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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.
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.
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