Genghis Khan Temple in Xing'an League

Genghis Khan Temple in Xing'an League

The Genghis Khan Temple in Xing'an League is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural relics protection unit of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

The Genghis Khan Temple is situated atop the 350.4-meter-high Khan Mountain in the northern part of Ulanhot City and forms an important part of Khan Mountain Park. The temple building features a "mountain"-shaped outline, with a central main hall standing 2.8 meters tall, and two side halls on the east and west sides each reaching 16.62 meters in height. The building covers a floor area of 322 square meters and is characterized by a round upper section with a square base, along with a symmetrical central axis. At the center of the main hall's marble platform sits a 2.8-meter-tall, 2.6-ton bronze statue of Genghis Khan. On either side are displayed weapons from the Yuan Dynasty, while the east and west side halls exhibit clothing, scrolls, and utensils from the same period. The ceilings of the halls are painted with ancient Mongolian patterns, and the floors are covered with floral carpets. The walls feature large murals depicting the great achievements of Genghis Khan. With its white-golden roof and solemn ambiance, the temple can be admired from miles around. The temple was initially built in May 1940 and completed in October 1944, covering a total area of 68,000 square meters.

The Genghis Khan Temple integrates the architectural styles of the Mongolian, Han, and Tibetan ethnic groups, adopting the traditional Chinese Han approach of central-axis symmetry. Its main structure features a round top and square base, with a green roof and white walls, showcasing typical Mongolian and Tibetan architectural characteristics.

The Genghis Khan Temple faces south with its back to the north, combining a square base with a round upper section. The temple building has a "mountain"-shaped layout, with a 28-meter-tall central main hall and two 16.62-meter-tall side halls, totaling nine spires. The spires are inlaid with green glazed tiles, and the central round dome of the main hall hangs a blue rectangular plaque inscribed with “Genghis Khan Temple” in both Mongolian and Chinese. The temple building covers a floor area of 822 square meters. The main hall contains 16 large red-painted pillars, each 0.68 meters in diameter. At the center of the marble platform sits a 2.8-meter-tall, 2.6-ton bronze statue of Genghis Khan, with Yuan Dynasty weapons displayed on either side. The east and west side halls showcase Yuan Dynasty clothing, scrolls, and utensils. The ceilings of the three halls are adorned with ancient Mongolian patterns, while the walls of the halls and corridors feature calligraphy of Genghis Khan’s maxims and large murals painted by contemporary artist Si Qin. Among them, murals such as "Temujin in His Youth," "Genghis Khan Unifying the Mongol Tribes," "The Founding of the Mongol Empire," "Mongol Iron Cavalry," and "Connecting East and West" were included in the 1989 publication "Illustrated Biographies from the Secret History of the Mongols" by the Ethnic Publishing House.

After its completion, the Genghis Khan Temple was cherished by the local Mongolian people. After the liberation, both the People's Government of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and the People's Government of Ulanhot City designated the temple as a key cultural relic for protection. It also hosted exhibitions showcasing industrial, agricultural, and pastoral production achievements. In 1983, the government of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region allocated special funds, supplemented by local fundraising, to begin a comprehensive restoration of the temple and to build Khan Mountain Park at its foot.

The main hall of the temple covers a floor area of 822 square meters. The interior is supported by 16 large red-painted pillars, each with a diameter of 0.68 meters. At the center of the main hall’s northern side, on a marble pedestal, stands a 2.8-meter-tall, 2.6-ton gilded bronze statue of Genghis Khan, dignified and imposing. The atmosphere inside the temple is solemn and majestic. The surrounding walls of the temple are 2.8 meters high and extend over 1,000 meters, constructed with gray-topped white walls. At the center of the southern wall stands a 10.8-meter-tall mountain gate with a blue-glazed tile roof. Between the mountain gate and the temple, a gradual upward slope is paved with granite steps—10 meters wide and 180 meters long—divided into nine sets of nine steps each. To the southeast of the main hall lies the "Genghis Khan Maxims Corridor," featuring dozens of black stone tablets engraved with Genghis Khan’s maxims. Both sides of the tablets display bilingual text in Mongolian and Chinese, with diverse calligraphy styles. Strolling through the corridor offers both philosophical insights and aesthetic enjoyment. South of the corridor lies the site of the "Sacred Horse Stables." To the southwest of the main hall stands a circular white Mongolian yurt-style structure, originally used to store scriptures and now functioning as an exhibition hall. It displays materials on Genghis Khan’s life and achievements, some cultural relics, information about the temple’s 60-year history, as well as photos and inscriptions from visits by party, state, and regional leaders and notable figures.

The temple complex spans an area of 56,280 square meters, covered with lush greenery including pine trees, elm trees, and apricot trees. Near the mountain gate of the temple, not far from the entrance of Khan Mountain Park, eight bronze horse statues are placed in the middle of the road. Each horse is uniquely shaped and lifelike, and it is said they were Genghis Khan’s favorite steeds before his rise to power.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Major National Historical and Cultural Sites