Datong

善化寺

Shanhua Temple History, Humanities and Geography: Shanhua Temple is located at No. 6 Nansi Street in the ancient city of Datong. It was built in the Tang Dynasty and flourished in the Liao and Jin Dynasties. It is the most complete preserved Liao and Jin architectural complex in China. The temple has four original Liao and Jin structures including Qishanmen (Tianwang Hall), Sansheng Temple, Main Hall and Puxian Pavilion. The mountain gate is the largest existing Jin Dynasty mountain gate in China. The three holy halls have Jin Dynasty lotus oblique arches. The Main Hall is one of the eight major Liao structures. The Auspicious Goddess (Great Auspicious Merit Heaven) in the hall is known as the most beautiful statue of the Liao and Jin Dynasties. Public transportation: The ancient city is within walking distance, and the ancient city ring bus has the "Shanhua Temple" stop.

华严寺

Huayan Temple History, Humanities and Geography: Huayan Temple is located in the southwest corner of the ancient city of Datong. It was built in the seventh year of Chongxi of the Liao Dynasty (1038). It is the best-preserved royal temple of the Liao and Jin Dynasties in China. It faces east from the west and originates from the Khitan people's custom of worshiping the sun. The Main Hall is the largest existing Buddhist temple in the country during the Liao and Jin Dynasties. The 4.5-meter-high glazed owl kiss on the top of the hall is the largest in the country; the clasped-toothed Bodhisattva in the Boji Temple is known as the "Oriental Venus"; the Huayan Pagoda is 43 meters high, and under the tower is the pure copper underground palace of Thousand Buddhas.

悬空寺

Hanging Temple History, Humanities and Geography: Hanging Temple is located on the cliff of Cuiping Peak in Jinlong Gorge, Hengshan County, Hunyuan County, Datong City. It was built in the 15th year of Taihe in the Northern Wei Dynasty (491). It is the earliest and best-preserved high-altitude wooden cliff building in China. It is also the only temple that integrates Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. Climbing is not recommended for those who are afraid of heights, the elderly, and children. The view from the foot of the mountain is equally stunning.

应县木塔

Yingxian Wooden Pagoda (Yingxian County, Shuozhou City) History, Humanities and Geography: Yingxian Wooden Pagoda (Foggong Temple Sakyamuni Pagoda) is located in Yingxian County, Shuozhou City, and is not part of Datong City, so you need to travel across the city. The wooden pagoda was built in the second year of Qingning in Liao Dynasty (1056), with a height of 67.31 meters. It is the tallest and oldest existing pure wooden structure pavilion-style pagoda in the world. The whole pagoda has no nails or rivets and relies on 54 types of brackets and mortise and tenon joints. It is known as one of the "Three Wonderful Pagodas in the World". At present, the tower body has tilted to the northwest, with only the main hall on the first floor open, and the second floor and above are closed for protection.

大同城墙·九龙壁

Datong Ancient City Wall and Nine Dragon Wall History, Humanities and Geography: Datong Ancient City is located in the city center, covering an area of about 3.45 square kilometers and an almost square outline. The existing city wall was built on the basis of the old city by General Xu Da of the Ming Dynasty in the fifth year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1372). It has a circumference of about 7.24 kilometers. The four archways are the center of the ancient city, and the street pattern is completely preserved. The Nine Dragon Wall was built in the 25th year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1392). It is a screen wall in front of the palace of King Zhu Gui. It is 45.5 meters long and 8 meters high. It is made of 426 pieces of colorful glazed glass. It is the earliest and largest glazed Nine Dragon Wall in China, about 300 years earlier than the Beihai Nine Dragon Wall in Beijing. The dragons on the wall all have four claws, which was regulated by the Ming Dynasty vassal kings.

云冈石窟

The Yungang Grottoes were mainly excavated from the 5th century to the early 6th century and present imperial Buddhism of the Northern Wei Dynasty with giant Buddha statues, narrative reliefs and ever-changing statue styles. The Tan Yao Five Grottoes formed an early unified group, and subsequent caves showed more complex architectural imagery, as well as increasingly Chinese costumes and decorations. Weathering and conservation are themselves part of the heritage story, and local closures and light control should be understood as conservation measures.

大同古城墙

Today's Datong City Wall reconstructs the Ming Dynasty defensive circuit based on historical patterns, archeology and documentation, but includes large-scale modern reconstruction. From the top of the wall, city gates, temples, drum towers and new construction areas can be identified along the axis, allowing for an intuitive understanding of urban planning. The value of visiting lies in distinguishing the historical layers, archaeological remains and 21st century reconstruction projects, rather than treating all bricks and stones as original.