Hanging Temple or Hanging Monastery is one of the impressed sites on my trip to North
of China at the end of 2011.The temple, about 65 kilometers from Datong city, was built into a cliff near Mt.Hengshan
over 1500 years ago. It is notable not only for its location on a sheer
precipice but also because it includes Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian
elements. The structure is kept in place with wooden crossbeams fitted
into holes chiseled into the cliffs. The main supportive structure was
hidden!
The
construction of Hanging Temple started at the end of the Northern Wei
Dynasty (386 - 557). Many repairs and extension from different dynasties
were made. But, it was damaged during the Cultural Revolution. Most
parts of the current structure dates from the Qing Dynasty(1644-1921).
Nowadays,
it becomes a popular tourist sites. Due to its wooden construction, the
numbers of tourists have been limited for security reasons during the
peak season.
Local
people said it is much comfortable to stay in the temple in summer. I
agree. When I was in the temple, I feel it is much colder in winter, but
the nearby scenery is amazing!
- Splendid China Hanging Temple
- Magnificent Buddha figure
- The Inside of Hanging Temple
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