Genghis Khan Temple 成吉思汗庙

About Genghis Khan Temple

Genghis Khan Temple (成吉思汗庙) is a memorial temple to Genghis Khan on the top of Hanshan (罕山) in Ulanhot (乌兰浩特), Hinggan League (兴安盟), Inner Mongolia. It was first built between 1941 and 1944 and rebuilt in the 1980s.

The idea came in spring 1940, when a group of young Mongol intellectuals proposed a temple for Genghis Khan at Wangyemiao (王爷庙) and a preparatory committee was formed. Money was raised by donation: every Mongol living in Manchukuo (满洲国) gave 5 jiao of Manchukuo currency, and the total came to one million Manchukuo yuan. Manibadara (玛尼巴达喇), a committee member, took the Mongol painter Nairiletu (耐日勒图) and others to Genghis Khan's Eight White Yurts (八白室) at Xinglong Mountain (兴隆山) in Gansu, and the plans were drawn in that style. Ground was broken on 5 May 1941 and work finished on 10 October 1944. The opening gathering drew some ten thousand people, included a Naadam (那达慕) with horse racing, bökh wrestling (搏克), archery and Mongolian chess, and lasted three days.

During the Cultural Revolution the old temple was damaged. Government-funded repairs began in June 1983, and the building that stands today was completed in July 1987. The State Council listed it in 2006 as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level (全国重点文物保护单位), under important modern historic sites and representative buildings. The Ulanhot city government lists it as a national AAA-rated scenic area.

The temple faces south. Its front has the outline of the character "山" (mountain): a central hall 28 m tall rises between an east and a west hall of 16.62 m, and the building sets round domes on a square body along a symmetrical axis. In the centre of the main hall a gilt bronze Genghis Khan, seated, 2.8 m high and weighing 2.6 tonnes, rests on a marble base with Yuan-dynasty weapons at either side. The side halls hold Yuan clothing, writings and vessels. Ceilings are painted with Mongol designs, and large wall paintings record the khan's achievements. Over the main door, a blue plaque at the centre of the dome carries the temple's name in Mongolian and Chinese script.

What to look for

• The gilt bronze seated statue of Genghis Khan, 2.8 m high and 2.6 tonnes, on a marble base in the main hall
• The south front shaped like the character "山" (mountain), with a 28 m central hall and two 16.62 m side halls
• Yuan-dynasty weapons, clothing, writings and vessels displayed in the three halls
• Large murals of Genghis Khan's achievements and ceilings painted with Mongol designs
• The blue plaque above the main door naming the temple in Mongolian and Chinese

Location & getting there

Getting to Genghis Khan Temple

• Search for 成吉思汗庙 with 兴安盟 and 乌兰浩特市.