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The Vajrasana Relic Pagoda photographed in 2024; does not mean the restored courtyard is entirely original

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Five Pagoda Temple (Vajrasana Pagoda)

慈灯寺金刚座舍利宝塔 · Yuquan District, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China

Photo: ScareCriterion12 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Look closely at the five small pagodas on the vajrasana throne and the multilingual stone carvings, and learn the architectural history of an old temple in Qingcheng, the "Blue City".

Know before you go

  • Do not touch or climb the pagoda, the stone carvings or the railings, and do not use the cultural relics as props for portraits
  • do not use flash, tripods or aerial photography without permission. Do not give the founding of Cideng Temple and the completion of the pagoda as the same undisputed date, and do not call both the historic building and the later restored courtyard original Qing-dynasty structures.

This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.

Culture

Culture & customs

Background

The Five Pagoda Temple, originally named Cideng Temple, is in Yuquan District, Hohhot. The temple was built during the Yongzheng reign of the Qing dynasty, and the Vajrasana Relic Pagoda is the core building among the remains; because five small pagodas stand on its throne, it is popularly called the "Five Pagodas". The carvings on the pagoda and its stone-carved astronomical chart make this more than a single photo landmark: it is also a place for studying architecture, religion and the exchange of knowledge. The restored buildings you visit today and the historic pagoda should not be described as all dating from the same period.

Local customs

  • Please follow the visiting route of the museum or heritage site, first understanding the pagoda's position from the courtyard, then looking closely at the carvings on its body. When it is crowded, leave a passage and do not press against the carvings or protective fittings. If religious activities are taking place, respect the participants and keep your distance
  • whether you may enter the halls, take photos or use a tripod depends on that day's notices.

Religion & beliefs

Cideng Temple is the remains of a Buddhist temple, and the vajrasana throne and its five relic pagodas carry Buddhist symbolism. Visitors can approach its history through the architecture and inscriptions, but should not treat the restored courtyard as a religious space to enter at will. For areas that may still be in use, follow the management's specific rules on access and etiquette.

Etiquette & taboos

Etiquette & taboos

Rules that apply here

Essential restrictionsSafetyCountry-wide guidance · China

China: At Qingming tomb-sweeping, no burning paper or open flames in wooded areas

Do

  • Check whether the cemetery requires a reservation before you go
  • Stay quiet while laying flowers, bowing and observing silence
  • Consider flowers, tree planting or online memorials instead of burning paper
  • Dress soberly for tomb-sweeping
  • Take offering wrappers and rubbish with you when you leave

Don’t

  • Don't burn paper, incense or candles, or set off firecrackers, in woods or grassland
  • Don't talk loudly or joke around in the cemetery
  • Don't block cemetery paths for long to take photos

During fire-prevention periods, burning paper, incense and candles is strictly banned in forest and grassland fire zones, and anyone who starts a wildfire may be held legally liable. Whether and where a cemetery allows burning is set by its own rules on site.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Xinhua: Two departments deploy safety measures for the Qingming holiday

Essential restrictionsPublic transportCountry-wide guidance · China

China: Go through security before the metro, and park shared bikes in marked zones

Do

  • Cooperate with the security check at the entrance and put bags through the scanner
  • On the platform, wait beside the doors and let passengers off first
  • Register with your real name in the app before riding a shared bike
  • Park in a marked bay or an app-designated spot, and make sure the lock clicks shut
  • If the brakes or lock don't work, switch bikes and report it in the app

Don’t

  • Don't linger in the doorway or force your way through closing doors
  • Don't leave bikes in traffic lanes, fire lanes or on tactile paving
  • Don't let children under 12 ride shared bikes

If you refuse the security check you will not be let into the station. Badly parked bikes are removed, and riders may face action under local rules and the operator's terms.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: People's Daily Online: Beijing issues standards for shared bike technology, services, parking

Essential restrictionsPublic transportCountry-wide guidance · China

China: No smoking anywhere on high-speed trains, and no phone calls in quiet carriages

Do

  • Sit in the carriage and seat shown on your ticket
  • Put large luggage in the racks at the carriage ends or overhead
  • Use headphones for videos and music
  • In a quiet carriage, step outside to make or take calls
  • Before getting off, check around your seat and take your rubbish and belongings

Don’t

  • Don't smoke anywhere on the train, including toilets and vestibules
  • Don't take someone else's seat
  • Don't choose a quiet carriage when travelling with babies or toddlers (12306 advises against it)

Smoking on a bullet train can set off smoke alarms and slow or even stop the train. Smokers are fined by the police and, according to reports, may also be barred from buying bullet-train tickets; official rules prevail. If someone breaks the quiet-carriage rules, tell the train staff.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Travel China Guide: Smoking on Chinese trains

Essential restrictionsSafetyCountry-wide guidance · China

China: Stay on open sections of the Great Wall and never carve the bricks

Do

  • Walk only on open sections and marked routes
  • On steep stretches, stop and steady yourself before taking photos, and watch your step
  • Wear non-slip shoes, carry enough water, and turn back if you are tired
  • Carry your rubbish down or put it in a bin
  • Check opening arrangements before you go; official announcements prevail

