Hohhot

Hohhot is the capital of Inner Mongolia in North China, serving as the region's administrative, economic, and cultural centre. The name of the city in Mongolian means "Blue City"-Kuku-Khoto in Mongolian although it is also wrongly referred to as the "Green City." The color blue in Mongol culture is associated with the sky, eternity and purity; in Chinese, the name can be translated as Qing Cheng literally, "Blue/Green City." Hohhot has a long history of over 2300 years. In the period of Warring States (476 - 221), Zhaowuhou (340– 295) build the Ancient City. In Northern Wei period (386 – 557), Xianbei ethnic groups established a capital at Horinger County which was the first capital in the north grassland with the historical name of Shile. The city was renamed Fegzhou in Liao period (916 – 1125). In 1581 during Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644), Tolmud leader Altan Khan constructed a city in Yuquan District, named Hohhot in Mongolian, and later renamed it to Guihua. In 1737 during Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911), the government built Suiyuan city, a strong garrison town, at the northeast of Guihua, then united the two cites as one naming it Guisui. In 1954, the city became the capital of Inner Mongolia and resumed the name of Hohhot.

A famous historical and cultural city along the north boundary, Hohhot is home to more than 50 temples. Also, as a pearl of grassland, the natural surrounding of the city is particularly amazing. Dazhao Temple is in the old city of Hohhot. This is the earliest temple in Hohhot with a history of over 400 years. The temple is entirely patterned after Chinese temples except for the main hall, which is patterned after a Tibetan Lama temple. Xilamuren Grassland is a typical altiplano prairie, with