I just came to Datong for a free trip in September this year. I felt that the itinerary was well arranged. I would like to share it as follows:
The first day’s itinerary: visit Hanging Temple and Beiyue Hengshan in the morning, and visit Yingxian Wooden Pagoda in the afternoon.
- Hanging Temple:
The Hanging Temple was built in the Northern Wei Dynasty and has a very long history. Although it has been exposed to rain, snow, wind and frost for more than 1,500 years, it is still hanging on the cliff and remains motionless, which is very shocking. I’ll come
Datong
When traveling, you come to the Hanging Temple and Yungang Grottoes.
Looking into the distance, the thousand-year-old temple on the cliff looks like a magnificent relief. At the foot of the mountain is the word “spectacular” inscribed by Li Bai. Looking at the buildings of the Hanging Temple, they vary in size and height. It turns out that it makes full use of the concave and convex parts of the cliff to build the temple according to the natural flow. It is very exquisite and amazing.
Slender wooden pillars are inserted into the steep rock wall, making the palace look like it is suspended in the air. It is very thrilling. No wonder the Hanging Temple is called one of the most dangerous buildings in the world.
You see, there are horizontal boards on the wooden posts. Between the horizontal boards and the wooden posts are half-extended beams. Each wooden post is inserted into the beam, and each beam is inserted into the hard In the rock wall. It is these beams that can really bear the weight of the Hanging Temple, and the real center of gravity is the rocks of these cliffs.
The two wooden pavilions are almost embedded into the cliff, with a huge cliff protruding above them. Although the Hanging Temple hangs on the cliff, it is blocked by the huge cliff above and the protruding stone walls on both sides.
Hengshan
The mountain peaks block the sunlight, which effectively prevents it from being eroded by wind, sun, rain and rain, making it well-preserved, which is called “miraculous”.
Each pavilion in the Hanging Temple is connected by plank roads, forming a closely connected whole. Walking on the narrow and steep wooden stairs, looking at the deep valley at your feet, you feel startled every step of the way.
Xuankong Temple is also the only unique temple in our country that combines Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. The founder of Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism is worshiped here.
- Beiyue Hengshan
- As one of the Five Mountains, it is a Chinese national mountain with a long history and splendid humanities.
Hengshan
The mountain gate,
Hengshan
It is known as “the North Pillar of Man and Heaven” and “the most famous mountain in the world”.
It has been one of the important birthplaces of Taoism since ancient times, and the mountains are dotted with temples.
We arrived in mid-September
Hengshan
At that time, there were few tourists and the air was fresh. We walked in the lush forest, looked at the ancient temples and pavilions, and enjoyed the magnificent scenery, feeling relaxed and comfortable.
- Yingxian Wooden Pagoda
-
The wooden pagoda in Yingxian County is also called the Sakyamuni Pagoda. There are two tooth relics of Sakyamuni Buddha enshrined in the pagoda.
from
Hengshan
To get to Yingxian Muta, you have to go through the highway. Local drivers generally don’t take the initiative to mention this scenic spot because they think it’s a long way to go. However, we learned that although the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda is located in a remote area, its status is very prominent, so we must take a look at it. Therefore, when negotiating the price with the chartered driver, the premise is that you must go to Yingxian Muta.
The Yingxian wooden pagoda did not disappoint us. This wooden pagoda, built in the second year of Qingning in Liao Dynasty, is 67.31 meters high, has a base diameter of 30.27 meters, and is flat and octagonal. It stands tall and tall in front of us. It is made entirely of red pine wood and weighs more than 2,600 tons.
What’s even more amazing is that it has no nails or rivets from top to bottom. We are really amazed at the cleverness and wisdom of our ancestors. It is not only the tallest and oldest existing wooden tower in my country, but also recognized as the tallest wooden tower in the world. It is also known as the “Three Wonderful Towers in the World” together with the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Eiffel Tower.
The stairs inside the wooden tower are old and mottled, telling its long history.
The Yingxian wooden pagoda model in Shanxi Museum looks more intuitive
The next day: Visit Yungang Grottoes and Yungang Grottoes Museum in the morning, Huayan Temple, Nine Dragons Wall, and Datong Ancient City in the afternoon.
- Yungang Grottoes:
The Yungang Grottoes were built during the Northern Wei Dynasty. There are 45 main caves and 252 large and small cave niches. Together with the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, Luoyang Longmen Grottoes and Tianshui Maijishan Grottoes, they are also known as the four major grottoes in my country.