Don’t

  • Don't carve, write on or prise loose the bricks
  • Don't climb over fences or onto closed, crumbling walls and watchtowers
  • Don't run or push on steep sections

Carving the Great Wall counts as damaging a cultural relic: one visitor who carved his name at Badaling was given administrative detention and a fine by the police and was blacklisted by the scenic area. Closed sections are not maintained and can be dangerous.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: China News Service: Man detained for five days and fined 200 yuan for carving on the Badaling Great Wall

Essential restrictionsEveryday mannersCountry-wide guidance · China

China: book popular sights in advance, under your real name, through official channels

Do

  • Check the booking rules on the site's official website, mini program or account before you go
  • Enter every companion's ID details in advance and pick an entry time slot
  • Children, seniors and others with free or reduced tickets also book as required and show ID
  • Book early for holidays and summer; popular dates often fill quickly

Don’t

  • Don't trust third parties offering to grab tickets or sell 'insider' tickets
  • Don't assume a free ticket means no booking is needed
  • Don't count on buying tickets at the gate on peak days

Once a popular date is fully booked, you may be turned away. China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism requires sites to keep in-person ticket windows and to accommodate seniors and others, but on-site quotas are limited; booking windows, release times and visitor caps are subject to official announcements.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: China Daily: Ministry of Culture and Tourism requires all scenic areas to keep ticket windows

Essential restrictionsEntryCountry-wide guidance · China

China: set up mobile payment before you go; hotels and tickets are booked under your passport

Do

  • Link a foreign bank card to Alipay or WeChat Pay before departure
  • Carry some cash in yuan for small stalls, remote areas or payment glitches
  • Expect real-name checks at hotels, for train tickets and popular sights; use your passport
  • Make sure the name and number on bookings match your passport exactly
  • If a station gate cannot read your passport, use the staffed lane

Don’t

  • Don't wait until you arrive to set up payment; verification can take time
  • Don't assume cash alone or a bank card alone will work everywhere
  • Don't book with details that differ from your passport

Without a working payment method, or with mismatched ID details, you may be unable to check in, buy tickets or enter sights. Payment limits, fees and platform rules are subject to official announcements.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Gov.cn: Payment services for foreign visitors to China

Essential restrictionsEveryday mannersCountry-wide guidance · China

China: Queue, don't smoke where banned, and never carve on heritage sites

Do

  • Wait your turn in line, and follow staff directions when it's crowded
  • On buses and the metro, let passengers off first and offer seats to those in need
  • Book popular sights and museums in advance, under your real name, through official channels
  • Sort your rubbish into the right bins
  • Use serving chopsticks and spoons, and order only what you can eat

Don’t

  • Don't cut in line or walk side by side blocking the way
  • Don't smoke where it is banned; many cities ban smoking in indoor public places and on public transport
  • Don't carve or write on historic buildings or ancient trees, or climb on or touch relics
  • Don't use flash or tripods in exhibition halls
  • Don't talk loudly or play music out loud in public places

Staff will stop you from queue-jumping, smoking where banned or marking relics, and smoking in no-smoking areas or damaging relics can also lead to fines under the law. Fine amounts, booking methods and opening hours are as officially announced.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Palace Museum official site: Visit

Don’t DON'T

  • Do not touch or climb the pagoda, the stone carvings or the railings, and do not use the cultural relics as props for portraits
  • do not use flash, tripods or aerial photography without permission. Do not give the founding of Cideng Temple and the completion of the pagoda as the same undisputed date, and do not call both the historic building and the later restored courtyard original Qing-dynasty structures.

Locals appreciate DO

  • We suggest first making out the overall outline of the five pagodas from a distance, then looking at the reliefs on the base and the multilingual inscriptions
  • if information on the astronomical chart is available on site, read it separately from the pagoda's religious imagery. An old-town route can combine it with Dazhao Temple on the same day, but they are two separate sites and should not be assumed to share tickets or opening information.

Plan your visit

Practical info

Travel tips

  • The Five Pagoda Temple is in the old-town area of Yuquan District and can form a half-day to full-day cultural route with Dazhao Temple, but you still need to allow time for ground transport between the two, security checks and lunch. If you are focusing on the carvings and exhibits, allow at least one to two hours
  • guided tours, temporary exhibitions and the open areas of the courtyard change with management arrangements. The pagoda's representative coordinates come from its Wikimedia Commons location category and are not the ticket office or security entrance
  • when navigating, search for "Five Pagoda Temple Museum" and check the actual entrance. The stone carvings are easily damaged by touching and by knocks from equipment, so read the on-site rules before taking photos
  • in rain or snow the stone surfaces in the courtyard may be slippery, so walk slowly. Historical sources do not entirely agree on the construction dates of Cideng Temple and the pagoda, so "Qing-dynasty building" is the safer description for itinerary notes. Any fixed ticket prices, booking methods and closing days should follow the museum's notices for that day.
Sources & verification notes

Hohhot Daily: Architectural history of Cideng Temple and the pagoda

Hohhot Daily: Stone carvings and the multilingual astronomical chart

Reprinted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism: Six museums and heritage venues in Hohhot

Wikimedia Commons: Photo author, licence and location coordinates

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