Set in the town of Hohhot, in inner Mongolia the Da Zhao Temple also known as the Yikezhao Temple, is a popular attraction in this part of the world. Being the city’s largest temple, it boasts of many murals and structures.
The Buddhist Monastery actually shot to fame during the Qing Dynasty, due to a visit paid to the temple by Emperor Kangxi during the 1600s. Due to the prestigious visit the temple was dedicated to the emperor. Thereafter a tablet which proclaimed the message ‘Long live the Emperor’ was placed before a silver Buddha statute called Sakyamuni. This practice meant that unlike other temples in the province, it did not engage in the practice of looking for a new living Buddha after one passes on.
In Mongolian, the temple derives its meaning from the words ‘large temple’, which is quiet evident when wandering about its many halls. However, since the Sakyamuni statue is made out of silver it’s also known among the local people as the Silver Buddha Temple.
A highlight of the temple is the Three Marvelous Treasures, part of the most sacred scriptures in the temple. Another feature is the carved dragons on the pillars on either side of the statue of the Silver Buddha statue which has made this temple popular among the locals. The statue of the silver Buddha is over 400 years old and towers at over 2 meters in height.
Visitors to the temple will realize that caretakers of the temple have still managed to retain the original layout of the place, which dates back to that of the Han Dynasty. The main hall derives its architectural elements from both Tibetan as well as the Han period. The hall is divided into three sections, which is typical of any Lama temple.
The front section of the hall has three rooms. While the floor beneath is where the front hall is and the ground floor consists of a winding corridor. The floor area on the ground floor is quite large. Usually it is the middle of the hall that is used as a place to recite scriptures. In the centre of the hall is where the Silver Sakyamuni is worshipped by followers.
Another place to visit in Huhhot is Qingcheng Park, which is ideal for an evening stroll. For those who would like to wake up to its views, then checking into the
Shangri-La Hotel Huhhot, offers just that. In addition, this
hotel in Huhhot is set in the commercial district of the city so getting about to do a bit of shopping is a breeze.
