Wender·Vista
Mausoleum of Genghis Khan
shown on ceramic, 12-inch tilePeople's Republic of China
in Ordos, on the steppe of Inner Mongolia

Mausoleum of Genghis Khan

— — three white halls under a wide sky.

— Where it lives

Not only on a wall.

A small tile on the nightstand catching the morning. A larger one above the fire. Yours, wherever you spend the slow hours.
— On the nightstand, a 6-inch on a walnut stand
— Among the books, a 6-inch leaning into the spines
— Beside the kettle, a 12-inch propped
— Down a quiet hall, an 18-inch floating off the wall
— Above the fire, the 24-inch in a walnut surround
— a note from the studio

“A cenotaph on the steppe of Inner Mongolia, southwest of the city of Ordos. Three connected ger-shaped halls in white and gold, raised in the 1950s, hold relics tied to Genghis Khan. The actual grave has never been found. The Darkhad keepers, descendants of the families assigned to the cult eight centuries ago, still tend the ceremonies.

from the studio
Mausoleum of Genghis Khan
— bring it home

Mausoleum of Genghis Khan, on ceramic.

Each tile is finished by hand in our Knoxville studio. Artwork is slowly infused into the ceramic surface under high heat and pressure, and rests beneath a thin glossy finish. The colour lives in the surface, not on top of it.

What kind of piece?
One tile — square or rectangle.
How big?
the popular one — counter, shelf, nightstand
6 × 6 in · 15 cm · 1.6 lb
Surface finish
A clear glossy finish — the artwork reads as if under resin. Ideal for show-pieces and framed wall art.
How it sits
A hidden cleat — sits ¼″ proud of the wall.
$58
Hand-finished and shipped from our studio at the foot of the Smokies. On your wall in about ten days.
— size
6 × 6 in
15 cm
— weighs
1.6 lb
solid in the hand
— surface
ceramic, hand-finished
art rests beneath a thin glossy finish
— from
Knoxville, TN
our family studio, at the foot of the Smokies
— start a Coaster Set

Pick any four 4-inch tiles — National Parks you've been to, a Smokies set, the four seasons of one place. $ for a set of , cork-backed, ready to live on the table.

— about Mausoleum of Genghis Khan

The place, in three passes.

A little of what's known, in case you fall down the rabbit hole — or want to go see it yourself.
— the place

The Mausoleum of Genghis Khan stands in Ejin Horo Banner, in the Ordos region of Inner Mongolia, about 130 kilometres south of the city of Ordos and the Yellow River bend. The site is a cenotaph, not the actual grave, which has remained unknown since 1227. The present complex was built between 1954 and 1956 in a distinctive three-hall design echoing the conjoined gers of the Mongol court. It sits on grassland at roughly 1,400 metres above sea level, in a landscape of low hills and sand.

— the stone

The three main halls are circular and domed, white-walled with deep blue and gold trim, joined by curved corridors that read on the skyline as three linked gers. The central hall holds a marble statue of Genghis Khan and a silver casket said to contain relics; the side halls are dedicated to his wives, brothers, and generals. Murals along the corridors recount the campaigns and the laws of the Yassa. The compound is gated and lined with low ornamental wall, set well back from the road.

— the year

Four great ceremonies anchor the year at Ejin Horo, observed for centuries by the Darkhad clans, descendants of the families assigned to keep the cult of Genghis Khan. The spring rite, held on the twenty-first day of the third lunar month, is the largest; summer, autumn, and winter rites mark the remaining seasons. The rituals include the offering of mare's milk, the lighting of butter lamps, and the chanting of the old prayers. The mausoleum is most active around these dates and quieter the rest of the year.

— informed by Wikipedia — Darkhad
— where
People's Republic of China · Ejin Horo Banner, Ordos, Inner Mongolia
— elevation
1,400 m · 4,593 ft
— position
39.4297° N · 109.7822° E
— the neighborhood

What's nearby.

A handful of named places within an hour's walk or short drive. Some we've already painted; some we will.
130 km N
Ordos City
city
200 km N
Yellow River bend
river
N
Mausoleum of Genghis Khan
Ordos City
Yellow River bend
— common questions

What people ask.

A few questions we get about Mausoleum of Genghis Khan — and about bringing the piece home.
— about the place

In Ejin Horo Banner, Ordos City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China, about 130 kilometres south of the city of Ordos and not far from the Yellow River's great bend.

No. The site is a cenotaph. The location of Genghis Khan's actual grave has been unknown since his death in 1227, by the wish of the Mongol custom of the time.

The current complex was built between 1954 and 1956. It replaced the historic mobile shrine of eight white gers that the Darkhad clans had maintained for centuries on the move.

The Darkhad are descendants of the Mongol clans assigned in the thirteenth century to guard the cult of Genghis Khan. They still conduct the rituals and serve as the site's hereditary custodians.

Four great ceremonies, one per season, observed on lunar dates. The spring rite on the twenty-first day of the third lunar month is the largest, drawing pilgrims from across Inner Mongolia.

Yes. The site is open to the public with admission fees, and tour buses run from the city of Ordos. The mausoleum is busier around the seasonal ceremonies and quieter between them.

— about the piece in your home

For a Mongolian household, especially with roots in the Ordos region or among the Darkhad clans, the mausoleum carries deep meaning. A Medium with a studio note travels well.

The piece reads well in jewel-tone Maximalist rooms, in interiors that draw on Central Asian textiles, and in quieter studies with deep blues and warm whites. The architectural symmetry centres a wall.

Yes. Named landmarks from regions long under-represented in art are a clear direction in higher-end interiors. The Ordos complex is rarely painted, which makes the piece read as considered.

Above a sofa, a single Large or a 4-tile Mural carries the wall. Above a console, a Medium reads at the right proportion; a 9-tile Mural makes a stronger statement.

Yes, in Dura Satin or Matte finish. Both are scratch-resistant and handle steam and humidity. The colour is infused into the ceramic surface, so the image does not fade with cleaning.

A soft microfibre cloth and water. No abrasives, no household chemicals. The thin glossy finish protects the surface, so a gentle wipe is all the piece needs.

Yes. Every WenderVista piece is the studio's own: no licensing, no stock imagery, no shared catalogue. Reid Wender curates each place into the atlas himself.

— if this one stayed with you

A few you might also love.

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