NEXT Wonder - Lama Temple
Clickable China Wonder map
China MENU

---

Why the
Hanging Monastery
is special

The pavilions of this monastery breathtakingly cling to a sheer cliff, as if they are hanging. There is no other travel site quite like it.

---

Hanging Monastery
tips & insights

---

Height

The pavilion on the right in the photo is the equivalent of 15 stories above the ground.

---

Construction history

The monastery dates back over 1400 years to the Northern Wei Dynasty. However, most of what you see today are reconstructions made during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties.

---

Construction techniques

Materials
The pavilions are constructed almost entirely of wood (except for the decorative multi-hued roof tiles).

Structural supports
The pavilions "hang" partially because long timber poles support them from underneath (see photo). However, the greatest structural support comes from unseen rock ledges upon which parts of the pavilions sit - and from the cantilevered wooden beams deeply imbedded into the cliff.

Skyways
Narrow, thin railed skyways connect the pavilions.

Expansion
The monks expanded the size of the pavilions by digging caves in the cliff behind them.

---

Statuary

The caves behind the pavilions contain religious statues. One cave room has the statues of Buddha, Confucius and Laotsu comfortably sitting side by side. This is noteworthy because simultaneously advocating Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism was rare in ancient China.

---

Name

The Chinese name of the Hanging Monastery is Xuankong. The monastery is also known as the Hengshan Hanging Monastery. It gets its "Hengshan" descriptive because it is located at the foot of Mount Heng (Hengshan), one of the five holy Taoist mountains of China.

Pronunciations:
Xuankong: shwu'an-khon'g
Hengshan: huh'ng-shah'n

---

Location

The Hanging Monastery is in Shanxi province - and is about 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Datong city, which is about 300 kilometers (180 miles) west of Beijing.

NEXT China wonder

---

Forbidden City
Great Wall of China
Hong Kong Harbor
Lijiang & Shangri-La
Li River Cruise
Mount Everest [with Nepal]
Potala Palace of Lhasa
Qin Terra Cotta Warriors
Yangtze River Cruise

Hanging Monastery
Lama Temple
Leshan Great Buddha
Pudong/Shanghai Skyline
Shanghai Museum
Summer Palace
Suzhou Gardens & Canals
Temple of Heaven

Baishui Terrace
Bund River Front
Chengde Mountain Resort
Dazu Rock Carvings
Ganden Monastery
Hong Kong Restaurants & Shops
Huangshan Mountain Range
Jade Buddha Temple
Jiayuguan Fort
Jiuzhaigou
Jokhang Temple
Kaifeng Historical Sites
Labrang Monastery
Long Ji Rice Terraces
Longmen Caves
Mogao Caves
Mount Taishan
Pingyao Ancient City
Reed Flute Cave
Sanjiang Bridges
Sera Monastery
Shanghai Old City
Shenyang Imperial Palace
Shibaozhai Temple
Shouxi Lake
Silk Road
Stone Forest
Tashilumpo Monastery
Three Gorges Dam
Three Pagodas
Tiananmen Square
Tian Tan Buddha Po Lin
Tiger Leaping Gorge
West Lake
Wild Goose Pagodas
Wudang Ancient Complex
Wulingyuan Scenic Areas
Xi'an City Walls
Xishuangbanna
Yangshou
Yuan Yang Rice Terraces
Yungang Caves

---

Clickable China Wonder map
China Wonder Guide - Home Page
Chinese Phrases for Travelers
Chinese Cuisine

---

Top 100 Wonders list
Top 1000 Wonders list
Wonder Guides to 17 countries
Special Topic Guides
Site Map
About Howard Hillman
What Readers Say
Email me your opinion

---

Explore my
candid country, region
and other travel guides
Click links for tips & insights

©2009 HQP / Hillman Quality Publications