Sometimes we never know what are on top of roofs.
We discovered these on top of a temple roof in Huhot, Inner Mongolia.
Up to now, we still don’t quite know what they are.
A more detailed view is also given.
The cylindrical golden thing on top of the roof is definitely not a water tank.
It is also surprising to see there is a skull like thing on top as well.
We can only surmise that they are related to religion / folklores in Inner Mongolia.
Zooming out, it can be seen how these objects are related to the overall roof and temple structure.
There is symmetry on both sides of the main structure. These objects are repeated on the other side.
retireediary 
prayer flags and voodoo dolls?! What a combo, Michael!
Still wonder what those objects on top were!
Reminds me a little of the roof decorations at the Forbidden City even though these are quite different. So glad you posted.
Chinese roofs have many objects fixed onto them – really interesting!
You are right, the symmetry and detailing gives it great beauty.
I’m sure there is some significance to each detail.
Leslie
Wish a tour guide or a citizen in Inner Mongolia would explain to me what they were, not the typical objects Chinese put up on roofs!
Try google and see what you come up with.
Leslie
I got an explanation from one reader on the left one. Have to find out what the right one represents. Thank you!
Thanks for reblogging this on!
Very interesting finds on the roof top!
Have to keep looking, things on the roof can be very interesting!
These objects are fascinating – something to do with religion, life and death – maybe the round objects contains prayers???
Good thinking! I can believe in this 🙂
The thing on the left is a Mongolian symbol from the country of Outer Mongolia. (I happened to live in Mongolia for 26 months with the US Peace Corps) I can’t seem to recall the whole story, but it is a symbol of Ghengis Khan (whom the Mongols refer to as Chinggis) and is seen on the currency and usually seen in a grouping. Your photos are beautiful!
Thanks for the useful explanation. We visited Genghis Khan’s mausoleum, would put up a post when I feel like writing about it.
Let me try this, and then we can still find an answer from experts. Inner Mongolia is a region that believes in Tibetan Buddhism. The golden round cylinder is like a prayer wheel. I found the largest prayer wheel last year when I visited Shangrila (Yunnan). Shangrila is also a place with tibetan Buddhism as the primary religion .
We also visited the largest prayer wheel at Yunnan and took some photos. Unfortunately, the houses not far from the prayer wheel were burnt down recently. This is reported in one of my posts a couple of months back. Regards, Michael
http://speakingabouttravel2.wordpress.com/2014/04/24/the-biggest-prayer-wheel-is-in-shangrila-yunnan/
i just posted a post on this large prayer wheel in Yunan. Don’t you think it looks alike the cylinder in your post?
Looks like it. I have been there before – sad thing is that many houses down below the hill of the prayer tower were burnt down last Winter and this was reported in my post. Regards, Michael