Wuta Pagoda

Top choice in Inner Mongolia


Rising up at the rear of the Five Pagoda Temple, this striking, Indian-influenced, five-tiered pagoda was completed in 1732. Its main claim to fame is the Mongolian star chart around the back (protected behind glass), though the engraving of the Diamond Sutra (in Sanskrit, Tibetan and Mongolian), extending around the entire base of the structure, is in much better condition. Another fascinating aspect of the temple is the 'Temple Culture Exhibition of Hohhot' Hall, containing a mesmerising array of tantric statues.

Look for the effigy of the Horse-head Guanyin (马头观音, Mǎtóu Guānyīn) – a wrathful manifestation of the usually placid Goddess – and the fierce representation of Shengle Jingang (胜乐金刚), displayed in cabinets. Also look out for a kapala (a skull cup), several dorjes (Tibetan Buddhist sceptres) a phurba (ritual dagger) and a jewel-encrusted shell (employed as a ritual musical instrument). Bus 1 runs by the pagoda.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Inner Mongolia attractions

1. Xílìtú Zhào

0.48 MILES

East across the road from the Dà Zhào temple is this simple, peaceful monastery, which is also known as Xiǎo Zhào or Yanshou Temple (延寿寺, Yánshòu Sì). The…

2. Dà Zhào

0.54 MILES

This spectacular Tibetan Buddhist temple is the oldest and largest temple in the city. Also called 'Immeasurable Temple' (无量寺, Wúliàng Sì) in Chinese, the…

3. Guanyin Temple

0.67 MILES

Its colossal halls capped in saffron tiles visible from a huge distance away, this massive temple is dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin. The vast…

4. Great Mosque

0.9 MILES

North of the old town is the Great Mosque. Built in the Chinese style, it dates from the Qing dynasty but has been modernised. You can look around as long…

5. Inner Mongolia Museum

4.75 MILES

This massive museum in the northeastern section of town has a distinctive sloping roof supposed to resemble the vast steppes of Mongolia. It’s one of the…

6. Bái Tǎ

11.96 MILES

In the middle of the fields, 7km east of the airport (about 22km from Hohhot), is this striking seven-storey octagonal tower built during the Liao dynasty…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "china/hohhot/attractions/wuta-pagoda/a/poi-sig/1238026/1323827",
      "destination": "Inner-Mongolia",
      "continent": "Asia",
      "country": "China",
      "region": "Inner-Mongolia",
      "position": "superzone"
    }