Adventures in Beijing: Datong- Hanging Temple and Yungang Grottoes

We went to two places in Datong. First the Yungang Grottoes and then the Hanging Temple.

When we got into the train station we were bombarded by taxi drivers wanting to take us around. It was so funny to hear them shouting MeiGuoRen as we walked up. They immediately flocked to us. Nick negotiated pretty quickly and we got a guy to drive us to our hotel for the night and then take us around the next day until we had to be back at the train station for our train back.

We went to the Grottoes first, but my pictures didn't load in that order. The Hanging Temple was about 60 km out of town. The ride out there was almost as exciting as the site itself. At one point the road was closed and all traffic was detoured through the mud on the side. There were some pretty huge trucks that definitely would have been stuck pretty easily if they had slowed down at all. We made it to the temple safely and braved the cold wind to climb up to it.

The Hanging Temple is located in a valley, but is perched about half way up the wall. Apparently it used to flood a lot in the region so they had to find a way to protect the temple. It is over 1500 years old and includes elements of Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism.

With the Carters in front of the Hanging Temple.

About to go in.

Exploring the temple. It got pretty crowded in some spots since there is only a little room to walk.

Hanging Temple.

The Grottoes were a little closer to the city. We got up early and actually arrived before they opened. Nick visited here about 5 years ago and couldn't believe how much it has changed. Our driver did warn us that they had tried to create a tourist trap, and that the government had spent 18 billion RMB fixing it up.

When Nick first went you drove through a little village right up to the grottoes. Now you have to walk about a kilometer through a big temple and park. He couldn't believe the difference.

The Grottoes themselves though were amazing. I'm glad they are doing something to protect them now. There were a few caves where we could climb up inside and explore and others with very intricate carvings. In some of the caves there were over 3000 small buddhas carved. Some of them had been restored, and others were missing their hands and faces from the damage done to them during the Cultural Revolution.

We explored for about an hour and then had to run back to the car to make it to the Hanging Temple before our train back to Beijing. I definitely could have spent more time here.