoleum are slim to none. But those
tourists who got tired of Chairman Mao's cult may be interested
to see the almost god-like status to which Genghis Khan has been
elevated. After his death, a tribe of Khan's followers dedicated
themselves to guarding his remains and hosting memorial services
in his honor. They were effective until WWII, when many relics of
the great Khan were commandeered by a Japanese government intent
on establishing a Mongolian puppet state. The Chinese retrieved
them and in 1955 took them out of safekeeping to build this gigantic
shrine, thus celebrating the creation of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous
Region.
The Chinese government heralds the mausoleum as one of the "Forty
Best Famous Tourism Scenic Spots," and that's just what it
is, a tourist attraction. Ghenghis Khan's remains (or lack thereof)
do not illicit much visual excitement. The entrance is marked by
a large bronze statue of the great man himself surrounded not by
galloping horses or waving grasslands, but by rows of remarkably
identical souvenir shops. In the front of the main hall sits yet
another massive statue of Genghis Khan (this one is marble); behind
him a map shows the extent of his once-great empire. The back room
contains an altar, Ghenghis Khan's "remains," and offerings
of fiery Mongolian spirits. Two side halls contain remains of relatives
as well as some recovered pottery and metalwork. The walls of all
the halls are covered with colorful murals depicting the life and
exploits of the Khan. |
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