Best Places to Visit in Datong

Datong is not only a Buddhist attraction but the nearest city to Mt. Hengshan, one of the four holy mountains of Taoism in China. Top China Travel would like to introduce some of the Best Places to visit in Datong, to help you find your way to explore the unspoiled beauty of this charming and mysterious area. Where to visit in Datong? Travel with us, just let us to be your guide and accompany with you to discover the charms between grottoes and temples.
 

Yungang Grottoes

Yungang Grottoes is one of World Culture Sites. It is said that Yungang Grottoes are the best preserved sites in China with 53 caves containing over 51,000 stone carvings of Buddha and Buddhist.

Located about 16 km southwest of the city of Datong in Shanxi province, Yungang Grottoes, mainly constructed between 460-525 AD during the Northern Wei dynasty, represent exceptional feat of Buddhist cave art in China in the 5th and 6th century. It has got a total number of 53 grottoes consisting of more than 51,000 Buddha statues and statuettes. The fusion of Buddhist religious symbolic art from central and south Asia with Chinese cultural tradition is the noted highlight of the site. It have been quite successful in vividly illustrating the power and endurance of the Buddhist belief in China. It is a must see destination for you if you are the one who loves to explore the architectural brilliance of the world.
 

Hanging Temple

Hanging Temple, the most famous scenic spot in Mt. Hengshan, has stood at the foot of Mt. Hengshan for over one thousand years. Leaning on the precipitous mountain face and facing a deep valley, the temple was constructed in a unique way, which is the buildings are supported by sturdy wooden pillars inserted in holes cut in the mountain body. Seeing it from the distance you could find it hanging in the mid air miraculously, hence the name ‘Hanging Temple.

Tourists can walk upwards along the steep stone pathway to visit some 40 exquisite and unique halls in the temple. This is the special monastery in which you could find not only the elements of Buddhism but also Taoism and Confucianism. There are around 40 halls with 80 sculptures which are vividly carved from copper, iron, terracotta and stone in this temple. A visit to the Hanging Temple will be a happy adventure at the same time.
 

Nine Dragon Wall

Being the oldest and largest glazed screen in China, the Nine Dragon Wall, though it has been standing over 600 years, yet it is still in a perfect condition today owing to its perfect architecture and craft work.

Being well-preserved till now, it was constructed of glazed tiles and engraved with nine dragons. Painted in different colors, these nine dragons are lively just like flying swiftly upward. The clearance among the dragons was filled with stones and float grasses. The bottom of the wall carved 41 groups of pictures of two dragons playing with the pearl. The waist of the wall was compounded with 75 pieces of relieves made up of colored glaze brick, collecting lifelike cattle, horse, sheep, dog, deer, rabbit and so on.