Hanging temple near Datong
Aug 1st, 2004, 01:08 PM
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Hanging temple near Datong
I have seen the pictures of the hanging temple and want to go there. However, can anyone tell me if this is worth the 3 hour trip from Datong and what is the best way to get to Datong from Beijing? If I need to chose betweeen the temple or Huashan Mountain which is the better choice? Are the accomidations on the top of Huashan easy to get to? Also what is the best way to get from Datong to Xian
Aug 2nd, 2004, 01:21 PM
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We were in Datong in March and really enjoyed the Hanging Temple I would say it is worth the 3 hours.
We were coming from X'ian to Datong and we took the train,it took 20 hours.
As far as I know the Datong airport has not opened yet.
Hope this helps
Brenda
We were coming from X'ian to Datong and we took the train,it took 20 hours.
As far as I know the Datong airport has not opened yet.
Hope this helps
Brenda
Aug 2nd, 2004, 07:44 PM
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There are overnight sleepers from Datong to Beijing and also from Beijing to Datong. I personally prefer the soft sleeper trains to buses, even tho the bus trip takes less time. More room and better rest on a soft sleeper. Take the upper berths, they cost less and offer more privacy.
At the main train station in Datong is a CITS office. They will arrange a full day's tour, first to the Yungang Caves and then to the Hanging Temple. You get to the Hanging Temple in time for a quick lunch. Believe the cost is 100 yuan per person. You can pay for your own entrance fees to each attraction and when the lunch is provided you also pay yourselves for the lunch. This is a cheaper option than paying CITS for their "service" of getting entrance fees and lunch for you. The 100 yuan covers transportation and an English speaking guide. We had a very good guide who was extremely knowledgeable. At the Hanging Temple, Chinese tourists would stop her and ask her for a Chinese translation of her detailed descriptions. Hope you get her - sorry, forgot her name!
There are two hotels in Datong - the Datong Bingun which is by far the better hotel, and the Yungang Binguan. My recollection is that they cost about $50 US for one room. There are also cheaper accommodations near the train station, but I don't know much about these. Maybe someone else can give you personal accounts.
Both the Yungang Caves and the Hanging Temple VERY OLD and date back to about the 4th century AD. Enjoy them both! Great experiences!
At the main train station in Datong is a CITS office. They will arrange a full day's tour, first to the Yungang Caves and then to the Hanging Temple. You get to the Hanging Temple in time for a quick lunch. Believe the cost is 100 yuan per person. You can pay for your own entrance fees to each attraction and when the lunch is provided you also pay yourselves for the lunch. This is a cheaper option than paying CITS for their "service" of getting entrance fees and lunch for you. The 100 yuan covers transportation and an English speaking guide. We had a very good guide who was extremely knowledgeable. At the Hanging Temple, Chinese tourists would stop her and ask her for a Chinese translation of her detailed descriptions. Hope you get her - sorry, forgot her name!
There are two hotels in Datong - the Datong Bingun which is by far the better hotel, and the Yungang Binguan. My recollection is that they cost about $50 US for one room. There are also cheaper accommodations near the train station, but I don't know much about these. Maybe someone else can give you personal accounts.
Both the Yungang Caves and the Hanging Temple VERY OLD and date back to about the 4th century AD. Enjoy them both! Great experiences!
Aug 2nd, 2004, 11:50 PM
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There are many hotels in Datong, the best of which is newly opened by the Jianguo Group, and details of which (I'm away from my desk) can be obtained from the Jianguo Hotel or Jianguo Garden Hotel in Beijing. Or a search for Datong hotels on Google will probably bring it up.
Peter N-H
http://members.shaw.ca/pnhpublic/China.html
Peter N-H
http://members.shaw.ca/pnhpublic/China.html
Aug 3rd, 2004, 11:14 AM
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Gary-
We didn't have any desire to stay the night in Datong so we took the 11:30pm train back to Beijing.
Just as you exit the train station there is a baggage holding area just to your left.
A Mr. Gao at the local CITS office was waiting at the train station as people arrived and he approached us about the tour.We saw the Hanging Monastery and the Yungand caves lunch was included.
Brenda
We didn't have any desire to stay the night in Datong so we took the 11:30pm train back to Beijing.
Just as you exit the train station there is a baggage holding area just to your left.
A Mr. Gao at the local CITS office was waiting at the train station as people arrived and he approached us about the tour.We saw the Hanging Monastery and the Yungand caves lunch was included.
Brenda
