Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region • Beizi Temple • One of the Four Great Temples of Mongolia

One of the Four Great Temples of Mongolia: Xilingol Beizi Temple✨✨✨ Beizi Temple, the largest temple in Xilingol League, is also one of the four great temples in Inner Mongolia. Beizi Temple, whose Mongolian name is "Bandida Gegen Temple" and Chinese name is "Chongshan Temple," was first built in the eighth year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1743). It was meticulously constructed over seven generations of Living Buddhas, costing 1.74 million taels of silver and covering an area of 1.2 square kilometers. The temple is named after Beizi Balajidorji, who oversaw its construction. The layout of Beizi Temple is unique. It consists of seven temples enclosed by red walls, arranged side by side. The orientation of these temples is also distinctive, facing southeast and sitting northwest. This breaks with the traditional Chinese architectural practice of aligning with the north-south meridian, instead following the orientation of the doors of Mongolian yurts. This architectural orientation reflects Mongolian customs, as it helps to block the cold northwest wind in winter and allows for the entry of cool southeast air in summer. Behind Beizi Temple is the Thirteen Ovoo Mountain (also known as "Erdun Ovoo Mountain," named in memory of the charitable old herdsman Erdun). Ovoos are an important symbol in Tibetan Buddhism and Mongolian architecture. They are mounds of stones, earth, or wood built by hand. Originally, they served as landmarks on the vast grasslands, helping people to identify directions or mark pasture boundaries. Later, they gradually evolved into symbols for worshipping mountain gods, road gods, and praying for good harvests, family happiness, and peace. Erdun Ovoo is an excellent place to enjoy the sunset in the evening. 🎫Tickets: Free (bring your ID card for registration) ⏰Opening hours: 8:00–18:00 📍📍Navigation: Beizi Temple (free parking lot nearby) 🌈🌈🌈Tips: 1⃣️ Be sure to check in at the top of Ovoo Mountain⚠️. The panoramic view of Xilinghot is stunning and very photogenic. You can reach the top by following the steps along the outside of the red wall. 1⃣️ Tickets🎫: Free entry with ID card or driver's license. No parking fee, but parking spaces are limited. It is recommended to park nearby and walk over. 2⃣️ Opening hours: 8:00–18:00 (closed for a period at midday) 3⃣️ Transportation: 🚗Self-driving: Navigate directly to Beizi Temple. There are many free parking lots around the scenic area. 🚕Taxi: It is also very convenient to take a taxi directly from Xilinghot city center. The fare starts at the base rate.