 | Hanging Temple
It stands at the foot of Mt. Hengshan, 5 kilometers (3 miles) south of Hunyuan County, and 65 kilometers (40 miles) from downtown Datong City. Since it hangs on the west cliff of Jinxia Gorge more than 50 meters above the ground, it is called Hanging Temple. How could a building like this withstand the winds and storms of so many years? Hanging Temple is an architectural wonder. A unique mechanical theory was applied to building the framework. Crossbeams were half-inserted into the rock as the foundation, while the rock in back became its support. Seen from below, Hanging Temple appears to be a tumble-down castle in the air. Inside, Hanging Temple provides the same scene as other temples. |
 | Yungang Grottoes
The three main sites in China that are famous for their stone sculpture are Dunhuang, Longmen and Yungang. Among these, the Yungang grottoes are considered first among equals, for their tremendous size, ancient history, and relatively complete state of preservation. |
 | Pingyao Ancient City
Being one of the four wholly-protected ancient cities in China, Pingyao Ancient City is thought of as the 'treasure house' of ancient Chinese architectures. Among the 'Three Treasures' of Pingyao, the City Wall is rated highest, the other two being Zhengguo Temple, and Double Forest Temple. Although there has been repeated renovations, the city walls, streets, shops, temples and other buildings are still in a very good condition. |