Wudangzhao Monastery
“Wudang” means willow and “Zhao” means monastery in Mongolian. “Wudangzhao” is the monastery built near willows and it is a famous scenic spot in Baotou.”Wudangzhao” is Badageer Monastery in Mongolian and was built in Qing Dynasty in 1749. The first living Buddha Luobusangjialacuo Lama of this monastery selected the place himself, and built it according to the monastery pattern brought from Tibet.
Located about 70km to the northeast of Baotou, the 250-year-old Lamasery is the largest of its kind in western Inner Mongolia. The style of Buddhism that is practiced here, of the Yellow Hat Sect (Gelukpa), has a strong following in Mongolia, ever since the Mongols invaded Tibet in the thirteenth century, and nowadays this area still attracts pilgrims in a multitude. The Lamasery is named Wudangzhao, literally Willow Lamasery in Mongolian, because the area around the temple has long been covered by these wispy trees.
In its prime Wudangzhao had over 1,200 resident monks, but these numbers have dwindled down to but a few, leaving the 2,500 room complex active, but filled mainly by tourists and believers. The complex was built in 1749, and covers a total area of approximately 50 acres. It has been home to a number of “Living Buddhas”, seven of whose ashes have been deposited in one of the main halls. In total the place has six main halls, the Sugabi Prayer Hall (Sugabi tang) being the most elaborate. There are also a large collection of Buddhist art in the lamasery, ranging from ancient sculptures to murals of gold, silver, copper, wood and even soil.
The outer walls are spotless and orderly with dark colonnade and window holes and the roof is plat-board type. The main constructions lie on the conspicuous slope inside the valley.
As you enter the door of the monastery, you will see the palace of Suguqin where people gathered to read scriptures. The displays inside the palace are resplendent and magnificent, and the pillars inside the lecture hall were wraps with woolen blankets veined with dragons.
There are carpets on the ground fully and colorful paintings on the walls. The statues of the Gautama Buddha, the forefather of the Shamanism Tsongkhapa and the successive Buddhism masters are enshrined in the back hall. Coordinating with the Buddhism religious doctrine taught it is the Querenlin palace and inside which the 10 meters high bronze statue of the Gautama is the largest bronze statue of Buddha inside the monastery.
Standing highly on the Suguqing Palace and the Querenlin palace is the Dongkuoer palace and it is the place for teaching astronomy and geography. On the lintel, there hung a tablet written “the Guangjue Monastery” in four languages – Chinese, Manchuria, Mongolian, and Tibet.
There is a scripture platform in front of the palace and it is the place for Lama studying scriptures and holding oral tests. Walking more, you will see the Ahui palace located the highest place on the slope and it is the Board of Education that medical science is pass on. While the Rimulun palace is the religious doctrine Board of Education and it is the place that Lama’s history, their religious doctrine, and canon are pass on.
The Wudangzhao Monastery once invited 7 generations incarnate Buddha, so the successive incarnate Buddha utensils, precious stationers are still on display in the Dongkuoer Buddha home at the back of the Dongkuoer palace. From these things, you can know about the situations of that time.
On both sides, there are rooms where Lamas used to live and in prosperous period studied in the monastery reached one to two thousand people. This large monastery with 200 years history and unique Tibet Buddhism is worth a visit. Especially in late spring and early summer, it is like an amorous feeling painting.
How to get there and away: The easiest way to get to the lamasery is to take a minibus (about RMB10) from outside the Donghe railway station, at around 8am (sometimes after). If this fails you may take bus No.7, also from near the railway station, to its terminus at Shiguai (40km from Baotou). From the Shigai bus stop there are normally minibuses that will take you the rest of the way (25km), but if there are none, a taxi from here should be no more than RMB30. It is also possible to take a tour with CITS, although this is not really worthwhile, except for convenience. Getting back there are a number of minibuses that will take you before 5pm.
Tickets: CNY 40
