diff --git a/python/taichi/lang/any_array.py b/python/taichi/lang/any_array.py
index ca585296a7c09..fa552857a932c 100644
--- a/python/taichi/lang/any_array.py
+++ b/python/taichi/lang/any_array.py
@@ -15,9 +15,8 @@ class AnyArray:
         layout (Layout): Memory layout.
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, ptr, element_type):
+    def __init__(self, ptr):
         assert ptr.is_external_tensor_expr()
-        self.element_type = element_type
         self.ptr = ptr
         self.ptr.type_check(impl.get_runtime().prog.config())
 
@@ -34,14 +33,14 @@ def layout(self):
 
     def get_type(self):
         return NdarrayTypeMetadata(
-            self.element_type, None, _ti_core.get_external_tensor_needs_grad(self.ptr)
+            _ti_core.get_external_tensor_element_type(self.ptr), None, _ti_core.get_external_tensor_needs_grad(self.ptr)
         )  # AnyArray can take any shape
 
     @property
     @taichi_scope
     def grad(self):
         """Returns the gradient of this array."""
-        return AnyArray(_ti_core.make_external_tensor_grad_expr(self.ptr), self.element_type)
+        return AnyArray(_ti_core.make_external_tensor_grad_expr(self.ptr))
 
     @property
     @taichi_scope
diff --git a/python/taichi/lang/kernel_arguments.py b/python/taichi/lang/kernel_arguments.py
index 04ecbd83ee9d4..94f237622a725 100644
--- a/python/taichi/lang/kernel_arguments.py
+++ b/python/taichi/lang/kernel_arguments.py
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ def decl_sparse_matrix(dtype, name):
 
 def decl_ndarray_arg(element_type, ndim, name, needs_grad, boundary):
     arg_id = impl.get_runtime().compiling_callable.insert_ndarray_param(element_type, ndim, name, needs_grad)
-    return AnyArray(_ti_core.make_external_tensor_expr(element_type, ndim, arg_id, needs_grad, boundary), element_type)
+    return AnyArray(_ti_core.make_external_tensor_expr(element_type, ndim, arg_id, needs_grad, boundary))
 
 
 def decl_texture_arg(num_dimensions, name):
diff --git a/taichi/python/export_lang.cpp b/taichi/python/export_lang.cpp
index 3ea61396421b8..f13307e5b506d 100644
--- a/taichi/python/export_lang.cpp
+++ b/taichi/python/export_lang.cpp
@@ -1012,6 +1012,12 @@ void export_lang(py::module &m) {
     return expr.cast<ExternalTensorExpression>()->needs_grad;
   });
 
+  m.def("get_external_tensor_element_type", [](const Expr &expr) {
+    TI_ASSERT(expr.is<ExternalTensorExpression>());
+    auto external_tensor_expr = expr.cast<ExternalTensorExpression>();
+    return external_tensor_expr->dt;
+  });
+
   m.def("get_external_tensor_element_shape", [](const Expr &expr) {
     TI_ASSERT(expr.is<ExternalTensorExpression>());
     auto external_tensor_expr = expr.cast<ExternalTensorExpression>();