Da Zhao Temple which means ‘Infinite Temple’ in Chinese is the town’s biggest Gelukpa or Yellow Hat Sect temple. It is also the oldest building in the whole of Huhhot. Locals identify this temple as the Silver Buddha Temple because it is home to the rare 8.2-foot-high Sakyamuni statue made out of silver.

During the Ming Dynasty, in 1580 construction of the sacred and charming Da Zhao Temple was completed, making it the oldest Buddhist temple in the region. In 1640 the temple underwent a major renovation phase. However, most of its original architectural features were left unharmed.

The third Tibetan Dalai Lama visited the Da Zhao Temple in 1586 and during this visit he bestowed the Silver Buddha statue to the temple.  As a result, Mongolians from all over regarded the temple as well as Huhhot as an important religious centre. The visit of Emperor Kangxi during the Qing Dynasty is also among the noteworthy events that took place in the long history of Da Zhao Temple.

Today this outstanding place of worship is home to a large number of significant religious relics. The temple has also become a popular tourist attraction due to its remarkable buildings, fine statues, distinctive frescos, musical instruments as well as the extensive collection of Buddhist scriptures. However, the most notable features of Da Zhao Temple are the Silver Buddha, the dragon carvings that can be seen on either side of the Silver statue as well as the frescos commemorating the visit of the Emperor. These three key features are identified by locals as the ’Three Marvellous Treasures’.

This remarkable Huhhot tourist attraction is an architectural masterpiece of immense religious value. Today, a visit to the impressive Da Zhao Temple is considered a must for those arriving in Huhhot.  In order to explore such fascinating sites in this fine destination, travellers can stay at any one of the many hotels in Huhhot such as the lavishly appointed Shangri-La Hotel, Huhhot.