Hengshan Hanging Temple (Xuankong si)
Hengshan Hanging Temple (Xuankong si)
4.5
Historic SitesPoints of Interest & LandmarksArchitectural BuildingsReligious Sites
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
The monastery was built on the cliffs of Mt. Hengshan, one of the five most sacred mountains in China. The caves and halls are connected by winding corridors and bridges.
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- LongXM8Yangzhou, China39 contributionsIncredible👌🏻The Hanging Temple of Mt. Hengshan is truly worth visiting and a Must-See Experience during your stay in Datong. This 247 meter high monastery seemingly "hangs" on the cliff, offering an imposing sight. I absolutely recommend purchasing the boarding ticket, which allows you to actually walk on the temple and take some magnificent pictures from there, alongside with the standard ticket, which only gives you the opportunity to visit the viewing area from below. It is quite meaningless to travel all the way to Mt. Hengshan and not being able to feel the complete experience. The views from above are breathtaking, as well as the temple itself, captivating visitors. I I definitely recommend it⛰️.Visited August 2024Traveled with familyWritten August 6, 2024
- merc89891,437 contributionsTemple on the cliffAmazing sight and unbelievable structure. We were lucky as the weather was perfect with less crowd. The queue to climb up the temple was a reasonable 45 minutes. View from the top was beautiful and the temple structure was solid and was built by solid wood without nails, 1400 years ago. Only about max 80 people could be on the temple at any one time for safety reasons. Definitely worth a visit.Visited September 2024Traveled with friendsWritten September 15, 2024
- Allan & Amy TEdmonton, Canada390 contributionsthis temp le is unique hanging off from the cliffIt is one of the highlights in my bucket list. Surely I was not disappointed. It has a history of 1500 years. It is well known by its architect with 27 wooden beams supporting this temple which were anchored into the cliffs of the Cuifeng Mountain It is a temple combined Buddhism,Taoism and Confusicism.. Please be advised buy your tickets online and booked a confirmed appointment prior to your visit to avoid disappointment. Due to safety issue the local officials only allow 30-40 people to go up for visiting,so there is a lineup of people waiting to go up in spite your have appoinment and tickets. The view was amazing and if you are afraid of height,dont look down. It is a one way traffic with no stopping on the way up. I am glad to say "I was there!"Visited August 2024Traveled with friendsWritten September 23, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Alice f
6 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
It is a fabulous monastery, to get there from Datong is a 1.5 hour drive, it is worth taking a taxi, we arranged with the hotel.
The taxi driver took us to the parking lot of the buses that commute to the monastery forecourt as cars are not allowed to climb. Then continue on foot .. it is not a long walk. You climb to 75 meters high with a staircase, thanks to the queue you do not feel fatigue, as you proceed slowly. Once inside you can feel the peace, despite the people around you breathe the strength that transmits to you. Exciting!
The taxi driver took us to the parking lot of the buses that commute to the monastery forecourt as cars are not allowed to climb. Then continue on foot .. it is not a long walk. You climb to 75 meters high with a staircase, thanks to the queue you do not feel fatigue, as you proceed slowly. Once inside you can feel the peace, despite the people around you breathe the strength that transmits to you. Exciting!
Automatically translated
Written August 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
merc8989
kuala lumpur1,437 contributions
Sep 2024 • Friends
Amazing sight and unbelievable structure. We were lucky as the weather was perfect with less crowd.
The queue to climb up the temple was a reasonable 45 minutes.
View from the top was beautiful and the temple structure was solid and was built by solid wood without nails, 1400 years ago.
Only about max 80 people could be on the temple at any one time for safety reasons.
Definitely worth a visit.
The queue to climb up the temple was a reasonable 45 minutes.
View from the top was beautiful and the temple structure was solid and was built by solid wood without nails, 1400 years ago.
Only about max 80 people could be on the temple at any one time for safety reasons.
Definitely worth a visit.
Written September 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Allan & Amy T
Edmonton, Canada390 contributions
Aug 2024 • Friends
It is one of the highlights in my bucket list. Surely I was not disappointed.
It has a history of 1500 years.
It is well known by its architect with 27 wooden beams supporting this temple which were anchored into the cliffs of the Cuifeng Mountain
It is a temple combined Buddhism,Taoism and Confusicism.. Please be advised buy your tickets online and booked a confirmed appointment prior to your visit to avoid
disappointment. Due to safety issue the local officials only allow 30-40 people to go up for visiting,so there is a lineup of people waiting to go up in spite your have appoinment and tickets.
