Taiyuan Trip Overview
Join this private day tour from Taiyuan to explore two spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Datong: Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple. Yungang represent the successful fusion of Buddhist religious symbolic art from south and central Asian with Chinese cultural traditions. While the 1400 years Hanging Temple is an architectural wonder because it hangs on the cliff more than 50 meters above the ground. This private tour includes lunch, entrance fee, an English-speaking guide and transport by private vehicle. You can choose to end your tour in Datong or return Taiyuan.
Additional Info
Duration: 8 to 9 hours
Starts: Taiyuan, China
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Historical & Heritage Tours
Explore Taiyuan Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
Join this private day tour from Taiyuan to explore two spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Datong: Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple. Yungang represent the successful fusion of Buddhist religious symbolic art from south and central Asian with Chinese cultural traditions. While the 1400 years Hanging Temple is an architectural wonder because it hangs on the cliff more than 50 meters above the ground. This private tour includes lunch, entrance fee, an English-speaking guide and transport by private vehicle. You can choose to end your tour in Datong or return Taiyuan.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Pass By: Taiyuan, Taiyuan, Shanxi
Your tour guide will pick you up from the lobby of your Taiyuan hotel, then heading directly to Hanging Temple, it will take 3.5 hours. Your tour guide will explain the related histories and stories, feel free to ask questions if you have.
Stop At: Hengshan Hanging Temple (Xuankong si), Hengshan, Datong China
The hanging temple is the only existed temple hosting worship for the Taoists, Confucians and Buddhists. Built in 491 A.D, Hanging Temple is an architectural wonder because it hangs on the west cliff of Jinxia Gorge more than 50 meters above the ground. An 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, it appears to be a tumble-down castle in the air. Inside, it provides the same scene as other temples. Hanging Monastery 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, it appears to be a tumble-down castle in the air. Inside, it provides the same scene as other temples. The architecture embodies a great cultural achievement of Chinese people.
Follow your tour guide to experience the 1400 years architectural wonder, get to learn the history of three major religions in China and how these believes been used into the architecture.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Yungang Grottoes, Wuzhou Mountain, Urban Area, Datong 37000 China
Enjoy lunch in the local restaurant, then heading to Yungang Grottoes.
Located at the southern foot of the Wuzhou Mountain, the Yungang Grottoes were built against the mountain and extend about one km (0.62 miles) from east to west. Comprising 252 caves and 51,000 statues within a carved area of 18,000 square meters.
Yungang Grottoes represent the outstanding achievement of Buddhist cave art in China during the 5th and 6th centuries. The Five Caves created by Tan Yao, with their strict unity of layout and design, constitute a classical masterpiece of the first peak of Chinese Buddhist art.
While influenced by Buddhist cave art from South and Central Asia, Yungang Grottoes have also interpreted the Buddhist cave art with distinctive Chinese character and local spirit. As a result, Yungang Grottoes have played a vitally important role among early Oriental Buddhist grottoes and had a far-reaching impact on Buddhist cave art in China and East Asia.
Yungang Grottoes were added to the World Cultural Heritage List in December 2001.
Walk with your tour guide to explore the grottoes and niches, get to know its history and culture. Since this is a private tour, feel free to ask questions during the tour.
After the tour finished, you can choose to end your tour in Datong or travel back to Taiyuan.
Duration: 2 hours
