The first stop for self-driving in Shanxi｜Datong.

In early September 2024, starting from Datong, Shanxi, I spent eight days traveling to northern and central Shanxi by self-driving. The main attractions included Huayan Temple, Shanhua Temple, and Yungang Grottoes in Datong; Xuankong in Hunyuan County Temple, Yong'an Temple, Yuanjue Temple; Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, Pure Land Temple; Xinzhou Ancient City, Guangwu Ming Great Wall; Shuozhou Chongfu Temple; Zhenguo Temple, Shuanglin Temple, Pingyao Ancient City; Linshi Wang Family Courtyard, Zhangbi Ancient City Fort; Jiexiu Zoroastrian Tower, Houtu Temple, Taihe Rock Glazed Archway; Taiyuan Jin Temple, Taiyuan Ancient County; Shanxi Museum, Northern Qi Mural Museum, Shuangta Temple, Chunyang Palace, etc. first day Tour itinerary: Arrive in Datong at noon ➡️Shanhua Temple ➡️Confucian Temple ➡️Fahua Temple ➡️Nine Dragon Wall ➡️Four Archways ➡️Check into Tongshezhaijimeisu Attractions ▶️ Shanhua Temple was built in the Kaiyuan period of Tang Dynasty and is called Kaiyuan Temple. After the Five Dynasties and the Jin Dynasty, it was renamed Dapuen Temple. In the Jin Dynasty, monk Yuan Yuan presided over the reconstruction. In the 10th year of Zhengtong (1445), Emperor Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty named it Shanhua Temple, which is still in use today. Among them, the Tianwang Hall, the Three Holy Temples, the Main Hall and the Puxian Pavilion are all original structures from the Liao and Jin Dynasties. The temple preserves 34 statues from the Jin Dynasty and 190 square meters of murals from the Qing Dynasty. There are 9 statues and 2 golden steles from the Ming Dynasty, and 3 steles were rebuilt in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Among them, Zhu Bian's "The Reconstruction of the Main Hall of Dapu'en Temple in Xijing, Jin Dynasty" by Zhu Bian of the Southern Song Dynasty is the most famous. P1—P11 ▶️ The Fahua Pagoda was built in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties. It is the only existing glazed Lama Pagoda in Datong City with a bowl-covered bowl. It is named after the "Lotus Sutra" contained in the tower. P12—P15 ▶️ The Nine Dragon Wall is a single-sided colorful glass screen wall in front of the palace of Zhu Guidai, the thirteenth son of Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty. The Nine Dragon Wall faces south and faces north, 45.5 meters long, 8 meters high and 2.02 meters thick. All are made of yellow, green, blue, purple, black, white and other colored glazed components. P16