today! Qianmei is going to introduce you to an ancient historical and cultural capital that is an absolute treasure. But first bet, you won’t guess where it is!

 

This place is only 2 hours away from Beijing by high-speed rail . It has a history and culture that is not inferior to any domestic city, but it has been hidden in the dust of history and is so low-key that it makes people feel distressed.

It has a historical heritage that is not inferior to that of Xi'an, and has stone carving treasures that are comparable to Dunhuang. The relationship with Buddhism has been deep here for 1,500 years, but it is deeply hidden in the misty smoke outside the Great Wall.

Stepping out of the ancient city, there are magnificent mountains and rivers here, and it even occupies one of the five mountains . Although it is outside the Great Wall, every inch of the landscape has the elegance of a treasure land in the south of the Yangtze River.

There is also a piece of extreme wilderness comparable to the cube mountains in the western United States. Driving through it, it feels like you have traveled to the Discovery Channel, and it feels like you have landed directly in an alien world.

This is also a city where “there is truly a mine at home”! Single-handedly, let the coal mining company become one of the top 500 companies in the world!

 

 

This is ShanxiDatong! A place that has almost no popularity on the Internet, but is talked about by historians and travel experts! People who have been here say that they don’t get tired of it even if they go there 10 times.

 

This thousand-year-old "The Old Capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty" and "The Key to the Great Wall" , is now a living history book. It is not as popular as Xi'an and Luoyang, but Just walk around and you can see ancient monuments, ancient temples and ancient cities , suddenly I looked up, and a thousand years of beauty poured into me.

At night, when the lights are on, the city seems to have traveled back to the "Pingcheng" thousands of years ago. This is one of the oldest cities in Shanxi Province , and every light tells the story of a Sanjin family.

 

Many people don’t know that in Shanxi, the kingdom of carbon and water, Datong is actually a small town on the tip of the tongue. The aroma of shaved noodles has penetrated the DNA of generations, and the haggis soup has warmed the spleen and stomach of a city.

 

So, today! Qiaomei will take you to see this low-key treasure town, walk through Datong, You can even discover the hidden attributes of the entire Shanxi Province. It turns out that you are more than just a coal mine!

The Buddhist Kingdom of the Northern Wei Dynasty, thousands of years of wind and frost

Time is the strongest character in this city

Although it is the largest coal mining city in China, Datong's heritage is far more than just "coal boss". The city was founded for more than 2,000 years and has been a Buddhist resort for more than 10 dynasties , making it an ancient city with outstanding historical heritage.

 

Over the long years, countless skilled craftsmen have gathered here, making it a living "museum of ancient wooden buildings". The preserved historical buildings are not only complete in shape, but also embody the architectural wisdom of the ancients.

Picking out China's four major historical capitals, Datong has no stage fright in front of any of them. If it weren't for the fact that Shanxi Province is too out of the circle, the connotation of Datong would have already maxed out Douyin, Kuaishou and Xiaohongshu.

Even the well-informed Kanmei just wanted to say after sorting out these incredible historical monuments: Datong, please stop keeping a low profile!

 

 

 

Hanging Temple

"Xuankong Temple, half a day high, with three horsetails hanging in the air".

If we say the most out-of-the-box attraction in Shanxi, it might be the Xuankong Temple. The entire ancient temple was built in a cliff depression during the Northern Wei Dynasty. It seems to be crumbling, but it has stood firm for 1,500 years.

This is the "Greatest View in the World" that was praised by travel KOL Xu Xiake in the Ming Dynasty. Li Bai, a great poet in the Tang Dynasty left a "spectacular" at the bottom of the cliff Calligraphy .

It is unimaginable how the ancients who did not thoroughly study classical physics built this ancient temple that has withstood landslides, earthquakes, and rain erosion and can still be preserved to this day.

When you look at the Hanging Temple from a distance, you will feel like it is carved out of relief on the mountain wall . However, only when you get closer can you feel the 3D shock. This is also a temple that combines Buddhism and Taoism. Every god and Buddha seems to protect the safety of believers.

Today, the Hanging Temple is Time Magazine named it one of the "Top Ten Most Dangerous Buildings in the World" Although I don’t know how many years it will be open, this “ The guests from the sky are above, and the noisy guests below are below The beauty of " is really fascinating.

Yungang Grottoes

During the Northern Wei Dynasty, Buddhism emerged, and Datong, as the capital, naturally inherited this Buddhist relationship that existed more than 1,000 years ago. The Yungang Grottoes are the condensation of Buddha nature throughout the era.

Anyone who is familiar with geography and history knows that there are three major grottoes in China - Yungang Grottoes, Luoyang Longmen Grottoes and Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes. However, few people know that the last two super famous grottoes are actually influenced by In addition to the influence of Yungang Grottoes , in terms of qualifications, it is the “big brother” in China’s grotto industry.

The Yungang Grottoes are not only one of the largest ancient grottoes in China, but also the only large royal grottoes in the world. There are 45 main caves, 252 large and small niches, and more than 51,000 stone statues. As for these data, archaeologists did not completely count them until 2012.