The view was amazing and if you are afraid of height,dont look down. It is a one way traffic with no stopping on the way up.
I am glad to say "I was there!"
It has a history of 1500 years.
It is well known by its architect with 27 wooden beams supporting this temple which were anchored into the cliffs of the Cuifeng Mountain
It is a temple combined Buddhism,Taoism and Confusicism.. Please be advised buy your tickets online and booked a confirmed appointment prior to your visit to avoid
disappointment. Due to safety issue the local officials only allow 30-40 people to go up for visiting,so there is a lineup of people waiting to go up in spite your have appoinment and tickets.
The view was amazing and if you are afraid of height,dont look down. It is a one way traffic with no stopping on the way up.
I am glad to say "I was there!"
Written September 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LongXM8
Yangzhou, China39 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
The Hanging Temple of Mt. Hengshan is truly worth visiting and a Must-See Experience during your stay in Datong. This 247 meter high monastery seemingly "hangs" on the cliff, offering an imposing sight. I absolutely recommend purchasing the boarding ticket, which allows you to actually walk on the temple and take some magnificent pictures from there, alongside with the standard ticket, which only gives you the opportunity to visit the viewing area from below. It is quite meaningless to travel all the way to Mt. Hengshan and not being able to feel the complete experience. The views from above are breathtaking, as well as the temple itself, captivating visitors. I I definitely recommend it⛰️.
Written August 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bettybooo
Birmingham Uk80 contributions
Jul 2021
Amazing place. Like wandering around a dolls house for 10 year olds! Very small inside, not maybe for those who don't like heights, or under 5s who might go over the low barriers. Incredible they built managed to build this! Some debate about how long ago amongst our group! Visit soon, Numbers will have to be restricted, its so small and engineeringly precarious! May become a virtual tour at some point!
Written July 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BigFamily78
Saint-Remy-les-Chevreuse, France543 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
These temples suspended 60 m above the ground clinging to the side of the mountain are definitely worth the trip from Datong. We were dazzled by the place. The surrounding natural setting is sumptuous, and the visit is worth it. 45 minutes in line to access the first step that leads to the temples. Seen from below it is impressive, one wonders by what miracle it holds together. And seen from above, we ask ourselves the same question. There we find representations of the 3 majority religions in China: Taoism, Buddhism and Confusianism.
Written June 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Geralt
Springe, Germany9 contributions
Jul 2024 • Solo
One of the worst places I have visited so far. As a foreigner you can't buy tickets online in advance and once you arrive there, their tickets to enter the temple are sold out. So you come all the way to thia remote place only see it from far away. Ridiculous. Stay away.
Written July 13, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rob586
London, UK54 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
First things first, this is really a must see if you're in the area. If you can stomach the dizzying walk through a temple clinging to the side of a cliff, it's a real treat. I'd say the only downsides are that it takes a while to get there and costs 130Y.
Now, the cheap way to do it. From WeiDu Avenue (near the train station) you can take the number 70 bus to the Dong Guan bus station for 1Y. It's about a 20-minute journey and - as always in China - bring something with the name of the bus station in Chinese so you can ask the driver or a local where to get off. I think you can also go from the main Datong bus station, which can be reached using the number 15 bus.
From either bus station, you pay 30Y for a journey of around 90 minutes to get to a bus station near the monastery. From there, they put you in a taxi for the remaining 3.5km stretch, which should cost you nothing as it's included in the price of your bus ticket.
Be aware that these cab drivers will try to sell you other trips to see nearby attractions and will also catch you on the way out to try to take you back to the bus station 3.5km away. If you want to save money, you can walk this stretch of road in about 40 minutes. The first bit isn't so nice, by the side of the road. But after that, you can walk on a fairly nice path parallel to the road.
That'll take you back to the bus station, from where you can catch a bus back to Datong for 25Y. BEWARE...we expected this bus to go back to Dong Guan bus station but it went to the main one instead. However, we worked out that we could get the number 15 bus (other side of the road from the bus station) back towards the train station/WeiDu Avenue for 1Y.
