History of Hohhot

Hohhot is located in central and southern Inner Mongolia, which is the capital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Located in the culture border of agriculture and husbandry, the culture blend in Hohhot is very strong. In addition to the traditional Chinese culture, Mongolia culture, Western Islamic culture and Tibetan Buddhist culture also have a heavy influence in here. Hohhot is inhabitant area with ethnic groups of Han, Man, Korea and other 36 minorities.

In 306 BC, the king of Zhaowu built the Great Wall at the foot of the Yinshan Mountain and set the Yunzhongjun County, which was located in Togtoh County southwest of Hohhot City. In Western Han Dynasty (202BC-8), a number of constructions of army were set up in the area of Hetao Plain. The area of Hohhot was the scope for the activities of Turk. During the period of Tang Taizong (627-650), the Tang army defeated the Turks in Baidao located in the north of Hohhot City. In 708, three cities in east, west and middle were built around the Hohhot. In the early 10th century, the Liao Dynasty set the Tiande army and Fengzhou County around Baita Village about 20 kilometers away from Hohhot.

After the time that Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) was overthrown by Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Mongols retreated to the area outside the Great Wall and built Northern Yuan Dynasty. In 1402, the Northern Yuan Dynasty was divided into Tartar and Wala. At the end of 15th century, the grandson Aletanhan of the eastern leader of Tartar Dayanhan built Kukuhetun City in Yuquan area at present. Aletanhan was honored as the king of Shunyi by Ming government. Kukuhetun was called Guihua which meant submission of the ethnic minorities to the Ming Dynasty.

In 1735, Suiyuan City was built and later Guihua and Suiyuan merged into Guihua County. In 1913, the Republic of China changed it into Guisui County. In 1928, Suiyuan Province was established and the Guisui County was set into the capital city.

In 1950, the People’s Republic of China established Guisui City. In 1954, the people’s government of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region changed the Guisui City’s name to Hohhot city and set it as the capital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.