Bairin Temple

Bairin Temple

Bairin Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Bairin Temple is located in the government seat of Darhan Muminggan Joint Banner, Baotou City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It was built in the 42nd year of the Kangxi reign (1702 AD). The name “Bairin Temple” is a phonetic derivation from “Daheran Beile Temple” and is also known as the Wulijitao Hai (Auspicious Bay) Monastery Complex. The temple complex is composed of 5 main halls, 9 stupas, and 36 courtyards built in Tibetan architectural style, covering a total area of over 8,000 square meters. The halls and stupas feature intricately carved beams and painted rafters, with numerous pillars lining the corridors and vividly colored murals on the walls depicting stories from Buddhist scriptures, all exquisitely crafted. A plaque inscribed with the imperial name “Guangfu Temple,” bestowed by Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, hangs above the main entrance of the Great Buddha’s Hall.

According to records, at its peak, the temple housed over 1,200 monks. Since its establishment, Bairin Temple has always been a hub of commerce and trade, as well as a distribution center for goods on the Darhan Grassland, earning it the nickname “Grassland Port.” It served as the political, economic, and Buddhist activity center of northern Inner Mongolia and was also a strategic transportation route connecting the Gobi regions of the south with Xinjiang, making it a contested military stronghold. In February and November of 1936, the armed anti-Japanese uprising and the Battle of Bairin Temple shook both China and the world. The area around Bairin Temple features nine passes, commonly referred to as the “Nine Dragon Passes.” At the mountaintop one kilometer west of the West Pass lies the ruins of Emperor Kangxi’s military camp, where the Qing emperor stayed in 1694 while personally leading troops to suppress the rebellion of Galdan. Today, visitors can still see stone-lined wells and remnants of military fortifications. Since 1963, Bairin Temple has been developed into a tourist destination. In addition to viewing the ancient and majestic temples and historical sites, summer visitors can also participate in the annual Nadam Fair.

In the 1930s, Bairin Temple gained nationwide fame due to the Bairin Temple Uprising and the Battle of Bairin Temple. As cars pass by the clear Bairin River, visitors are greeted by a statue of a cavalryman on horseback with a raised sword and a monument commemorating the anti-Japanese armed uprising standing atop a hill, symbolizing the Mongolian people's brave first strike in the fight against Japanese aggression. Among the grasslands of Inner Mongolia, Bairin Temple is one of the most proud revolutionary holy sites for Mongolians. On February 21, 1936, in the face of Imperial Japan’s sinister plan to “conquer China by first conquering Manchuria and Mongolia,” comrades including the then Secretary of the West Mongolia Working Committee of the Party led over a thousand patriotic soldiers from the Bairin Temple Mongolian Autonomous Government Security Team in a courageous armed uprising.

The victory at Bairin Temple boosted the morale of the entire nation in resisting the war and dealt a heavy blow to the Japanese army. Chairman Mao Zedong, then in northern Shaanxi, sent a telegram to Fu Zuoyi stating, “The victory in the Suiyuan resistance is the prelude to the national resistance,” offering high praise. The renowned journalist Fan Changjiang provided a detailed report on the battle, praising it as “opening a new page in the glorious history of the nation.”

Aside from the golden-roofed and red-eaved buildings of the temples, Bairin Temple Town gives the impression of a modern city. The rise and fall of history and the scars of war have not left many marks here. Bright streets, a spacious square in front of the temple, a strong commercial atmosphere, and fashionably dressed pedestrians all exude a vibrant sense of modernity.

The Guangfu Temple in the town, bestowed its name by Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, is also known as “Beile Temple,” but was later mistakenly referred to as “Bairin Temple” due to the abundance of larks in the area. The temple structures follow Tibetan architectural styles, featuring elaborately carved beams, painted rafters, numerous pillars, and vivid murals depicting Buddhist stories on the walls. It is said that there were once 36 courtyards here, making it a grand religious temple. However, today, many of the buildings have been destroyed.

Legend has it that during Emperor Kangxi’s western campaign, he stationed troops on Daughter Mountain south of the temple. One night, he heard the sounds of various musical instruments competing in harmony, and behind the mountain, two springs gushed forth like two dragons playing with a pearl. Thus, the temple was built to suppress the “kingly aura.” No residences were allowed within a 20-li radius to prevent the birth of a new emperor.

However, due to the large number of monks and flourishing incense offerings, the area still developed into a town.

Surrounded by overlapping peaks and majestic mountains, Bairin Temple is situated where nine passes connect in all directions. During floods, the area resembles nine dragons playing in water. It was a gathering place for merchants on the grassland and the intersection of two ancient “camel caravan routes”—one from Zhangjiakou to Urumqi and the Tianshan region, and the other from Hohhot to Ulaanbaatar—making it a vital transportation hub and a contested military site throughout history. Today, Bairin Temple is the political, economic, and cultural center of the Darhan-Muminggan Grassland.

Darhan Muminggan Banner is also the hometown of the “Heroic Sisters of the Grassland” and a magical land that has produced many heroes. Wang Yi, director of the Banner Party Committee Office, said that in recent years, to protect and restore the grassland ecology, the banner has relocated residents and expanded the town, investing over 100 million yuan in urban renovation and striving to build a beautiful grassland city.

Bairin Temple Town: Bairin Temple Town is the political, economic, and cultural center of Darhan Muminggan Banner. The town covers an administrative area of 69.7 square kilometers, with an urban area of 4 square kilometers. There are 87 resident government agencies, a total population of 28,300, including 25,300 permanent residents and 3,000 floating residents. The town is divided into 8 community neighborhood committees, 1 village committee, and 11 party branches. There are currently 259 party members, including 202 resident party members, 18 farmer and herder party members, and 34 cadre and staff party members. The town administers 4 secondary departments: the Urban Management Brigade, Sanitation Station, Planning... More details about Bairin Temple Town++