All in all, the day cost us 57Y each. That's not a huge saving on the 80Y our hostel was offering for a car but it's considerably better than the hundreds of yuan i've seen people quoting for guided tours.
Hope that helps.
Now, the cheap way to do it. From WeiDu Avenue (near the train station) you can take the number 70 bus to the Dong Guan bus station for 1Y. It's about a 20-minute journey and - as always in China - bring something with the name of the bus station in Chinese so you can ask the driver or a local where to get off. I think you can also go from the main Datong bus station, which can be reached using the number 15 bus.
From either bus station, you pay 30Y for a journey of around 90 minutes to get to a bus station near the monastery. From there, they put you in a taxi for the remaining 3.5km stretch, which should cost you nothing as it's included in the price of your bus ticket.
Be aware that these cab drivers will try to sell you other trips to see nearby attractions and will also catch you on the way out to try to take you back to the bus station 3.5km away. If you want to save money, you can walk this stretch of road in about 40 minutes. The first bit isn't so nice, by the side of the road. But after that, you can walk on a fairly nice path parallel to the road.
That'll take you back to the bus station, from where you can catch a bus back to Datong for 25Y. BEWARE...we expected this bus to go back to Dong Guan bus station but it went to the main one instead. However, we worked out that we could get the number 15 bus (other side of the road from the bus station) back towards the train station/WeiDu Avenue for 1Y.
All in all, the day cost us 57Y each. That's not a huge saving on the 80Y our hostel was offering for a car but it's considerably better than the hundreds of yuan i've seen people quoting for guided tours.
Hope that helps.
Written July 22, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LorraineHongKong
Townsville, Australia150 contributions
Apr 2011
Hanging Monastery is located at the foot of Mt.Hengshan 65 kilometers from Datong City, hanging on the west cliff of a hill with over 50 meters above the ground, hence it is called the Hanging Monastery. The Hanging Monastery was first in 491. The present monastery was mainly rebuilt and maintained in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
Since it hangs on the west cliff of Jinxia Gorge , 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, Hanging Monastery appears to be a tumble-down castle in the air. Inside, Hanging Monastery provides the same scene as other temples. Construction experts from countries including Britain, Germany, and Italy, come to see the monastery.
Location is the reason for its survival. Building a monastery on the cliff shields 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.
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.
Admission Fee: CNY 130 (CNY125 in low season)
Opening Hours: 9:00 to 17:00
Recommended Time for a Visit: one-two hours
Taxi will cost CNY 300 for round trip
Since it hangs on the west cliff of Jinxia Gorge , 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, Hanging Monastery appears to be a tumble-down castle in the air. Inside, Hanging Monastery provides the same scene as other temples. Construction experts from countries including Britain, Germany, and Italy, come to see the monastery.
Location is the reason for its survival. Building a monastery on the cliff shields 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.
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.
Admission Fee: CNY 130 (CNY125 in low season)
Opening Hours: 9:00 to 17:00
Recommended Time for a Visit: one-two hours
Taxi will cost CNY 300 for round trip
Written April 25, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Soo_Han
Seattle, WA26 contributions
Datong is a side trip from Beijing that I took on my way to Xian. I took a flight on Air China, they have a daily early morning flight at 7am which is reasonable and we arranged a day tour with Bo Trip (a very large and reputable company in addition to being the only one I found who does both the Hengshan Hanging Temple & Yungang Grottos in a one day tour). And I am so glad I chose to visit. It's a decent drive away from the city center and you pass some remote very poor villages to get there. Once there, it's a quick litle walk up to the entryway of the temple. You're allowed an opportunity to explore the temple which though simple is nonetheless awe inspiring to imagine the process it must have taken to build. It's not terribly high up, but if you're afraid of heights, may be a problem since the walkway is not wide and the railing a little low. All in all, a beautiful temple with great views and totally worth the detour.
Written December 17, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is it easy to get a taxi from any Datong hotel to visit this place? Or is it better to book a tour beforehand? Are there any people offering tours at the train station?. Afraid to book and pay high price, as it could be cheaper to book from a hotel, taking a driver they recommend?. Thanks in advance! 😃
Written April 6, 2019
Yep, I would ask hotel. Even if they don't provide the service, they can still give you an indication of the local price and what to be aware of. But most hotels do have their own private drivers or will find someone who work with them. You can email the hotel and ask them the price etc if you're not sure. Most hotel receptions can speak simple English.
