Huangmiao Scenic Area is located in Baluntai Town, Hejing County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction, covering an area of about 1.5 square kilometers and being the largest complex of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in Xinjiang. Its feature lies in the integration of Tibetan architectural style and grassland culture. The architectural complex is built against the mountain with grand momentum, mainly composed of 12 temples including the Yellow Temple, White Temple, and Black Temple. Most of the existing buildings were reconstructed in 1987. The temple preserves a large number of Buddhist scriptures, Thangkas, Buddha statues and other cultural relics, serving as an important religious and cultural center and tourist attraction in the Bayinbuluke Grassland.
History and Culture
Huangmiao was first built in the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty (around 1760), constructed by the Tuerget tribe after their return to the motherland. It was an important place for the Mongols of the Tuerget tribe to believe in Tibetan Buddhism. After the Tuerget tribe returned from the Volga River basin to the motherland, they chose the Bayinbuluke Grassland to build this temple to promote Buddhism and gather tribal spirit. It was originally named "Sharbdarjalen", meaning "Holy Land of the Yellow Sect", and commonly known as "Huangmiao" (Yellow Temple) because the exterior walls of the main buildings are yellow.
Huangmiao was repeatedly repaired and expanded in history, becoming the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture. It was damaged in 1966 and reconstructed according to the original appearance with funds allocated by the local government in 1987, restoring its religious activities and cultural functions. Nowadays, Huangmiao is not only a religious activity place but also an important carrier for studying the historical culture of the Tuerget tribe and the spread of Tibetan Buddhism in Xinjiang. In 2013, it was listed as a key cultural relic protection unit in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
Main Attractions
Main Building of Huangmiao
The main building of Huangmiao is in Tibetan style, covering an area of about 2,000 square meters, composed of prayer halls, Buddha halls, monk quarters, etc. The prayer hall can accommodate more than 500 monks chanting scriptures at the same time. The hall enshrines Buddha statues such as Sakyamuni and Padmasambhava, and the surrounding walls are painted with Thangka paintings of Buddhist stories, featuring bright colors and exquisite craftsmanship. The building's exterior walls are mainly yellow, matched with red window lattices and white decorations, standing out remarkably on the grassland.
White Temple
Located on the west side of Huangmiao, the White Temple is named for its white exterior walls, with a construction area of about 800 square meters. The hall enshrines Buddha statues such as Guanyin Bodhisattva. Its architectural style is similar to that of Huangmiao but slightly smaller in scale. In front of the White Temple is a waisang stove, where visitors can experience the traditional Mongolian waisang prayer ceremony.
Thousand-Buddha Hall
The Thousand-Buddha Hall is an important Buddha hall in Huangmiao Scenic Area, enshrining 1,008 small Buddha statues, hence the name "Thousand-Buddha Hall". The Buddha statues are neatly arranged with various expressions. The hall also preserves Buddhist scriptures and ritual instruments from the Qing Dynasty, serving as precious materials for studying Tibetan Buddhist art.
Mani Tower
Located in front of the Huangmiao architectural complex, the Mani Tower is a Tibetan-style tower about 15 meters high, with the Six-Character Mantra and Buddhist patterns engraved on the tower body. The tower is surrounded by hung with prayer flags fluttering in the wind, full of religious atmosphere, making it a popular spot for visitors to take photos.
Food
Roast Whole Lamb
Selected high-quality lambs from the Bayinbuluke Grassland are roasted whole, with golden and crispy skin and tender and juicy meat, being the highest etiquette for Mongolians to entertain guests. It generally needs to be reserved in advance, with a roasting time of about 3-4 hours, suitable for sharing among many people. Each roast whole lamb weighs about 15-20 kilograms.
Hand-Pulled Meat
Fresh mutton is cut into large pieces and boiled in clear water without too many seasonings to maintain the original flavor of the mutton. It is eaten with hands, paired with salt, pepper, and onions, featuring tender taste and rich nutrition, being an important dish in Mongolian daily diet.
Milk Wine
A traditional beverage fermented from mare's milk or cow's milk, with a low alcohol content of about 10-15 degrees, sweet and sour taste, and rich milk fragrance. Moderate consumption of milk wine has the effects of dispelling cold and aiding digestion, being a common beverage in Mongolian festivals and banquets.
Bayinbuluke Wild Mushroom Soup Rice
Made by cooking local wild mushrooms (such as white mushrooms and pine mushrooms) growing on the grassland with mutton and noodles, the soup is delicious, the mushrooms are tender, and the noodles are chewy. It is a characteristic food in the Bayinbuluke area, especially suitable for eating in cold weather.
