Five Pagoda Temple (Cideng Temple)
五塔寺
A Qing-era Vajra-throne stupa built under the Yongzheng Emperor, its body carved with over a thousand small Buddha figures, and its rear screen wall bearing a rare astronomical chart inscribed in Mongolian.
The Five Pagoda Temple was originally called Cideng Temple and was built during the Yongzheng reign of the Qing (around 1727 to 1733). The temple halls have been lost, and only this Vajra-throne stupa remains. It stands about 16 meters tall, and five small stupas rise from the vajra base, which gives the temple its name. The body is covered in glazed brick and carved with more than 1,500 small Buddha figures, along with bodhisattvas, heavenly kings, lions, elephants, and Dharma wheels, all finely detailed. Behind the stupa, three stone carvings are set into the screen wall. One of them is an astronomical chart labeled in Mongolian. It is considered the only ancient stone astronomical chart in the world inscribed in Mongolian, and it has great value for the history of science. Admission is about 35 yuan (check locally), a visit takes about 40 minutes, and the temple is roughly a 15-minute walk from Da Zhao.
Opening hours
About 08:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Xilitu Zhao (Shiretu Juu)
- Dazhao Temple
- Saishang Old Street
- Great Mosque of Hohhot
- Ulanhu Memorial Hall
- Suiyuan General's Yamen
- Mansion of Princess Kejing
- Daqingshan Wildlife Zoo