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| Wudangzhao Monastery |
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The Wudangzhao Lamasery (Wudang zhao) is the biggest tourist attraction
near to the city, and thus is often flooded with both Chinese and
foreign faces, that somewhat swamp the charm of the place. The Lamasery
itself is of traditional, pretty Tibetan architecture, with white
walls and flattened roofs, and was allegedly modeled after its distant
Tibetan cousin, the Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse. This, and the
fact that you can get away from it all in the nearby hills, still
make this attraction worth going to see.
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.
In its prime Wudangzhao had over 1,200 resident monks, but these
numbers have dwindled down to but a few, leaving the 2,500 room
complex active, but filled mainly by tourists and believers. The
complex was built in 1749, and covers a total area of approximately
50 acres. It has been home to a number of "Living Buddhas",
seven of whose ashes have been deposited in one of the main halls.
In total the place has six main halls, the Sugabi Prayer Hall (Sugabi
tang) being the most elaborate. There are also a large collection
of Buddhist art in the lamasery, ranging from ancient sculptures
to murals of gold, silver, copper, wood and even soil.
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. |
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