Hanging Temple

» Datong, Shan Xi

Hanging Temple Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information

Hanging Temple locates at the foot of Mt. Hengshan, 5 kilometers (3 miles) south of Hunyuan County, and 65 kilometers (40 miles) from downtown Datong City. The Temple hangs on the west cliff of Jinlong Gorge more than 50 meters above the ground, hence it is called Hanging Temple. Hanging Temple was built in 491 with a history of more than 1400 years. The extant temple was largely rebuilt and maintained in the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911).

What to appreciate

All buildings in the temple were hung on the crag at the slope of Mt. Hengshan. The buildings stand vertical to the cliff, and the peak of the cliff seems upside down. Seen from upwards, the whole building seems that it just sticks to the cliff. Facing south to Mt. Hengshan, the temple is under the crags and on the cloughs, with red walls and gray tiles. Strew at random and spread in the air, it just like a flying little phoenix. The buildings are arrayed in a line from the south of the cliff to the north, and heightened gradually like a dragon pronating on the cliff.

Architecture

The clusters of architecture, More than forty halls, rooms and pavilions, are made of wood and evenly distributed and well-balanced in height. Passing through the temple gate, one can reach a two-storeyed building. As the stele pavilions and the gate towers, two tall buildings stand face to face in the yard. There are two bell and drum towers on both sides of the temple gate, and they are square side pavilions.The principal buildings among them are Sanguan Hall, Sansheng Hall, Sanjiao Hall.

Sanguan Hall

The principal building among them is the Sanguan Hall, a place to offer sacrifice to Taoism. Statues in the hall are vivid, with undecorated faces, black eyebrows and swaying gussets.

Sansheng Hall

The principal building in the central part is the Sansheng Hall, which enshrines sitting Buddha statues with disciples standing submissively on the sides.

Sanjiao Hall

The last building complex is mainly the Sanjiao Hall, the highest one in the temple, and has a three-eave gable and hip roof with nine ridges. Statues of Confucius, Laozi (a scholar in ancient China) and Sakyamuni the founders of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism respectively, are enshrined in the hall. Different cultures directly encounter one another here. This building is a perfect combination of religion and culture of Chinese feudal society. The statue of Sakyamuni stands in the middle, that of Laozi on the right and Confucius on the left, with different expressions. Displaying the innermost being of three founders of different doctrines, techniques of statuaries are really exquisite and are acclaimed as the peak of perfection.

Peril, workmanship and miracle

Hanging Temple is an immortal masterpiece of ancient architecture and a piece crystallization of workmanship and resourcefulness. It owns a unique position among the various temples and monasteries with its characteristics of "peril, workmanship and miracle." Its perilous situation of makes one feel dumbfounded. Walking a few miles deep into the canyon, tourists will see in the curling up clouds and mists, pavilions in the air, hanging on the precipice. These pavilions are supported up by a few pillars with a diameter of an ordinary bowl. The majority of the building body is suspending in the air.

Superb craftsmanship excelling nature

The workmanship of Hanging Temple lies in the fact that with the supporting beams as its basis and the skilful utilization of the hidden rocks, the whole building is uniquely well-knit into an integral whole and the balustrades are artistically connected. The layout of the temple structure is in excellent symmetry with variations, well-connected though scattered at various points, and still in good proportion though extraordinarily complicated. The mountains are excavated at halfway to create grottoes and within the niches Buddhas are enshrined. Temples like this more than 1000 years ago can be lauded as "superb craftsmanship excelling nature."

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.

Cultural craftworks

There are all sorts of inscriptions, poems and another 78 statues of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism made of copper, iron, clay and stone, which are valuable cultural craftworks.

When to visit

• Opening Hours: 9:10a.m. - 17:00p.m.
• Recommended Time for a Visit: Two hours

Attractions around » Datong, Shan Xi

Natural Scene

• Mt. Hengshan

Historical Site

• Yungang Grottoes
• Hanging Temple
• Wooden Pagoda
• Huayan Temple
• Nine Dragon Screen
• Shanhua Temple
• Niangzi Pass
• Yanmen Pass
• Pingxing Pass

