Alxa Yuanfu Temple

Alxa Yuanfu Temple

Alxa Yuanfu Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Yuanfu Temple is one of the eight major temples of the Alxa Banner. Located on the north side of Wangfu Street in Bayanhot Town, it is commonly known as the “Prince’s Temple.” Its Tibetan name is “Gekyilin,” and it is one of the key protected ancient-style buildings in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The construction of the main hall began in the seventh year of the Qianlong reign (1742), with surrounding structures gradually added later. In the twenty-fifth year of Qianlong (1760), the Qing emperor bestowed a name upon the temple and presented it with a golden plaque inscribed in Manchu, Tibetan, Mongolian, and Chinese. The entire architectural complex includes over ten halls of various sizes, such as the Grand Scripture Hall, Bodhisattva Hall, Four Heavenly Kings Hall, Scripture-Walking Pagoda, Bell and Drum Tower, Tathagata Hall, Alxa God Hall, Medicine Buddha Hall, and Esoteric Buddhism Hall, totaling more than 200 rooms and covering an area of over 800 square meters. The temple flourished around 1919, housing up to 500 monks. Like other Gelug sect temples, it had a monastic college divided into four major departments, each with its own dedicated hall. Monks at the temple were called Ganjurpa Geshe. The temple still preserves a bronze incense burner cast in the thirty-third year of Qianlong (1768), standing 2.2 meters tall with a diameter of 0.85 meters. There is also a large bell cast in the fifty-fifth year of Qianlong (1790), which produces a resonant sound that echoes throughout Bayanhot Town long after it is struck.

Inner Mongolia Alxa

Bayanhot Town: Bayanhot, meaning “Prosperous City” in Mongolian, is often referred to as the “Little Beijing Beyond the Great Wall.” Originally named Dingyuan Camp, the town has a history of over 300 years since the establishment of the banner. It serves as the seat of government for the Alxa League, Alxa Left Banner, and Bayanhot Town, located in the southeastern part of Alxa Left Banner, at the western foot of the Helan Mountains. It borders Zongbieli Town to the east, Barunbieli Town and Jiargelehsaihan Town to the south, Chaganbulage to the west, and Jilantai Town and Bayannuorigong Sumu to the north. The total area is 5,433.8 square kilometers, with the built-up urban area covering approximately 24 square kilometers. The population includes Mongolian and Han ethnic groups... More detailed information about Bayanhot Town++