(1) Is it possible to visit Yungang Grottoes and the Hanging Temple in one day from Datong?
(2) I have not read much about the Hanging Temple. Have just considered this attraction, to be decided if it could fit into my schedule.
(a) Do we just observe the temples from the bottom of the hill OR is it accessible to the visitors?
(b) How far is the travelling time via bus from Datong town centre to Hanging Temple and then Yungang Grottoes?
(c) Any information regarding these 2 attractions would be appreciated.
(3) How is the Yungang Grottoes compared to the Longmen caves in Luoyang? Which is better?
Datong vs Luoyang
1) Yes, if you take a CITS tour or hire your own vehicle and driver. Not possible on public transport alone.
2a) No, you actually do go into the temple and walk around.
2c) Yungang Grottoes: Frommers (www.frommers.com/search/search_results.cfm…), TravelChinaGuide (travelchinaguide.com/attraction/shanxi/daton…), Rough Guides (roughguides.com/website/…); Hanging Monastery: Frommers (www.frommers.com/search/search_results.cfm…), TravelChinaGuide (travelchinaguide.com/attraction/…hanging.htm), Rough Guides (roughguides.com/website/…)
3) Not sure on what basis you are trying to compare these 2. Yungang%26#39;s carvings were more intricate and colourful; but Longmen%26#39;s are easier to photograph.
Datong vs Luoyang
I have only been to the Yungang Grottoes, so I cannot compare them to those in Luoyang...however I will try and answer your questions.
1) Absolutely. You can see all the sights around Datong in one long day.
2) I would definitely try and see the Hanging Temple. I have not seen another sight like it, although there is not much other than the facade to climb up and down through as you pass from one side to the other. Still, definitely worth the effort to go and see. I do not recall exactly how long it took to reach the monestary, however in one day we saw the grottoes, monestary, wooden pagoda, went to visit a cave dweller, etc.
Yungang Grottoes 60 RMB
Hanging Monestary 55 RMB
Wooden Pagoda 60 RMB
I stayed at the Datong Garden Hotel for 476 RMB for two, breakfast included. I booked it through ineedahotel.com, which I also used for my hotel in Beijing. No problems at all. The hotel was very clean and comfortable.
The business centre on the ground floor recommended a driver for the day, Zhang Zhao, who drove us around for 9 hours to all the sights. He points out the old watch towers from the Great Wall, and other interesting things along the way. The fee was 360 RMB. He does not speak English, but he was truly a gentleman. A few words in mandarin and lots of gesturing works very well! He also picked us up the next day to take us to the bus station for our return to Beijing, and didn%26#39;t want us to pay.....
Don%26#39;t miss the grottoes. They are currently being Disneyfied, and it soon won%26#39;t be the same. There is also the problem of the BIG coal mines across the highway.....not good for preserving antiquities.
The grottoes are being Disneyfied? In what way? It certainly didn%26#39;t feel so in May 2007.
By Disneyfied I mean paved all around the outside of the caves, fenced in and around, etc. etc. By contrast, I also saw the Eastern Qing Tombs on this trip. They are the complete opposite - overgrown, unpaved, and almost unmarked. I am not comparing the sites themselves, since clearly the Yungang Grottoes are more spectacular, but you lose some of the magic when you make a site so safe that even the dumbest tourist can navigate it.
I wouldn%26#39;t call that ';Disneyfied';. What%26#39;s wrong with building some infrastructure around the place so that it can cope with the amount of tourists visiting?
If you think that%26#39;s Disneyfied, go look at the tourist circuses of Zhouzhuang and Qufu.
Yes, I am definitely going to Datong!
Reaching Datong via Beijing in the early morning, I plan to visit first Hanging Temple using bus to Hunyuan. If the waiting time is too long, I intend to take a taxi to Hanging Temple.
1. How much will it cost (approx) from Hunyuan to Hanging Temple by taxi?
2. If I were to climb up to the temple, how long a time is sufficient?
3. Should I book the taxi for a round trip or thereafter visiting the temple, I hail another taxi to Hunyuan or Yungang Grottoes?
4. How much does it cost to go by taxi from Hunyuan or Hanging Temple to Yungang Grottoes or maybe vice versa?
5. Would you recommend visiting Yungang Grottoes first or the Hanging Temples first?
6. Do you think I have sufficient time to catch the overnight train to Pingyao the same night?
7. How best can I secure myself the tickets from Datong to Pingyao on a soft sleeper, as I know that this route is a ';super popular'; one?
8. If normally, for CITS tour, how much time is allocated for each attraction? How much does it cost? Anyone has any idea? Please advise.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR INPUT!
1) and 3) and 4) Not considering the CITS tour which I suggested earlier on your other thread (tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g294211-i642-k1837…)? Saves you the headache of trying to organise everything on the spot. Anyway, some other travellers reported 220-260 RMB for the taxi hire only, for Hanging Monastery and Wooden Pagoda; and 170-180 RMB for Hanging Monastery alone.
2) 1.5 hours for the Hanging Monastery would be quite sufficient. 1 hour would be fine if you%26#39;re not going to dilly-dally and take a lot of photos.
5) What basis of consideration?
6) Yes, definitely. The overnight train 2462/2463 leaves at 2256 and the sights close long before that!
7) I doubt anyone will be able to. This train originates at Baotou and the originating station usually gets the lion%26#39;s share of sleeper tickets, especially soft sleeper. Just buy whatever you can get and try to get an upgrade (补票) on the train.
8) You didn%26#39;t read what I posted on your other thread about prices? 100 RMB for transportation only, or 225 RMB for transportation+tickets+lunch. If you have a student card, buy your tickets separately ie go for the 100 RMB package, as your student card will get you half price for Yungang Grottoes, but you miss out on lunch. If you have to pay adult prices then the 225 RMB package actually gives you a savings of 10 RMB. I%26#39;m guessing that you pay RMB cash before you start the tour.
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