Xilitu Zhao (Shiretu Juu)
席力图召
A Tibetan Buddhist monastery across the street from Da Zhao, its Great Assembly Hall a typical Tibetan-style building and one of the best-preserved temples in Hohhot.
Xilitu Zhao was first built during the Ming dynasty and expanded in the Kangxi era of the Qing. Its Mongolian name, "Xilitu," means "chief" or "throne," a name taken from the fact that the teacher of the 4th Dalai Lama once presided here. The monastery faces south. Its front section has a Han-style gate and hall, while the rear Great Assembly Hall is a flat-roofed Tibetan-style building with colorful glazed brick on its outer walls, columns wrapped in colorful dragon carpets, and a top decorated with gilded bronze Dharma wheels and deer, a vivid blend of Han and Tibetan styles. Inside the courtyard, the white Qing-era chorten is another highlight. The temple is still an active religious site, and you may see monks chanting. Admission is about 30 yuan (check locally), and a visit takes around 45 minutes. Da Zhao is a two-minute walk away, so the two can be visited together.
Opening hours
About 08:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Dazhao Temple
- Saishang Old Street
- Five Pagoda Temple (Cideng Temple)
- Great Mosque of Hohhot
- Ulanhu Memorial Hall
- Mansion of Princess Kejing
- Suiyuan General's Yamen
- Daqingshan Wildlife Zoo