Atlas of China
Huayan Temple, Datong 华严寺Huáyán Sì
4A scenic area · National heritage site · Datong, Shanxi
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Days to budget
- Half a day
- City
- Datong
- Region
- Shanxi
- Type
- Heritage
- Listed as
- 4A scenic area, National heritage site
About Huayan Temple, Datong
A large Buddhist temple in the west of Datong's old city, founded in 1038 as a royal temple of the Liao dynasty and divided into an upper and a lower temple under the Ming. The upper temple's main hall, rebuilt in 1140 under the Jin, is among the largest surviving ancient Buddhist halls in China, and the lower temple's Bhagavan Hall still holds 29 Liao-dynasty painted statues. Among them is a smiling bodhisattva with clasped hands, nicknamed the 'Oriental Venus'.
How to get to Huayan Temple, Datong
Just inside the west gate (Qingyuan Gate) of Datong's old walled city, on the south side of Qingyuan Street.
Nearby
- Datong Ancient City 大同古城 under 10 km
Rebuilt Ming ramparts around genuine Liao–Jin temple halls and a glazed dragon screen - Yungang Grottoes 云冈石窟 10 km
Giant Buddhas carved into a sandstone cliff some 1,500 years ago - Yingxian Wooden Pagoda 应县木塔 60 km
A Liao-dynasty timber pagoda of 1056, five storeys outside and nine within - Hanging Temple 悬空寺 60 km
A wooden temple pinned to a sheer cliff, seemingly propped up on stilts
Also within 20 km: Datong Drum Tower 大同鼓楼 (under 10 km), Nine-Dragon Wall, Datong 大同九龙壁 (under 10 km), Shanhua Temple 善化寺 (under 10 km), Guandi Temple, Datong 大同关帝庙 (under 10 km), Xingguo Temple, Pingcheng 平城兴国寺 (under 10 km), Pingcheng Site (Northern Wei capital) 平城遗址 (under 10 km).
On the map
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