Things To Do in Hohhot
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Hohhot Attractions
- Religious Site
Da Zhao Si
Once at the heart of old Hohhot, this temple is now surrounded by a modern imitation of itself, sans residents, and while this takes away from the flavor of the neighborhood, this vast temple is still worthy of a visit. It's said that at one time this 6th-century temple had over 400… - Religious Site
Qingzhen Da Si
As beautiful as this 360-year-old mosque is, it has yet to become a standard tourist sight. Typically, a few seniors are chatting and passing time in the courtyard. The buildings include the prayer hall with a beautiful ceiling painted with pink flowers; the teaching hall; and a… - Religious Site
Wuta Si
This rare Indian-style five-pagoda Buddhist temple is one of only six jingang baozuo (diamond throne pagodas) in China. Built between 1727 and 1732, it was quite likely modeled after Beijing's Wuta Si, constructed 300 years earlier. Like that one, Hohhot's Wuta Si is the only… - Religious Site
Xilitu Zhao Si
Like Da Zhao, this Buddhist temple was constructed during the Wanli reign (1572-1620) of the Ming dynasty and remains active, with 16 monks in residence. Razed by fire in the 19th century, it was rebuilt only to be damaged during the Cultural Revolution (1966-76). Its latest…
Hohhot Shopping
The Minzu Shangchang (Mongolian Minority Department Store) -- one of the biggest stores in Hohhot -- is a one-stop shopping opportunity on Zhongshan Xi Lu at the Gongyuan Jie intersection. On the first floor are a bakery and a large, well-stocked supermarket that's worth a visit if you're shopping for food, travel snacks, or alcohol. The second floor has Mongolian handicrafts, traditional costumes, swords, teapots, jewelry, and more. For travel snacks, you could also visit Spar supermarket in the Victory Plaza shopping center, which has just about anything you could want. Be prepared to check your bag. It's located on the southwest corner of the intersection of Xinhua Dajie and Hinggan Nan Jie.
Skulls for Sale -- It's not unusual on warm summer evenings to see someone peddling cow or sheep skulls on the city squares. Their buyers are probably opening a new business soon. A traditional belief is that after you eat a cow or sheep, its spirit is still alive. If you display the skull in a prominent place, the living spirit will attract other cows or sheep your way. The skull continues to be a symbol of good luck and a promise that business will thrive. The first asking price for a cow skull is ¥280, for a sheep skull, ¥160.
