Mausoleum of Genghis Khan, Genghis Khan Mausoleum in Ordos, China
The Mausoleum of Genghis Khan is a cenotaph in Ordos, China, formed by three halls with gilded roofs and Mongolian ornamentation. The compound extends across the Bayin Changhu grasslands and combines traditional Mongolian architecture with spiritual exhibition spaces.
The memorial site was erected in 1954 after multiple relocations of the ceremonial objects connected to the founder of the Mongol Empire from the 13th century. The compound has since served as a spiritual center for preserving the memory of the Mongolian ruler.
The Darkhad fulfill their hereditary role as guardians by performing ceremonial acts according to handed-down Mongolian customs. Visitors can observe these keepers lighting incense and chanting ritual songs connected to the veneration of the empire founder.
The compound lies roughly 40 kilometers south of central Ordos and is accessible via paved roads. Visitors should allow time for the exhibition rooms and occasional traditional performances held in the courtyards.
Inside the main hall stands a roughly 5-meter figure of the Mongolian ruler, surrounded by four spirit tablets wrapped in yellow silk. These tablets embody him and his three wives and form the center of ritual veneration by the guardians.
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