Baotou Attractions
Autonomous region of Inner Mongolia
Baotou lies in the center of Inner Mongolia, some 140km/87mi west of Hohhot, the regional capital, on the north bank of the Huanghe river.
Baotou is an important rail station on the Beijing- Lanzhou line, which also passes through Hohhot.
As a result of the growth of many branches of industry, including iron-smelting in particular, Baotou has become the economic center of Inner Mongolia. Together with Anshan, Wushan, Shanghai and Beijing it is one of China's major producers of steel.
People lived in this region back in the Tang dynasty (618-907), but only in recent centuries did it develop into a trading center. This development was accelerated by the construction of the rail link with Beijing in 1923, when it became the major trading hub of Mongolia and western China. Transport facilities were improved still further by the construction of the rail route to Lanzhou in the 1950s. Since then Baotou has become a center of the steel industry, which utilizes the rich iron-ore deposits found in Bayo Obo.
Baotou lies in the center of Inner Mongolia, some 140km/87mi west of Hohhot, the regional capital, on the north bank of the Huanghe river.
Baotou is an important rail station on the Beijing- Lanzhou line, which also passes through Hohhot.
As a result of the growth of many branches of industry, including iron-smelting in particular, Baotou has become the economic center of Inner Mongolia. Together with Anshan, Wushan, Shanghai and Beijing it is one of China's major producers of steel.
People lived in this region back in the Tang dynasty (618-907), but only in recent centuries did it develop into a trading center. This development was accelerated by the construction of the rail link with Beijing in 1923, when it became the major trading hub of Mongolia and western China. Transport facilities were improved still further by the construction of the rail route to Lanzhou in the 1950s. Since then Baotou has become a center of the steel industry, which utilizes the rich iron-ore deposits found in Bayo Obo.
Willow Tree Monastery
The ''Willow Tree Monastery'', a lamasery situated 70km/44mi northeast of Baotou, is one of the best-preserved of any in Inner Mongolia. Built under the Kangxi Emperor (reigned 1661-1722), it was restored in 1749. At one time more than 1000 monks lived here. The complex of 2500 rooms covers an area of 20ha/50 acres and embraces some twelve temple buildings in which statues of Shakyamuni and other Buddhist saints are worshipped.
Kundulun Si
This temple, built in the Qing period (1644-1911) in a style reminiscent of that of Tibet, consists of flat-roofed buildings of two storys. The complex also includes the White Pagoda (Bai Ta), surmounted by a stupa. The Awang Fu, a large ''gateway of honor'', is also worthy of note.
Mongolian Nadam Autumn Festival
The famous Mongolian Nadam Autumn Festival, which was celebrated originally to honor the gods of the hills and mountain paths, has become a popular festival with riding, wrestling and archery competitions as well as musical and theatrical performances.
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