Xuankong Hanging Temple

I suggest this place for anyone who's in the Beijing area. Without having to go to the opposite end of China, there are plenty of lesser-known places no on the typical tourist trail, but well worth visiting. The Hengshan Hanging Temples are one of those places.

It's located in the outskirts of Datong, which is not a really notable city. In fact, it was probably the least-interesting city in visited in China. But the Hanging Temples and the Yuggang grottoes more than justify the visit. To get there, you can go to one of the small towns in the area and just take a taxi, or you can go on one of the day-trips organized by CTIS in Datong, which also includes the grottoes. It just depends on your taste for adventure!

The Hanging Temple in Datong is one of the most impressive temples in China. It's near the city of Datong in Shanxi province (6hr. bus ride from Beijing), and is worth a weekend trip to see the temple and the caves in Datong. The temple is built on a mountain surrounded by cliffs. If you head to the top, there are amazing views of the valley.

The temple is Buddhist, but the impressive part is more on the outside than on the inside. If you don't believe me, just check out the photos. Keep in mind that it's a ways out of the city and it's not so easy to get there. It's best to have the name

This temple is not in Datong, but about 70 miles away. It is, without a doubt, which attracts tourists to this part of the world. During my visit in the middle of January, I paid 300 yuan (30 euros) for a driver for the day, and it took two hours of road chaos to reach the temple. The view is really outstanding. The temple was built in the rugged mountains and arid, but the monastery itself is nothing exceptional.

Since I was visiting during the wintertime, I was the only visitor in the place. In my opinion, depending on the crowds, the 2 hour drive may not always be worth it, unless it's a passion.