Capital of China's Yuan Dynasty proved to be multi-religious

The capital of China's Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region used to be a multi-religious area that included Buddhism, Taoism and Islamism, an expert said Sunday.

Buddhist temples, Taoist temples and mosques had all been built in Yuan's Shangdu, the dynasty's capital, which proves the dynasty was tolerant to many religions, said Li Yanyang, a researcher at the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regional Museum.

The religious leaders were well-treated and privileged under King Kublai Khan's multi-religion policy, Li said.

Documents show that religious ceremonies were often held in Shangdu, especially Buddhism ceremonies, Li said.

According to Li, the multi-religion phenomenon was started after the Mongolian nobles entered middle China and began to accept Buddhism and Taoism, then Islam emerged as they went west.

Tibetan Buddhism was most favored by Khan, Li said.