{"id":9759,"date":"2022-02-02T16:55:18","date_gmt":"2022-02-02T16:55:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/datong-china\/"},"modified":"2023-11-10T10:31:51","modified_gmt":"2023-11-10T10:31:51","slug":"datong-china","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/en\/datong-china\/","title":{"rendered":"Datong (Hanging Temples & Yungang Grottoes) in Shanxi"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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In Shanxi Province, Datong is the ideal base to discover two incomparable attractions: Hengshan Hanging Temple and the Yungang Grottoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow the guide! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Datong in a\nnutshell<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49<\/strong> Geography
<\/strong> Located in the Shanxi Province, 350 kilometers west of Beijing, the city of Datong (\u5927\u540c, “Great Unity” in Mandarin), is the nerve center of one of China’s major mining regions. Be warned, the pollution rate in the region is particularly high.
Although it is best known today for its coal mines and petrochemical plants, Datong is the product of a long history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49<\/strong> History<\/strong>
The site on which the city is located has been inhabited since 200 BC.
From 398 to 494, Datong, then called Pingcheng, was the capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty, before becoming the western capital of the Jin Dynasty, which reigned over Northeast China from 1115 to 1234.
Unfortunately, this former imperial city retains very few traces of its rich past, except for the imposing wall that still encircles the historic center of the city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49<\/strong> Around Datong
<\/strong> There’s therefore nothing special about the city of Datong itself. But Datong’s surroundings are home to two of Captain Ulysses’ favorites in China: the Hanging Temple and the Yungang Grottoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udc4d The Captain’s top picks \ud83d\udc4d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Accommodation, flights, activities, excursions … You’ll find all the Captain’s suggestions at the end of the article<\/a>!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Datong<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Yungang<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Getting to Datong<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Getting to Datong by\nyour own means<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you are traveling on your own,\nthe train is the best option to get to Datong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Beijing, the train journey<\/a> takes six to seven hours. It runs several times a day, but the Captain recommends opting for the night train if you want to save time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on your budget, you can book a bunk (between 13 and 20 \u20ac \/person) or a seat (around 6-7 \u20ac per person). Captain Ulysse recommends the first alternative, which is much more comfortable and all in all quite affordable! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Datong<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Datong<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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What to do in Datong?\nThe Hanging Temple and the Yungang Grottoes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If the city of Datong itself is\nof little interest, its surroundings are on the other hand undoubtedly well worth\nthe visit. Two attractions are of\nparticular interest: the Hanging Temple and the Yungang\nGrottoes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hanging\nTemple<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Located 65 kilometers from Datong,\nat the feet of Mount Hengshan,the Hanging Temple is an\narchitectural masterpiece. Perched 75 meters above the ground, it is built on the side of a cliff,\nhence its name of \u201changing\u201d temple. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Datong<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Datong<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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While it may seem in quite the precarious position, the Hanging Temple has stood over the Jinxia Gorge for over 1400 years. Built in 491, it was renovated several times over the centuries, notably under the Ming Dynasty (which reigned from 1368-1644) and the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How was the Hengshan Hanging Temple able\nto stand the test of time?\nOther than the apparent pillories, the Monastery rests on a series of\nbeams planted horizontally in the cliff. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xuankong Temple\ncomprises several buildings which are interconnected by walkways,\ncorridors and stairs along the cliff, and protected by balustrades. The temple\ncounts forty rooms, which are home to some 80 statues made\nof copper, iron, terracotta and stone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Datong<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Datong<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The originality of the monastery also lies in the fact that it is not exclusively Buddhist: it also includes elements of Confucianism and Taoism. Visitors can admire not only sculptures of Sakyamuni (Buddha), but also Confucius and Lao Tseu. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Captain’s tip: the Hanging Temple can be quite crowded with tourists. If you want to be able to visit the site relatively quietly, the Captain recommends getting there early. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udca1 Visiting Hengshan Hanging Temple<\/strong> \ud83d\udca1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The admission fee to Hengshan Hanging Temple is 130 yuan during high season, 125 yuan during low season. The site is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. in summer and from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in winter.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Yungang Grottoes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

More famous than the\nHanging temple, the Yungang Grottoes are a\nmust-see in the Shanxi Province. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listed as\na UNESCO heritage site since 2001, this set of caves located 16 kilometers southwest of Datong extends over almost two\nhectares (5 acres). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Yungang<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Yungang Grottoes are incredibly well preserved, so much so that it can be hard to believe that this\nhuge Buddhist complex was created over 1500 years ago! The construction, started under the Wei Dynasty in 460\nAD., and ended in 524. In total, over 250 caves, 1100 niches and 51,000 statues were dug and sculpted in\nthe cliff. According to some sources, 40,000\nworkers were needed to accomplish this feat!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Yungang<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Datong<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Although they’re Buddhist, the Yungang Grottoes testify to the incredible importance of the Silk Road, both in the fields of trade, art and culture. The ornamentations of the caves indeed reveal Persian, Indian and even Greek influences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only about forty\nof the 251 caves are currently open to visitors, some of which may\nbe temporarily closed for renovations. On site, you’ll\nalso find a museum designed to retrace the history of the caves. All the information panels\nare unfortunately not translated from Chinese. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shows and performances presenting Buddhist culture and the history of the Wei Dynasty are regularly given against the backdrop of the Yungang Grottoes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udca1 Visiting the Yungang Grottoes<\/strong> \ud83d\udca1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Entrance fees to Yungang Grottoes are 125 yuan per person from March to November and 80 yuan from December to February. The site is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in summer and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. in winter.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Grottoes<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Datong<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Datong<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Access to the Hanging Temple and the Yungang Grottoes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You can combine the\nvisits of the Hanging Temple an the Yungang Grottoes in the\nsame day. You can: <\/p>\n\n\n\n