Walking into the Yungang Grottoes, you will feel as shocked as the Dunhuang Grottoes. Countless gods, Buddhas and treasures stand majestically in every corner you can see. They guarded for thousands of years in the morning light and moonlight, until someone knocked on the door of their slumber.

This is a grotto that combines Chinese and Western elements . It is unbelievable that Western gods, foreign legends and Roman decorations can be seen on the grottoes more than 1,500 years ago. In Pingcheng outside the Great Wall, several magnificent ancient civilizations broke through the dimensional wall.

The entire cave was carved into the mountain and stretches about 1 kilometer from east to west. This cave, which was excavated by the Northern Wei emperor with the whole country's efforts, is not just a dusty ancient monument. Meanwhile The delicate carving technique and wonderful use of colors make it an artistic treasure for all mankind.

Huayan Temple

"Huayan Temple is located in the southwest corner of the ancient city of Datong. It was built in the seventh year of Chongxi of the Liao Dynasty. It has a prominent status due to its nature as an ancestral temple for the royal family of the Liao Dynasty. It is currently the only typical representative of Liao and Jin architecture in China . "

 

Any of the above encyclopedias will tell you, but what is not written in the cold introduction is that this temple is such a treasure.

 

The existing Bhagavan Hall in the temple, The main hall is a historical building preserved from the Liao and Jin dynasties. Its halls are magnificent, its statues are rigorous and beautiful, and its murals are solemn and beautiful. , making people feel like they have accidentally entered a sculpture museum.

The most famous Bodhisattva with clasped palms and exposed teeth in the Bodhisattva Palace in the temple is also known as the "Oriental Venus" . This restrained spirituality from Eastern aesthetics is a treasure that even Michelangelo could not carve.

Walking out of the inner hall, the atmosphere here is solemn and peaceful. Sometimes when you take a walk in the dry afternoon in the north, the sky is clear and everything is silent, it's like an ancient Buddhist verse that has been flowing with the north wind for nearly a thousand years.

Datong ancient city

Datong City has a long history of building towns. I said before that Datong is a living museum , because the ancient city wall here has experienced thousands of years, but still stands in the lives of every citizen , silent and distant.

 

If you have been to Xi'an, you will find that Beijing is very similar to it. Walking along the ancient city wall of Datong, you will feel as if you are in Xi'an. The city walls left over from the Northern Wei Dynasty are tall and thick, guarding the peace here for a thousand years.

 

Walking down the city wall, this seems to be a "film and television city" that has come from the past . Various ancient buildings are well preserved in every corner of the city. It is easy to travel to the past in one second. .

 

After dark, the lights begin to light up, and people in the ancient city no longer see people without makeup. In the dotted lights, thousands of years of elegance flow slowly by, leaving behind a city's pleasant and connotative appearance.

The five mountains are calm and the mountains and rivers echo

Scenery is the most tender skin of this city

Although many people feel that Datong is in the Central Plains, when you open the map you will find that it is already located close to Inner Mongolia and is a real "ancient city beyond the Great Wall".

 

However, Datong, which is so far north, has beautiful landscapes that are not inferior to those in the south, and even monopolizes one of the Five Sacred Mountains , as well as a wilderness that is a masterpiece of Little Red Book. Beautiful views.

 

After seeing the natural scenery of Datong, you will feel that this place is really worth a quick trip.

 

Hengshan

Mount Tai is like sitting, Mount Hua is like standing, Hengshan Mountain , Hengshan Mountain is like flying, and Songshan Mountain is like lying. This is Hengshan Mountain, the northernmost of the Five Great Mountains, a "walking" mountain giant.

 

 

The Hengshan Mountains span two provinces, and most of them are now under the jurisdiction of Datong Hunyuan. The entire main peak of the Hengshan Mountains is known as the "North Pillar of Man and Heaven" and "the most famous mountain in the world" . The mountains here are majestic and majestic, and is known as the master of thousands of mountains in the North.

The famous Hanging Temple is built on Mount Heng. As a result, many people nowadays only take a quick glance at Mount Heng. In fact, the whole mountain is so majestic that it is worth spending a day walking around it. look.

 

Hengshan is also a famous Xuanwu Dojo, with countless ancient monuments hidden in the mountains. Walking in it, it seems as if Linghu Chong will pass through the roof at any time. The mountain breeze is blowing gently, leaving only the ancient style and full of martial arts romance all over the ground.

earth forest

There is a natural geological wonder in Datong County. It is not inferior to the majesty of the square mountains in the western United States. It is as desolate as the surface of Mars and has the mysterious atmosphere of the Great Northwest. This is the earth forest.

 

 

The locals call this place "Shibangou" or "Fox Fairy Temple". The earth pillars and walls in the earth forest are naturally formed into various shapes. They are like sculptures from ancient times. Pass by here , thinking that he was in an alien wilderness.

 

here The beauty of desolation is not inferior to the Grand Canyon in the United States, and it can even be directly compared with the Mars Camp in the Northwest. , after tens of millions of years of wind blowing, everything seems like a legend from the beginning of the world.

Datong volcano group

No one would have thought that just 2 hours away from Beijing's high-speed train, actually hides a magnificent volcano group. With a drone flying over it, everyone thought you had gone to the northwest.

