Hanging Monastery (Xuankong Temple)

The Hanging Monastery, or Xuankong Temple, clings to a sheer cliff face in Jinlong Canyon at the foot of Mount Heng, about 5 km south of Hunyuan County town in Datong, Shanxi, China. Founded more than 1,400 years ago, the complex of roughly 40 halls, pavilions and corridors is supported partly by slender oak crossbeams driven into the rock and partly by the cliff itself, so that it appears to hang about 50 metres above the canyon floor. The cliff overhang above shelters the buildings from rain and direct sun, which is a large part of why the structure has survived. Uniquely, the temple blends Buddhist, Daoist and Confucian imagery: shrines to all three traditions sit side by side, and gilded and clay figures fill the small halls. Visitors see the temple first from the road and the canyon floor, where the full vertical drama of the structure is clearest, and can then buy a separate ticket to climb inside. The climb involves narrow wooden walkways, steep stairs and low doorways, and the interior is entered in small groups to limit the load on the structure. A typical visit takes one to two hours including the walk up from the car park and time for photographs. The best photo angle is from the opposite side of the canyon, looking up at the monastery in morning light, and a wide lens is helpful. Crowds peak between late morning and mid-afternoon, particularly in summer and during national holidays, when a daily cap on climbers is enforced and queues form early. Arriving close to opening time is the most reliable way to secure a climbing slot. The site is commonly combined with the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda on a full-day car hire from Datong, and a short detour to the Mount Heng temples is possible for those with extra time.