Bat Khaalga Monastery

CHINA, Inner Mongolia, Baotou

The monastery is a Qing dynasty temple built in 1702. The Qing dynasty (1644–1911) imperial family came here for prayer. It was burnt down in 1914 but was rebuilt ten years later.
The temple complex consists of the Heavenly King Hall, the central hall, the Kangyur Hall, the Tengyur Hall, and stupas. The central hall, the largest building in the temple complex, is divided into three sections with three parallel Chinese-style hip-and-gable roofs. On either side of the middle section there are Tibetan-style wings with a flat roof. The rear section has lofty columns that rise through to the ceiling. A large Buddha statue is enshrined inside the central hall with a two-story viewing gallery. The internal beams and rafters are delicately carved and the interior walls are painted with illustrations of Buddhist stories. In front of the central hall there are two Tibetan stupas and behind them there are more than ten small white stupas. In addition to the Chinese-style architecture, there are also small Tibetan-style, flat-roofed buildings and Mongolian yurts within the temple.