Hohhot is an ancient city north of the Great Wall. During the Warring States Period (475--221 B.C.), King Wuling of the state of Zhao set up Yunzhong Prefecture. After Dayan Khan achieved unification of the Mongolian tribes in the mid-16th century, he turned it into a residential ground, with palaces and houses built within a ring of blue brick walls, and for its distant blue colour it went by the name of Hohhot, meaning the "Blue City".
  Now the capital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, it has a population of 580,000.

  Coming to Hohhot on the beautiful scenery of the grassland, visitors may enjoy life in Mongolian yurts, or a ride on horses or camel back, and practise archery when being introduced into Mongolian life and local customs, they can see in person the chariot of Genghis Khan, the gallantry of horsemanship and performance for songs and dances. Major historic sites include the famous tomb of Wang Zhaojun, tomb of Genghis Khan, Dazhao Temple, Five-Pagoda Temple, the Pagoda of Ten-Thousand Avatamsaka-Sutra of the Liao Dynasty, Bailing Temple, etc.

  Thirty-three metres high on the bank of the Dabei River ten kilometres south of Hohhot, tomb of Wang Zhaojun is known for its occupant as Tang poet Du Fu in his poem wrote:"Soon after she departed from the Han palace and entered the desert, only a tomb was left facing the setting sun". Dazhao Temple, located in the old city, was built in the 8th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming (1580). It houses silver Buddhist statues. Placed in front of the temple are a pair of iron lions cast in the Ming Dynasty (1368--1644). Hung above the gate is a horizontal board inscribed with "First Spring in Jiubian" (nine strategic Northern China towns of the Ming).


  Legend has it that one day when Emperor Kang Xi passed by, he and his horse got thirsty for water. Led by his horse, he found eight springs. Built in the Mongolian style, the tomb of Genghis Khan is located in Yijinhuoluo Banner south of Baotou. The remains of Genghis Khan were moved here from Taer Lamasery, Qinghai, in 1954. Bailing Temple is a famous religious ground over 100 kilometres north of Hohhot, with its initial construction dating back to the 42th year of the Kang Xi reign of the Qing (1703).
  Every year Nadan Fair is traditionally held here, going in for material exchange, horse racing, wrestling, archery etc. Major hotels are the Hohhot Hotel, Xincheng Hotel, Inner Mongolia Hotel, Bayantala Hotel and Qing'an Hotel to serve tourists all year round. Facai (nostic commune var flagelliforme), an edible moss of long thin threads, koumo mushroom, carpets and silverware are famous local products.

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