I wouldn't pick local tour groups for the simple reason that they might take you shopping and plan your trip for you instead. Unless you can speak Chinese or know exactly what you're getting yourself into, I would avoid tour groups. Private vehicles booked through hotel are always the best option. Just make sure you agree upon the price and time beforehand with whoever you are going.
Happy trip!
Written April 17, 2019
How far is it from parking area to where you can view temple from outside?. Is it an easy walk? I am a senior so probably will not climb the steps to go inside. go inside.
Written February 10, 2019
Easy walk, maybe 5- 10 minutes to gain good view across.Can see good span of temple against mountain. Maybe another 10-15 minutes easy walk to arrive just outside temple but won't see much as U need to pay fee to cross gate entrance first.
Written April 16, 2019
How far is the hanging temple from the train station? Is it easy to get transportation there on your own or is it best to get a tour guide?
Written December 18, 2018
It is about 95 km from Datong train station / Bus station to Hanging Monestary.Suggest U hire taxi to & from Monestary & ask Taxi driver to wait for U. Best U stay overnight in Datong & have accomodation hire taxi for U. The accomodation usually have taxi company they use regularly so its reliable & probably best fare. Allow 2 hours travel time each way & 2+ hours visit once U walk the long distance to entrance of Monestary. It is awesome as one goes thru the Monestary along narrow stairways & look out from different heights. Datong also have worthwhile city sites. Enjoy.
23 hours ago
Written December 28, 2018
Hengshan Hanging Temple is gesloten van 1 - 30 september 2018. Is de grote parkeerplaats tegenover het klooster wel open? Kan ik daar vandaan foto's maken van het klooster?
Written August 26, 2018
Yes, die Temples are closed. It looks like it will be for a longer time... The parking lot is closed, but you can take a picture from the street. But the temples are covered because of renovations.
Written September 14, 2018
We've booked a private driver who owns a van to take us from Beijing to Hanging Temple. It's 5 hours drive. There are stops in between that you can visit and see. Kids didn't mind the drive.
Written July 16, 2018
Is it possible to do Hengshan Hanging Temple and Yungang Grottoes on the same day? Thanks.
Written July 5, 2018
Definitely !!! And there’s plenty of time to fit the both into the one day
Written July 7, 2018
DO you think is doable visiting the temple with a baby (1.5 years) in a backpack? And the caves?
Written February 15, 2017
¿Es posible visitar el monasterio con un bebe de año y medio? Iría en una mochila a mi espalda. O pensáis que es una locura? Y las cuevas???
Written February 15, 2017
@Golimola It's really small and many people in there, so I think it could be a problem with a baby.
Written March 19, 2017
Hi guys
If there are tourist number restrictions at the Hanging Temple are you only allowed so long to visit? At least that way
all will probably get in. Suppose if it opens at 08.00 best to get there at 07.00!
Cheers
Trevor Webb
Written September 8, 2016
not that we are aware of there may be restrictions as to how many can go up at a time, but you can go up as many times as you want. There are other areas below that you can visit also.
Written September 8, 2016
How far is the Hengshan Hanging Temple to the Yungang Grottoes? What are the opening/closing hours for both attractions? What mode of transportation do you suggest traveling from one to the other? I am not staying at a hotel, flying in early morning/out late at night on the same day.
Written August 24, 2016
oops - I forgot about the times....which are available on the internet for anyone with a computer... this also give you more information about time and distances....(costs is there too but if you're over 60 its free)
Yungang Grottoes...
Admission Fee: CNY 120
Opening Hours: 8:30 - 17:20 (April 15 - October 27)
8:30 - 17:00 (October 28 - April 14)
9:30 - 16:30 (the exhibition hall)
Recommended
Time for a Visit: Two hours
Bus Route: Take bus No. 4 at Datong Railway Station and get off at Xin Kai Li. Then transfer to bus No. 3-1 to Yungang Grottoes.
There are other bus routes but it is advisable to take taxi or hire a van from downtown Datong to the Grottoes directly. The cost should be about CNY50.
Hanging Temple...
Ticket fare: 130 yuan per person
Opening time: 8:30-17:30 (winter); 8:00-18:00 (summer)
Location: 65 kilometers southeast of Datong City, taking one and a half hours by car
Written August 24, 2016
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