Tickets
The ticket price is 48 yuan per person. Subject to the actual price of the scenic area. As of June 4, 2025, no official WeChat public account has been found.
Opening Hours
The scenic area is open from May 1st to October 31st every year, from 8:00 to 20:00 (admission stops at 20:00). From November 1st to April 30th of the following year, it is closed for maintenance and temporarily not open to the public. In case of special weather or major events, the opening hours may be adjusted, subject to the daily announcement of the scenic area.
Tour Route
Recommended tour route: Take a sightseeing bus from the scenic area entrance to Huangmiao Square, first visit the main building of Huangmiao to understand Tibetan Buddhist culture and the history of the Tuerget tribe; then sequentially visit other temples such as the White Temple, Black Temple, and Thousand-Buddha Hall to appreciate the architectural styles and cultural relics of different Buddha halls; then go to the Mani Tower to watch the prayer flags and grassland scenery; finally, overlook the entire Huangmiao architectural complex and the Bayinbuluke Grassland scenery from the viewing platform near Huangmiao Square, with a recommended tour time of 2-3 hours.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Start from Hejing County Town, drive about 270 kilometers northwest along National Highway 218 to Bayinbuluke Town, then follow the scenic area signs to Huangmiao Scenic Area, with a driving time of about 4.5 hours. The parking fee in the scenic area is 10 yuan per vehicle per day.
- Tourist bus: There are tourist buses from Hejing County Town to Bayinbuluke Grassland, departing at 9:00 am daily, with a fare of about 60 yuan per person. After arriving at Bayinbuluke Town, you can take a local taxi or scenic area sightseeing bus to Huangmiao Scenic Area, with a taxi fare of about 10 yuan.
- Chartered car: You can charter a local vehicle to Huangmiao Scenic Area in Hejing County Town or Bayinbuluke Town. The charter fee varies according to the vehicle type and tour time, generally 300-500 yuan per day.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Main Building of Huangmiao: The largest Tibetan Buddhist prayer hall in Xinjiang, capable of accommodating 500 people chanting scriptures. The Tibetan-style yellow-wall and red-window building is highly recognizable on the grassland, with well-preserved Thangkas and Buddha statues in the hall, being a core attraction to understand Tibetan Buddhism.
- Mani Tower: A 15-meter-high Tibetan-style tower with the Six-Character Mantra engraved on the tower body, surrounded by ten thousand prayer flags. The fluttering flags in the wind are like chanting, being an iconic religious landscape on the grassland, suitable for taking photos with a strong religious atmosphere.
- Thousand-Buddha Hall: The hall enshrines 1,008 Buddha statues, neatly arranged with exquisite craftsmanship, preserving Qing Dynasty Buddhist scriptures, being an important place to study Tibetan Buddhist art, and the details of the Buddha statues are worth careful appreciation.
Tour Tips
- It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes as the scenic area has many stone paths and steps, requiring much walking; the grassland weather is changeable, so you can carry a windproof jacket and rain gear.
- When visiting temples, please abide by religious etiquette, do not take photos randomly (there will be signs where photography is prohibited), do not make noise, take off your hat and sunglasses when entering the prayer hall, and female visitors should avoid exposing clothing.
- May to June when grassland wildflowers are in full bloom, and September to October when autumn scenery is charming, are the best seasons to visit Huangmiao. You can combine it with attractions such as Bayinbuluke Swan Lake and Jiuqu Shiba Wan (Nineteen Bends) for a 1-2-day itinerary.
- There are few catering facilities in the scenic area, so it is recommended to dine in Bayinbuluke Town, where you can reserve characteristic foods such as roast whole lamb in advance; there are gas stations in the town, and self-driving tourists can refuel here.
Notes
- Entering the scenic area requires security inspection. Carrying dangerous items such as inflammables, explosives, and controlled knives, as well as pets, is prohibited.
- The Bayinbuluke Grassland is about 2,500 meters above sea level. Some visitors may experience altitude sickness. It is recommended to take preventive measures in advance, avoid strenuous exercise, and inform the staff in time if you feel unwell.
- Respect the religious beliefs and customs of local ethnic minorities, do not discuss religious topics casually, and do not touch religious facilities such as prayer flags and Mani piles.
- The vegetation in the scenic area is fragile. It is prohibited to trample on the grassland or pick wildflowers at will. Keep the environment clean and put garbage into designated trash cans.
- The last departure time of the sightseeing bus is 19:30. Visitors need to arrange the tour time reasonably to avoid missing the bus back to the scenic area entrance.