Private Tour: Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Monastery From Datong
4.8 / 5 · 5 traveler reviews
Datong is famed for its rich deposit of coal as well as precious historical relics. Listen to expert commentaries from your private tour guide and get to know the stories, history, and culture behind those famous sites. You will have your own car, driver and English-speaking tour guide, pickup and drop-off from your hotel.
Your experience
Stop 1
At 8:30 am, your car, driver and tour guide will pick you up from your hotel in Datong to start today’s historical tour. Your first stop is Yungang Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's construction spanned 40 years in the 5th century. It stretches over half a mile (1,000 meters) continuously from east to west. 45 grottoes remained out of the original 53, and overall they contain 250 niches and 51,000 Buddhist statues with murals and frescoes which are all masterpiece of ancient Chinese carving art and embodiment of ancient people’s religious faith.
Stop 2
After that, head to Hanging Monastery at the foot of Hengshan Mountain, one hour drive away from city center. The monastery is the only one that enshrines Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism within one establishment. The architecture is amazing and it literally hangs on the mountain cliff about 164 feet (50 meters) above the ground. You will have a look from the outside as climbing up the monastery at the moment is forbidden. Due to the very limited number of climbing tickets for the Hanging Temple (online reservation limited 1200 tickets per day), we highly recommend avoiding visits during Chinese public holidays and peak travel seasons. The climbing ticket is not included in the tour pricing. Even with advance booking, the climbing tickets may not be guaranteed. If the climbing tickets are unavailable, you can still admire the spectacular Hanging Temple from the ground instead. After the tour, you will be transfer back to your hotel at around 17:30pm.
What’s included
- Admission fees
- Admission fees
- Datong Nan South Railway Station Pickup and Drop-off (On Request)
- Datong hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Personal English-speaking tour guide
Not included
- Gratuities
- Lunch
- Entrance fees
Before you go
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- You will receive details about tour guide and exact meeting time the day before. And the tour guide will also contact you through hotel or leave a message for you regarding the exact time the night before tour.
- Lunch is not included in this tour. But you can have a lunch break at any time if needed, just let your tour guide know.
- The Hanging Monastery is occasionally closed for renovation or repairs. If this is the case on your tour, you will not be able to climb up to the rooms, and your visit will involve viewing the buildings from the ground.
- Due to the very limited number of climbing tickets for the Hanging Temple, we highly recommend avoiding visits during Chinese public holidays and peak travel seasons. Even with advance booking, the climbing tickets may not be guaranteed. If the climbing tickets are unavailable, you can still admire the spectacular Hanging Temple from the ground instead.
- The limited availability of climbing tickets for the Hanging Temple, Online Reservations: Limited 1200 tickets per day
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Check the policy for your selected date and option before booking.
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