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 at the back became its support. The Hanging Monastery appears to be a
tumble-down castle in the air.
The Yingxian Wooden Pagoda was built in 1056 and is the world's oldest and tallest
wooden Buddhist Pagoda. The pagoda stands at 66.6 meters tall with a 30-meter diameter
and weighs over 300 tons. Made up of at least 3,500 cubic meters of wood, the pagoda is
octagonal in shape and contains nine floors.
Built without the use of nails, the entire
structure is solid, imposing, and elegant. It has weathered over 900 years of wind and storm,
yet has remained intact despite many strong earthquakes.
Meeting/pick-up point: Hotel Lobby (hotels in Datong city center only).
Duration: 9 hours approx.
Start/opening time: 8am.
End/closing time: 5pm.
Languages: English.