When you come to Yungang Grottoes, you mainly want to see the fifth and sixth caves and the sixteenth to twentieth caves. I will introduce them to you below.
♥♥
The fifth and sixth caves:
Located in the middle of Yungang Grottoes, the Buddha statue inside is 17 meters high. It is the largest Buddha statue in Yungang Grottoes. Looking up at the giant Buddha, it is so tall and majestic that it is very shocking. There are colorful giant Buddhas in the Five and Six Grottoes. Due to the protection of cultural relics, photography is not allowed.
There are five four-story pavilions in front of Cave Five and Cave Six, and those colorful Buddhas are inside the pavilions.
This picture recording the ninth cave is taken from Shanxi Museum, which also contains colorful Buddhas.
♥♥
Cave 16 to Cave 20:
Also known as Tan Yao Five Grottoes, the Buddha statue in Cave 20 is the representative of the carving art of Yungang Grottoes. Cave 16 to Cave 20 are the five earliest caves excavated in Yungang Grottoes, commonly known as Tan Yao Five Cave. Among them, the 18th, 19th and 20th are a group, called the Three Buddha Cave. The Buddha statue in the 18th cave is 15.5 meters high, wearing the cassock of a thousand Buddhas, with a round face and a majestic body.
The 20th cave has three statues of Buddhas. The seated statue of Sakyamuni in the middle is 13.7 meters high.
♥♥
Sitting statue of Sakyamuni
, a masterpiece of carving art in Yungang Grottoes. This photo appears in history textbooks and promotional videos.
♥♥
Sitting statue of Sakyamuni
- Yungang Grottoes Museum.
The museum is located in the scenic area, and we also went in to take a look. It is not very large, but the cultural relics inside are all collected from the Yungang Grottoes.
- Datong Ancient City
. After visiting the Yungang Grottoes in the morning, I took a battery car to the entrance of the scenic spot, then took the No. 603 bus back the same way, and then stopped at
Datong
Get off the bus near the ancient city. Huayan Temple and Nine Dragon Wall are both located in the ancient city.
Datong
It was the capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty and the capital of the Liao and Jin Dynasties. There are many historical sites in the ancient city. The famous cultural relics and historic sites include Huayan Temple, Shanhua Temple, Nine Dragon Wall, etc.
- Huayan Temple.
Huayan Temple was built in the seventh year of Chongxi period of Liao Dynasty. It is a relatively complete temple complex of Liao and Jin Dynasties that has been well preserved. The entire temple has a rigorous layout, large scale and long history. It can be called the Liao and Jin Art Museum.
- Nine Dragon Wall.
Built in the 25th year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty, it was originally a screen wall in front of the mansion of Zhu Gui, the thirteenth son of Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty. It has a history of more than 600 years and is the largest glazed dragon wall in existence.
♥♥
Some suggestions:
- About the itinerary
- We have finished the tour
Datong
It was almost 3 o’clock in the afternoon when we returned to the B&B in the ancient city. It is recommended to visit Shanhua Temple next to Huayan Temple and then go
Datong
Visit the museum and return to the ancient city in the evening to see the night view. In this way, this itinerary is perfect.
- About accommodation:
It is recommended to live near the train station, because there is bus 603 to Yungang Grottoes, and it is the starting station, and its terminal station is Yungang Grottoes.
- About transportation:
Go to Xuankong Temple,
Hengshan
, Ying County Wooden Pagoda, transportation is inconvenient, the four of us chartered a taxi, each paid a rent of 100 yuan, and returned after the tour
Datong
;Go to Yungang Grottoes,
Datong
In the ancient city, we took bus 603. Bus 603 returned from Yungang Grottoes.
Datong
Downtown, just passing by
Datong
The ancient city is very convenient. Also, charter a car
Hengshan
, be sure to ask the driver to drive the car to the parking lot halfway up the mountain, and then start climbing the mountain from here, which can save the cost of the round-trip cableway.
- About snacks:
Datong
There are many snack bars. There are also
Datong
There are many restaurants in the ancient city, where you can eat local specialties.
I hope the above itinerary and some suggestions can help everyone. I wish you a happy trip!
==========
If you think his answer is good, please give him a like!
Your support is a great encouragement to the author~