Jokhang temple is the oldest and largest temple in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia. Locally, it is often referred to as Yinfo Si because of a rare silver statue of sakyamuni that stands 2.5 meters high.
Founded in 1580 during the Ming dynasty, jokhang temple is the oldest lama-buddhist temple in Inner Mongolia. In 1640 a major reconstruction was carried out, although much of the original architectural style was retained.
The jokhang temple is famous for the visit of Tibet’s third dalai lama in 1586, when he came to inaugurate a silver Buddha statue. As a result, Hohhot became a religious center for pilgrims from all over Mongolia. Another notable event in the temple’s long history was the visit of emperor kangxi in the early qing dynasty.
Jokhang temple is now a famous tourist attraction because of its impressive architecture, spectacular statues, exquisite murals, Musical Instruments and collection of buddhist classics. Among its rich religious treasures, perhaps the most striking are the “three treasures,” the title given to the silver Buddha, the dragon carved on the giant gold pillars on either side of the statue, and the frescoes commemorating the emperor’s visit.
Except for the main hall of jokhang temple, almost all the existing buildings in jokhang temple are han style. The main hall is a lama temple with Tibetan and han architectural styles. It has three parts. The front part is a two-story hall with an empty pavilion on the ground floor; Jingtang (prayer hall) and buddhist hall (worship hall) are the center and rear. The well-preserved silver Buddha exists in the buddhist temple, which has a history of more than 400 years. In front of the magnificent and solemn hall stood a pair of iron lions with their heads held high
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