Dazhao Temple

Dazhao was founded in 1580 by Altan Khan, the Tümed Mongol ruler who invited the Tibetan hierarch later recognised as the third Dalai Lama and did much to establish Gelugpa Buddhism among the Mongols. The temple's principal image is a Sakyamuni Buddha cast in silver, from which its Mongolian name, the silver Buddha temple, derives, and it is one of the few Mongolian monasteries to have avoided serious damage over the centuries. The complex mixes Han Chinese hall architecture with Tibetan decoration and Mongolian elements. Around it the rebuilt old town streets hold shops and the neighbouring Xilituzhao temple, and the Five Pagoda Temple with its carved Buddha reliefs is a short walk.

What you actually see

• The silver Buddha - the 1580s Sakyamuni image at the heart of the temple.
• The mixed architecture - Han halls with Tibetan and Mongolian detailing.
• The murals and carvings - decorative work through the halls.
• The old town - the rebuilt streets and neighbouring temples around it.

When to go

May to October for comfortable weather; Hohhot winters are cold and dry. Buddhist festival days bring worshippers and ceremonies. The temple is active and busy in the morning.

Honest expectations

The old town around the temple is largely reconstructed for tourism. Photography inside the halls is restricted. The complex is compact and takes about an hour unless a ceremony is under way.

Nearby

The Five Pagoda Temple is a short walk; Wudangzhao lies far north near Baotou.