Buddhist Hanging Monastery

Heng Shan or Heng Mountain in Shanxi Province is one of the Five Sacred Mountains of Taoism. At 2,017 meters, it is one of the five tallest peaks in China Proper. Heng Shan in Shanxi Province is sometimes known as the Northern Heng Shan.

The most famous temple at Heng Shan is the Buddhist Hanging Monastery   or   ‘Xuan  Kong Si’. Located in the Hunyuan County of Datong, the Buddhist Hanging Monastery stands at the foot of Mt. Heng Shan and is one of the most dramatic sights at Heng Shan – A wooden temple clinging to the west cliff side of the Jinxia Gorge which is over 50 meters above the ground, appearing to defy gravity with only a few wooden posts as support. The Buddhist Hanging Monastery, built in 491, has survived more than 1,400 years. The extant monastery was largely rebuilt and maintained in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The buildings were restored in 1900 and there are 40 wooden halls and structures linked by an ingenious system of pillars, posts and walkways.