Weekend trip to Datong

By bullet train to Datong:

Every weekend, tours and excursions are offered from the city center of Beijing by various organizers.

The city of Datong is a popular destination to visit over a weekend by train.

Traveling by train in China is a comfortable, cheap and punctual way to discover even more distant places. The express train takes just over two hours to travel from Beijing to Datong.

When we arrived at Datong train station, the driver and his minibus were already waiting for our group. He drove us to area attractions during the weekend.

First we went out of the city to the hanging Temple of Hengshan. This can be reached after a one and a half hour drive.

The hanging Temple of Hengshan:

This temple is a sight especially because of its exposed location. More than 1500 years ago a monk started to build this temple. It was integrated into the rock face at a height of up to 75 meters.

It is the only existing temple complex that combines the three traditional philosophies, Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism.

The Old Town of Datong:

In the afternoon we drove back to the new old town of Datong. There is also a lot to discover here. A tour of the city wall, which was rebuilt between 2009 and 2012, is particularly recommended.

From the city walls there is an excellent view over the new, old-style city center. Some buildings have not yet been completed.

Almost finished but not yet open to visitors. One of the palatial complexes in the center of the city.

In addition to magnificent palace complexes, residential areas were also rebuilt in the traditional Hutong style. The courtyard houses are now mostly inhabited by wealthy families.

Although the old town is newly built, it is easy to imagine what life must have been like here in the past.

The Yungang Grottoes:

The Yungang Grottoes, formerly known as Wuzhoushan Grottoes, are ancient Buddhist cave temples. They are located almost 20 kilometers west of Datong city center. It is assumed that the main part of the caves was carved out of the sandstone between 460 and 525 AD.

They have been part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 2001.

A visit to the Yungang Grottoes is also on the schedule for school classes. The students are easily recognizable with their bright yellow caps. These caps are often seen in China when children go on excursions.

In the front part of the complex, which has already been completely renovated, there is an avenue of stylishly decorated monoliths.

If you cross the avenue, you will reach a bridge leading to a temple built on a lake.

The almost symmetrical temple complex consists of several sacred rooms that were used for prayers.

The actual grottoes began behind the temple. There are 42 caves and 210 niches over a length of about one kilometer. In them there were more than 51,000 Buddha statues of various sizes and shapes.

Some of the grottoes are still under construction and renovation. Facades are erected to protect the statues from the weather and environmental influences. These should prevent the ingress of water, sand and dust and contribute to the maintenance of the system.

A look inside the Yungang Grottoes:

Absolutely impressive how detailed the gigantic Buddhas were carved into the sandstone.

The richness of detail on the walls of the caves and grottoes was also fascinating.

Especially under the mild spring sun, when the trees are in bloom and the rush of tourists is still manageable, you can enjoy the time in the complex and marvel at the statues in the Yungang Grottoes in peace.

You should plan about three hours for the tour to be able to see everything worth seeing.

After visiting the Yungang Grottoes, we drove back to the center of Datong. After a small meal we visited the Huayan Temple.

The Huayan Temple:

The entrance to Huayan Temple is right in the center of Datong. A square in the pedestrian area is still decorated with traditional lanterns that are erected for special celebrations.

The Buddhist Huayan Temple in Datong is one of the largest and most important of its kind in China. Especially the roof decorations, which could be seen on the buildings of the complex, make the temple unique.

There are always interesting and fascinating figures to be discovered in the premises.

The Buddha statues in the prayer rooms are also impressive.

In addition, the small courtyards and gardens within the temple complex offer a lot to discover. Especially in spring, a walk is very relaxing.

A last look at the center of Datong before we headed towards the train station and back to Beijing.

In the foreground you can see the city wall and right behind it the Huayan Temple.

Conclusion:

There are numerous destinations by train that are worth a weekend trip from Beijing. The city of Datong in Shanxi province is just over two hours away by bullet train and offers plenty of sightseeing opportunities.

Especially those who are interested in history and culture will find what they are looking for here. Even though the old town has been rebuilt, you can still put yourself back in the past and imagine what life must have been like in the past.