Meeting Amazing Buddhist Art and Architectural Wonder

China's rich history and culture, spanning thousands of years, has captivated countless travelers seeking to explore its wonders and amazement. One of the best ways to truly immerse oneself in China's unique culture is by visiting its historical sites. Among China's historical destinations, Datong is not so eye-catching as Beijing or Xian, but it possesses it own beauty that should not be overlooked. In the following story, we will hear from Jason as he recounts his journey in Datong, uncovering its rich history and culture. With the help of China Discovery, they were able to witness some of the world's most incredible Buddhist art and architecture, and gain a deeper appreciation for China's cultural heritage.

My wife and I had a short break and wanted to travel from Huizhou to Shanxi to visit some historical sites in Datong and Pingyao. We booked our flight to Datong and planned to travel on our own, but quickly realized that we might have difficulty navigating the area and fitting in everything that we wished to visit. With only a few days' notice, I contacted Johnson at China Discovery. I the time, I didn't realize that he had helped me previously, in 2018, when booking a Yangtze River Cruise.

4 Days Chongqing Essence Tour with Yangtze River Cruise

Itinerary: Chongqing / Yangtze Cruise / Yichang
Highlights: Luxury Yangtze River Cruise Sailing along Three Gorges, Three Gorges Dam, Shibaozhai Pagoda, Shennv Stream, Three Gorges Museum, E'ling Park, Hongya Cave

Johnson and I originally discussed the 4 Days Datong Wutaishan Discovery Tour, then adding the two-day Pingyao option, but then cutting it down to only two days, since I specifically wanted to see the Yungang Grottoes, the Hanging Temple at Hengshan Mountain, and worried that the rest would be a challenge due to time constraints and it would be better to save it for another trip.

The entire experience with China Discovery was excellent. From Johnson's help with the planning and scheduling to the actual experience at the sites with our tour guide Lucas. As noted, Johnson allowed us to modify the published tour to suit our needs, not only scheduling in a way so that what we needed would fit but allowing us to book our own hotels and choose the restaurants at which we wanted to eat. Our guide Lucas was awesome; he was friendly and knowledgeable. He considered our wishes and understood what we wanted to see, so we never felt rushed to move along. He also took great photos, so it was like having a photographer with me and my wife to help us capture the memories of the trip. In addition to Lucas, there was also a driver. He seemed nice, but we didn't communicate with him much.

2 Days Datong Yungang Grottoes Tour

Itinerary: Datong
Highlights: Yungang Grottoes, Hanging Temple, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda

The first day started with a visit to the Hanging Temple. Since the Hanging Temple incorporates Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, Lucas helped us understand how different parts of the temple incorporated different aspects of the religions. We then headed to the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda but ate at a local restaurant prior to entering the religious site. Again, Lucas was both knowledgeable about the site and fun to talk with.

We got amazed by the architecture of Hanging Temple

Day two was scheduled to include trips to the Yunnang Grottoes, some local sites in Datong, and a ride to the railway station. I let Lucas know that the grottoes were a requirement, but that I wasn't concerned about the other sites if it meant that we would need to rush. Again, Lucas was familiar with the site and customs and helped us to understand a bit about Buddhism. He made sure that we were aware of the time and options all along but honored our wish to focus on the grottoes. He got us to the railway station a little early and stayed to show us some meditative forms, that increase blood circulation, from the style of martial arts that he studies.

The Buddha statues in Yungang Grottoes were amazing

I am glad that we chose to book through China Discovery and I will continue to reach out to Johnson traveling in China. I also hope to be guided by Lucas sometime in the future or at least to keep in touch.

As Jason's story comes to a close, your journey is just beginning. If you're inspired to explore the rich history and culture of Shanxi for yourself, we invite you to contact us for a personalized tour. Our expert guides and tailored itineraries will allow you to uncover the hidden gems of China with ease and comfort, and explore the wonders of this ancient city in a way that suits your interests and preferences. Don't hesitate to contact and start planning your unforgettable adventure in Datong and more worth-going places in Shanxi (such as Pingyao, Taiyuan, Wutaishan…).

See Our Customers' Happy Moments in Shanxi

(Above travel story was written by our editor, inspired by our Customer Jason's real experience and review on Tripadvisor.com.)