An ancient temple hanging on a cliff

Hanging Temple, located at the foot of Mount Hengshan in the southeast suburbs of Hunyuan County, Datong City, is a millennium-old temple and one of the most distinctive wooden cliffside structures in China and the world. It is suspended on a sheer cliff, attracting visitors from all over the world with its unique posture and exquisite architectural artistry. The Hanging Temple was built by adapting to the local conditions, making full use of the natural shape of the cliff, and cleverly designing the building structure. The entire temple is divided into seven parts: the South Tower, North Tower, Bell and Drum Tower, Guanyin Pavilion, Three Buddhas Hall, and Guan Di Temple. Among them, the South Tower and North Tower stand opposite each other, connected by a plank walkway only 1.5 meters wide, with steep stone walls on both sides. This unique architectural style and design make the Hanging Temple one of the representatives of ancient Chinese wooden architecture. The construction of the Hanging Temple took the efforts of several generations. According to historical records, the Hanging Temple was built during the Northern Wei period and was originally called the "Hanging Hall." It was later repaired and expanded during the Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties, Song, and Yuan dynasties, gradually forming its current scale. In 1982, the State Council designated the Hanging Temple as a national key cultural relic protection unit. In 2010, the Hanging Temple was inscribed on the World Cultural Heritage list. Today, the Hanging Temple has become an important symbol of Datong City, attracting millions of tourists every year. Despite the vicissitudes of time, this millennium-old temple still stands firmly on the cliff, showcasing the wisdom and craftsmanship of ancient artisans to the world. Friends traveling to Datong must not miss this mysterious and magical place!