Hanging Temple Highlights

Temple & Monastery in Great China

• Shaolin Temple
• Temple of Heaven
• Jokhang Temple
• Confucius Temple
• A-Ma Temple
• Palkhor Monastery
• Sera Temple
• Drepung Temple
• Rongbuk Temple
• Songzanlin Temple
• Id Kah Mosque
• Lingyin Temple
• Labrang Temple
• Great Buddha at Lingshan
• Golden Temple
• Yuantong Temple
• Tashilhunpo Temple
• Sakya Temple
• Temple of Universal Peace
• Putuo Zongcheng Temple
• Eight Outer Temples
• Famen Temple
• Great Mosque
• Nanputuo Temple
• Jade Buddha Temple
• Town God Temple
• Confucius Temple
• Lama Temple
• White Cloud Temple
• Tar Temple
• Santa Sophia Church
• 108 Dagobas
• Memorial Temple of Lord Bao
• White Horse Temple
• Qiongzhu Temple
• Hanging Temple
• Hanshan Temple
• Gaomiao Temple at Zhongwei
• Giant Buddha Temple
• Xiangguo Temple
• Yufeng Lamastery
• Chongshansi Temple
• Dule Temple
• Anyuan Temple
• White Horse Pagoda
• Trandruk Temple
• Dai Temple
• Pagoda of Songyue Temple
• Ramoche Temple
• Guanlin Temple
• Huayan Temple
• Kaiyuan Temple
• Samye Temple
• Jinci Temple
• Confucius Temple
• Ganden Temple
• Dabeiyuan Temple
• Wuhou Memorial Temple
• Shanhua Temple
• Ruins of St. Paul's
• Temple of Universal Happiness
• Great Bell Temple
• Qingjing Mosque
• Hongfu Temple
• Dazhao Temple
• Five Pagoda Temple
• Baoguo Temple
• Wudangzhao Temple
• Shalu Temple
• Bailin Temple, Great Zen Buddhist Center
• Longhua Temple
• Jile Temple
• Chengtiansi Pagoda
• Nanguan Muslim Mosque
• Qingyanggong Temple
• Ba Xian An Temple
• Tianhou Palace
• Guiyuan Temple
• Linggu Temple
• Najiahu Mosque at Yongning
• Haibao Pagoda
• Xilitu Zhao
• Dongguan Mosque
• Jiegu Temple

Hanging Temple FAQ & Travelers's Tips

  Weather

1. Are there any tips about the weather in Taiyuan?

  Food

1. What should I note when eating in Shanxi?

  Shopping

1. What speciality products does Shanxi have?

  Travel

1. Some tips on touring around temples on Mt. Wutaishan

• Are there any tips about the weather in Taiyuan?

  Shanxi province is located on the Loess Plateau and is windy and dusty. So you had better not dress in light color. Besides, the air is dry and you should take good care of your skin, and drink more water, or else your lips will be chapped.

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• What should I note when eating in Shanxi?

  The soil in Shanxi province is alkaline, so we strongly recommend you to drink a spoon of local mature vinegar before your three meals a day because the local vinegar could reduce the alkalescence and prevent intestinal disease.

  Proper diet is important. Do not eat too much. Eat more vegetables, fruits and drink more water in order to adapt yourself to the plateau-climate. You had better not smoke or drink.

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• What speciality products does Shanxi have?

  Pingyao beef, Pingyao lacquerwork, Shanxi mature vinegar, Shanxi red date, "Fen jiu" (a kind of famous Chinese hard liquor), mushrooms and tropaeolum of Mount Wutaishan and so on.

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• Some tips on touring around temples on Mt. Wutaishan

  The mountain area is scattered with many famous temples which are the highlights of Mt. Wutaishan tour. There are several aspects tourists should pay attention to, such as:

  • Monk in these temples should be styled "Shifu" or "Fashi" while the abbot styled "Zhanglao," "Fangzhang," or "Shanshi (Chan master)." All the forms of address show the respect for the monks. Monk in lamasery should be addressed as "lama," meaning great master. Do not call them "Heshang" or "Chujiaren" or even other insulting name.
  
  
  • When meeting monks in these temples, you should salute them by putting the palms together and lowering your head slightly or you can put upright one of your hand before chest and lower your head. Never shake their hands, embrace them, touch their heads or other unsuitable action.
  
  
  • When talking with the monks, you should not speak of killing, marriage and eating meat in order to avoid arousing their antipathy. Don't speak loudly, discuss casually, lampoon, touch the Buddhist figures or leave any mark on statues. You may stand and look silently or leave quietly if you come across the Buddhist ceremony. Take care of your kids lest naive children behave impolitely.
  
  
  • No smoking in the temples. Do not leave litter. Taking photographs is not permitted.
  
  
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