Visitor Guide
Opening hours:
Summer (March 1 - Oct 31): 8 am-5 pm
Winter (Nov 1 - Feb 28): 8:30 am-4:30 pm
Address:
The west cliff of Jinlongkou, at the foot of Mount Heng, southeast suburb of Hunyuan county, Datong
Overview
Xuankong Temple was first built in the late Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534) and has been renovated through successive dynasties. The existing structures date from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. The entire temple complex is suspended on sheer cliffs of Hengshan Mountain, with vertical walls rising at a 90-degree angle and overhangs that seem to defy gravity.
Facing east and seated west, the temple entrance opens to the south. The buildings stretch from south to north along the cliff face in a straight line, ascending gradually in height. The complex is rectangular in shape, with over 40 halls and pavilions of various sizes, laid out in an orderly fashion. The halls are connected by stairways and plank paths, winding and interwoven, with an interplay of solid and void.
Inside the temple are 78 statues — cast in bronze or iron, molded from clay, or carved in stone — depicting Confucian, Taoist and Buddhist figures. Along with a variety of inscribed tablets and poetic engravings, they are all invaluable cultural relics.