Day 1 Datong → Yingxian Wooden Pagoda → Jingtu Temple → Hanging Temple → Datong
·morning
【Special Reminder】
1. During the peak season, traffic jams and queues at scenic spots may occur, so you may need to leave early. Please do not take photos if you mind.
2. During the peak season, we do not accept tourists who have big travel plans on the day. If you still sign up with big travel plans and miss your flight or bus, the travel agency will not be able to compensate you.
Due to resource adjustments, this route will be changed to a small group of 2-15 people starting from September. Please be advised!
Visitors staying in hotels in Datong's main urban area between 7:30 and 8:00 can wait patiently for a special car to pick them up. (Please provide your hotel name and address when registering so that the staff can contact you.)
Depart at around 08:00 and head to the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda to start your journey into the essence of the thousand-year-old ancient architecture.
·morning
Visit the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda from 10:00 to 11:30
In 1933, architect Liang Sicheng visited the pagoda and was deeply impressed. He exclaimed, "Without seeing this pagoda, I have no idea of the possibilities of wooden construction. I admire it immensely! I admire the era in which it was built, and the unknown architects and craftsmen of that era." In 2016, the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda was certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the "world's tallest wooden pagoda." It is constructed entirely of brackets, columns, and beams, interlaced and interlocked, without the need for nails or rivets. Each floor forms an octagonal hollow structure. It is a unique example of the richest and most ingenious use of brackets in ancient Chinese architecture, and it is truly a bracket museum.
Key highlights: bracket structure, plaques from past dynasties, the statue of Sakyamuni inside the tower, and brainstorming solutions for repairing the tower's tilt.
Visit the Pure Land Temple from 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Liang Sicheng once said that Ying County had three treasures: the wooden pagoda, the Tiangong caisson, and the "disheveled" lion. The latter two are hidden in this little-known temple. Although only the main hall remains, nestled in the ruins that resemble a construction site, the stunning Jin Dynasty caisson and Tiangong pavilions hidden within are sure to amaze you, and you can even take photos.
Key highlights: caisson ceiling, palace pavilions
Around 12:00-13:00, free time for lunch and explore local specialties
Special food: Hunyuan jelly
·afternoon
Visit the Hanging Temple from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
The Hanging Temple, with a history of over 1,500 years, is considered one of the world's ten most dangerous structures. It's often described as "the Hanging Temple, half a meter high, suspended in the air by three horsetails." Li Bai, while at the foot of Cuiping Mountain, inscribed the word "spectacular" in his wish. We chose to visit in the afternoon to avoid the morning peak and minimize waiting time.
Once inside, you'll discover that while the temple appears imposing from afar, it's actually quite small. Ascending the mountainside, you'll experience a sense of grandeur within its smallness. Climbing the suspended tower, the narrow walkways, and low wooden railings truly require a certain level of courage. Navigating what you might expect to be a series of steep, treacherous steps turns out to be a surprisingly subtle descent, with entrances and exits hidden in subtle corners and mezzanines. Be careful not to bump your head as you ascend.
Key attractions: Panoramic views and the almost suspended plank road between the second and third floors (access at your own expense, as the tour guide will not accompany you)
Special instructions:
Notice📢: Due to the increase in the number of visitors to the Hanging Temple, the scenic area has notified all contracted travel agencies that the Hanging Temple scenic area will temporarily stop signing orders from August 4, 2024. All travel agencies will make reservations for admission tickets and boarding tickets online according to individual tourists. If there is no successful boarding ticket reservation online, the scenic area will arrange to limit the number of tickets.
Guests who have registered for the trip are requested to purchase the [boarding ticket] on their own on the official account. This trip does not include the boarding ticket!
Please remain calm if you cannot get a ticket. We will enter the park as normal and will not go up to the temple to admire it.
Tourists who do not ascend the mountain can move freely within the scenic area and wait for the tourists who ascend the mountain to finish their ascent. If you mind, please do not sign up. People who are afraid of heights should not participate in the ascent activity.
Gather around 17:00 and return to Datong
The group will disband at Datong Ancient Town around 18:30. You can continue to explore and enjoy Datong's delicious night market.
