Yungang Caves and the Hanging Temple

Although it was an ordeal to get here, it was so worth it. The Yungang Caves are a series of 20+ plus caves carved into the side of a mountain. In each cave is an incredibly detailed carving, usually telling a religious story and surrounding a very large Buddah. The carvings are so intricate and colorful, it is hard to imagine how long it must have taken to complete. It also includes what our guide called the most well known ambassador of China. The exterior of Cave 20 has been worn away, exposing a large buddah who has donned the cover of many a travel guide.






The Hanging Temple was a bit unnerving. It is a five-level temple built 50 meters up on the side of a cliff. It literally hangs off the side of the cliff. I had trouble looking down without getting a touch of vertigo. It also, surprisingly, housed one of the few reminders we saw of the Cultural Revolution: a room full of small buddahs who had their faces removed.







At the end of the day, we hired a car to take us back to Beijing. It was much faster and more comfortable than the train.