Northern China Wonderlast Spot: Datong, A City of Grand Sight

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Datong is a city in the central part of China, in Shanxi Province, on the loess plateau at the outpost of the Great Wall of China, separating Inner China from Inner Mongolia.
Earlier than other cities in East Asia, Datong was decorated with Buddhist temples and pagodas. The so-called "hanging temple" (Xuankunsi) is particularly famous.
In 431, the city was surrounded by a powerful 16-kilometer wall, but by the end of the 5th century, the Wei rulers moved the capital to Luoyang, and Datong was left to be plundered by nomads and forgotten for several centuries.
Datong, formerly known as Pingcheng, was the capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty. Today, Datong City is one of the most famous historical and cultural cities in China is a famous tourist destination with many historical attractions, including the Yonggang Grottoes, the Hanging Monastery and the Wooden Tower.
Datong experienced a series of tumultuous wars in its early days, and its people longed for peace. Thus, Buddhism gained favor. Buddhist temples began to be built during the Han Dynasty.
Today, there are many well-preserved Buddhist sites in Datong, and the World Heritage Site Yonggang Grottoes is the most popular among tourists.
Today, Datong is more than just a growing industrial area. It boasts a unique mountainous landscape and is the location of some of China's most valuable historical treasures.:
The Yonggang Grottoes are classic masterpieces of Chinese Buddhist art from the 5th and 6th centuries.
The Hanging Monastery is a Buddhist temple built on a rock, which is considered a work of art, as well as a miracle of engineering.
Yingxian Wooden Pagoda is the oldest and tallest wooden pagoda in China.
Datong's Nine Dragons Screen Wall is the largest dragon screen wall in China.
Mount Heng is one of the five sacred mountains of Taoism.
The Shanhua Temple is the most complete and largest group of temples in China.
Besides the attractions of Datong, you can easily extend your trip to explore nearby attractions such as Wutai Mountain and Pingyao Ancient City.

Post by MaxS | Aug 30, 2024