Unusual Place to Living

Hanging Monastery (Xuankong Si)

Hanging Monastery 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 Monastery.
Built in 491, it has survived more than 1400 years. The extant monastery was
largely rebuilt and maintained in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty
(1644-1911).

Hanging Monastery Pictures Sculpture of Sakyamuni and Confucius

How could a building like this withstand the winds and storms of so many years?
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.
Construction experts from countries including Britain,Germany, and Italy, come to
see the monastery. In their words, Hanging Monastery, which mixes mechanics,
aesthetics, and Buddhism, is rare. The architecture and everything it symbolizes
embodies a great cultural achievement of Chinese people.
The second attraction of Hanging Monastery is that it includes Buddhism, Taoism
and Confucianism. Inside the monastery, the sculptures of
Sakyamuni, Confucius and Laotzu appear together, which is unusual. There are 40
halls and cabinets, which contain about 80 sculptures made of copper, iron,
terracotta, and stone. The features are vividly carved.
Why build a monastery like this? Location is the first reason; building a monastery
on the cliff could shield it from floods. In addition, the mountain peak protects it
from rain and snow; and the mountain around it also diminishes damage from long-
time sunshine. The second reason is that the builders followed a principle in Taoism:
no noises, including those from rooster crowing and dog baying; so from the upper
ground, all noises drop away.
Admission Fee: CNY 130 (CNY125 in low season)
Opening Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Recommended Time for a
two hours
Visit:
Get to Datong City first. Datong Coach Station in Yantong
Road has buses to Hunyuan County. Then take bus 8 or take
taxi to the monastery.
How to Get There:
It is advisable to take a taxi or hire a van from Datong. It
should cost no more than CNY150 for a round trip for
Datong-Hanging Monastery-Datong.