[Introduction] With the simple folk customs of Inner Mongolia, the long-standing Tibetan and Mongolian medical culture, the grand temple architectural complexes, the ancient and mysterious religious ceremonies, the colorful folk activities, the health-preserving hot spring medicinal baths, the green and safe farm produce, the uniquely distinctive vegetarian cuisine, as well as the widely told legends of the magical “Dragon Pillar” and the “One Supreme and Four Uniques”… This is the national AAAA-level tourist attraction — Zhunge’er Zhao Tourist Area.
Overview of Zhunge’er Zhao Tourist Area
Zhunge’er Zhao Tourist Area is a comprehensive tourism destination developed by Manshi Group, centered around the temple area and structured around three main product lines: culture, wellness, and leisure. Covering an area of 14.88 square kilometers with a total investment of 998 million yuan, the area integrates functions such as the inheritance of Buddhist culture, showcasing ethnic customs, demonstrating ecological agriculture, and offering leisure, vacation, and wellness experiences. It was rated as a National Key Scenic Spot and awarded the status of a National AAAA-level Tourist Attraction in 2014.
The core of Zhunge’er Zhao Tourist Area is Zhunge’er Zhao (Baotang Temple), which was first built in the second year of the Tianqi era during the Ming Dynasty (i.e., 1622 AD). It is the largest, oldest, and best-preserved Gelug sect Tibetan Buddhist temple complex in Ordos City. After nearly 400 years of history, it has gradually formed the unique culture of Zhunge’er Zhao. In 1985, it was designated as a key cultural relic protection unit at the autonomous region level, and in 2013, it was listed as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. After years of restoration by Manshi Group, its historical grandeur has been revived. On October 22, 2016, the grand consecration ceremony for the restored Zhunge’er Zhao was held, marking the completion of the restoration project.
The development of Zhunge’er Zhao Tourist Area fills a gap in this type of tourism product in Ordos City and serves as an important addition and enhancement to the golden tourism circle centered around Kangbashi.
A sacred retreat away from worldly hustle and bustle
Zhunge’er Zhao Tourist Area is a paradise away from the noise of the world. There are no honking vehicles, no neon lights or nightlife — only tranquility. The unpolluted air allows you to breathe deeply without worry, the blue sky so clear it needs no filter, and the water safe enough to drink directly. All of these help calm your originally restless heart, making you fall in love with this serene and pristine paradise. Manshi Group developed and grew here, and later gave back to society by restoring Zhunge’er Zhao, which in Buddhism is seen as an act of merit. As a result, Zhunge’er Zhao Tourist Area has become known as a place of collective virtue.
Bridge of Serenity
Eight Pagodas
Mysterious Tibetan Buddhist Culture
Zhunge’er Zhao is a Gelug sect Tibetan Buddhist monastery that fully preserves the religious rituals and ceremonies of the Gelug tradition. It not only carries forward the teachings of self-cultivation and study in Tibetan Buddhism but also retains the traditions of Tibetan Buddhist medicine. The Bodhi Clinic, which has existed here for over 200 years, still treats people to this day.
Profound Ethnic and Historical Culture
Zhunge’er Zhao has witnessed the spread and prosperity of Tibetan Buddhism in Mongolian regions. As a key hub for the dissemination of Tibetan Buddhism in Southern Mongolia, it has been part of many significant historical events. The site reflects the unity and integration of Mongolian, Tibetan, Han, and Manchu peoples, showcasing the concentrated historical, cultural, and folk heritage of all ethnicities. It also stands as a testament to the history of Zhunge’er Banner and even the entire Ordos region.
Rich Local Folk Culture
Zhunge’er Zhao is large in scale and has a long history. Over time, it has formed a relatively concentrated community area, where to this day, local residents still preserve traditional folk practices such as turning the Mandala, attending temple fairs, gathering, and walking through the Nine-Curve Yellow River Formation.
Majestic Temple Architectural Culture
The architecture of Zhunge’er Zhao is grand and spectacular, strictly regulated, predominantly in Han-style design with Tibetan elements incorporated and accented by Mongolian architectural features. The most significant structures, the Grand Main Hall and the Esoteric Buddha Hall, feature hip-and-gable roofs and are the largest and highest-ranked buildings. Slightly less prominent but still significant, the Medicine Buddha Hall and others use the hip-and-gable roof style. The Five-Temple and the Three-Buddha Hall adopt Tibetan architectural styles, reflecting the continuation of the temple’s sect traditions. The yellow and green glazed tile roofs symbolize nobility.
Grand Temple Architectural Complex
Cham Dance
Long-Standing Mongolian and Tibetan Wellness Culture
Tibetan-Mongolian Wellness is a cultural tourism product launched by Zhunge’er Zhao Tourist Area. Leveraging the growing trend of medical and wellness tourism, and focusing on wellness as its core, it deeply explores traditional Tibetan and Mongolian medicine, integrates the religious culture of the Medicine Buddha, and combines medical science, wellness, and high-end leisure to form a comprehensive and high-standard wellness and medical experience zone.
A Naturally Superior Wellness Retreat
The hot springs developed in Zhunge’er Zhao Tourist Area are rich in chemical elements such as strontium, barium, bromine, and fluorine, offering significant therapeutic effects for neuralgia, rheumatism, and skin conditions. Moreover, the tourist area has developed Tibetan and Mongolian herbal medicines tailored to various ailments for use in medicinal baths, helping visitors relax while treating their physical discomforts.
The tourist area also features an ecological farm base covering over 2,000 acres, adhering to the philosophy of “purely green and pollution-free,” committed to producing genuinely safe green organic vegetables and meats. The base also includes traditional workshops mainly producing freshly pressed hemp oil, handmade tofu, and alum-free starch noodles. Visitors can enjoy recreational activities while personally experiencing food production and harvesting fresh seasonal vegetables.
Admire the temples, listen to Zen sounds; stroll through temple fairs and markets; soak in hot springs, sip fragrant tea; watch Cham dances, join mantra gatherings; hear folk songs drift afar, and smell the fragrance of wildflowers. Experience authentic Mongolian and Tibetan culture and embark on a soul-purifying journey. At Zhunge’er Zhao Tourist Area, you will enjoy a refreshing and unique cultural experience unlike any other.
This August, stay tuned for the captivating unveiling of Zhunge’er Zhao Tourist Area.
Traffic Information Tips for Zhunge’er Zhao Tourist Area:
1. Main transportation from Ordos Railway Station to the tourist area: taxi
2. Take the airport shuttle bus from Ordos Airport to Kangbashi, then take a taxi from Kangbashi to the tourist area.
3. From Dongsheng Long-Distance Bus Station, you can either take a taxi to the tourist area or take the bus to Gongjiata. Get off at the 38-kilometer mark on Baofu Road. (Bus departure times from Dongsheng to Gongjiata: 14:20 and 16:10.)