 

The volcano group in Datong, Shanxi originated from the mysterious Jurassic era . More than 30 volcano groups are clustered here in silence. The unique geological wonders make people feel that they have traveled back to ancient times, or are not there at all. Earth.

 

A blend of old and new

In Datong, you must visit the exhibition

When many people talk about Datong, they think it is a gloomy city. Indeed, under the wind and frost of thousands of years, the entire city will inevitably be dimmed in time.

 

Fortunately, today's Datong is no longer that rustic old man. Instead, it is a place for fashionable young people who have integrated many trendy designs. There are also countless in-depth and interesting exhibitions waiting for you to check in.

 

Datong Museum

When visiting an ancient city, the most important thing not to miss is not only the major monuments, but also the local treasure museum. Datong Museum is such a hidden check-in place, with a collection of more than 700 million pieces , allowing you to immerse yourself in the heritage of the old capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty.

 

This museum was opened to the public in 1959. The museum was originally located in Huayan Temple. It was not until the 1980s that the second part of the Datong City Museum was opened outside the west gate. Today's museum exhibits the historical imprints from the vicissitudes of "Datong Lake" and "Sanggan River" to the important towns of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Take a casual walk, and the afterglow of the past will come to your face.

 

Datong Art Museum

coming! Young people who have been to Datong must check out this Internet celebrity landmark - Datong Art Museum!

 

The entire art museum was designed by the world-famous British firm Foster + Partners and the China Architectural Design Institute. Four majestic pyramid structures form a shocking and modern layout. Every red tile hides the designer’s new understanding of the city of Datong.

At night, light up the lights and play light graffiti here. It not only has a fairy tale mood like reaching for the stars, but also seems to have strayed into the cyberpunk world of Datong.

Pasta Kingdom

A super happy carbon water holy land

When it comes to Shanxi food, people who know how to eat have already begun to think of all kinds of noodles. Only those who have actually been here have discovered that in addition to the city full of carbohydrates, there are many treasures and delicacies worth checking out.

 

Datong,is such a neglected food town, where you can feel full of happiness when you go shopping and eating.

 

Knife noodles

Speaking of knife-shaped noodles, it is estimated that the DNA of all Shanxi people will be touched. And Datong’s cutting noodles are ranked C in Shanxi . The noodles are smooth on the outside and stringy on the inside, and the more you chew, the more fragrant the noodles become, seduce the taste buds of every Datong person.

 

A lump of noodles, a knife and a bucket of hot soup, with the chef flipping it up and down, a bowl of hot noodles fills the hearts and stomachs of Datong day and night.

haggis

As a good neighbor of Inner Mongolia, Datong is actually a big city that eats sheep. A bowl of hot mutton offal immersed in red soup, add noodles when hungry, eat meat when craving The happiness of a city lies in this bowl of freshly cooked mutton offal.

 

If you ask a fellow What is your favorite breakfast? Mutton offal soup + hemp leaf pancakes are definitely the most popular answers. With a plate of carbohydrates and meat like this in the slightly cold morning, another day in the northern frontier begins.

Shaomai

Southerners may frown when they hear pure meat siomai, but after one bite, it will be fast and delicious! Datong’s beef and mutton siomai is even more outstanding among meat siomai. The dough is wrapped in delicious gravy, and even a bird’s stomach can eat two cages in a row!

 

Kanmei recommends everyone to try 📍Fenglin Pavilion! Dip in a little Ninghuafu vinegar, blow on the hot dough, carefully avoid the pinch of flour at the seal, your mouth will be filled with the aroma of meat, and you will be immersed in your soul!

Hunyuan jelly

Hunyuan jelly! It’s another niche nostalgia that only Datong people have. Made from potato starch, dried tofu, and broad beans , it is clear, smooth and refreshing in the mouth. This Q-bouncy dish is smooth and smooth, and you will become a fan immediately after taking one bite.

 

However, people who have really eaten Hunyuan jelly will be amazed at why this "slippery", "cool silk silk" and "Q elasticity" does not come out like knife-shaped noodles! A bowl of jelly is 1,000 reasons to come to Shanxi again~

Little tail

 

Although the article is coming to an end,

But in fact, the connotation of Datong has only scratched the surface of the iceberg.

Shanxi is really such a treasure and low-key province.

It has earlier and more exquisite royal gardens than Suzhou

——Jinci,

It has the tallest and oldest wooden pagoda in China

——Ying County Wooden Pagoda,

There is also a house, which is a town.

The Wang Family Courtyard.

This province is low-key but full of connotations.

Treasure Shanxi,

It’s really worth your time to come here!

 

 

 

Datong Tips

1. Regarding transportation: direct high-speed rail, departing from Beijing

2. Itinerary suggestion: About 2-3 days

Day1 Yungang Grottoes—Ancient City Wall—Huayan Temple

Day2 Hengshan (Xuankong Temple)—Datong Earth Forest

Day3 Datong Volcano Group or Datong Museum

3. Regarding tickets: Currently, major tourist attractions in Shanxi are free of charge for tourists from Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai! Friends who are interested can start walking ~