The White Pagoda (白塔), officially called the Wanbu Huayan Sutra Pagoda, is a seven-storey octagonal brick tower built during the Liao dynasty (907–1125 CE), making it one of the oldest surviving structures in Inner Mongolia. It stands about 13 kilometres east of central Hohhot and is visible from a considerable distance across the flat farmland — a lone brick column on the open plain, which is where the Liao-period monastery it originally served used to stand before it disappeared. Only the pagoda survives, which gives it an isolated, atmospheric quality.
The tower's exterior is decorated with carved relief panels depicting Buddhist figures, celestial beings, and geometrical patterns in a style characteristic of Liao-period Buddhist art. Climbing to higher levels is sometimes permitted for views over the surrounding area. The site is less visited than the temples in central Hohhot, which means you may have it largely to yourself on a weekday morning. It pairs naturally with the Wang Zhaojun Mausoleum for a half-day excursion south and east of the city.