Hanging Temple
Datong, Datong
A temple bolted to a cliff face for 1,500 years - gravity-defying, literally.
The Hanging Temple clings to a sheer cliff above the Jinlong Gorge, its halls and galleries stacked on wooden beams that look impossible and have held for fifteen centuries. It is one of the strangest buildings on earth.
The climb is steep but short, and the views over the gorge justify every step. Combine with Yungang for the definitive Datong day.
Best for: A temple that refused to obey gravity.
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