Bayanhot

Bayanhot is a town in Alxa Left Banner, it is the capital and largest town of Alxa League. Its name originates from Mongolian meaning 'rich town'.^[3] It was formerly known as Dingyuanying (定远营镇) or Wang Ye Fu.^[4] In 2010 the population was 94,445.^[5]

Bayanhot 巴彦浩特镇
Town
Mongolian transcription(s)
• Mongolian	ᠪᠠᠶᠠᠨᠬᠣᠲᠠ ᠪᠠᠯᠭᠠᠰᠤ
Bayanhot bus station
Area
• Town	5,433.8 km2 (2,098.0 sq mi)
• Urban [1]	32 km2 (12 sq mi)
Elevation [2]	1,450 m (4,760 ft)
Population  (2010)
• Town	94,445

The town is bordered by the Helan Mountains in the east and by the Tengger Desert in the west.^[6]

The town was established in 1730 as Dingyuanying and renamed to Bayanhot in 1952. It has historically been supplied from nearby Yinchuan,^[7] and still retains good transport links with the capital of Ningxia.

The Alxa Baraghun Hiid, a large Mongol Buddhist monastery was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution but rebuilt in 2001. The Yanfu Buddhist temple has survived as one of the old Mongol town landmarks.^[8]