Cliff Wonder: Hanging Temple

The Hanging Temple is located on the cliff of Cui Ping Peak of Hengshan Mountain, and it is the most famous building in the Hengshan architectural complex, and also a national key cultural relics protection unit. Ming Dynasty traveler Xu Xiake once praised the Hanging Temple: 'Three turns, the gorge is narrower, and the cliff is higher. Half of the west cliff, the layered buildings hang high, the pavilions lean obliquely, looking like a mirage spitting out a heavy platform, that's the Hanging Temple. There is also a Hanging Temple in the northern ravine of Wutai, but it cannot be as specific as this. Looking up, it's divine, and I bravely climbed alone. Once inside, the buildings are high and low, and the paths are winding. The cliff is steep and cut, it is a great view in the world, and the decoration of the temple can also win all.' As one of the cultural business cards of Shanxi, the Hanging Temple attracts countless ancient and modern Chinese and foreign travelers with its 'strange, hanging, and ingenious' spectacle. The Hanging Temple enshrines the gods of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, which is very rare in Chinese temples. Climbing the Hanging Temple truly feels the meaning of 'the sea can hold the water from thousands of rivers, it's big because of its capacity'. The Hanging Temple has dozens of halls and pavilions, among which there are 12 Buddhist halls, 5 Taoist halls, and one Three-Religions Hall with statues. The full price ticket for the Hanging Temple is 15 yuan, and the climbing ticket is 100 yuan; the half price ticket is 8 yuan, and the climbing ticket is half price 50 yuan. Tickets can only enter the scenic area. If you want to climb the Hanging Temple for a visit, you need to buy an additional climbing ticket, and you can enter after the second ticket check. There is a small platform on the right side of the stairs under the stone tablet of the national key cultural relics protection unit of the Hanging Temple, where you can see the panoramic view of the Hanging Temple, which is a better place for tourists to take photos. Considering safety issues, the Hanging Temple will adopt flow restriction measures, and only dozens to hundreds of tourists are allowed to climb for a visit at a time. During holidays, you may need to queue for a long time, or even not be able to visit. If you go during the holiday, it is recommended to arrive at Liulin parking lot at 7:00 in the morning when the scenic area is not yet open, and take the first shuttle bus to the Hanging Temple. At this time, there are almost no tourists in the Hanging Temple scenic area, and you can visit freely without queuing or congestion. The first batch of people may not queue up for half an hour after arriving. During the off-peak tourist season, cars can be parked at the front parking lot. The interior of the Hanging Temple is very crowded, the plank road sometimes only allows one person to pass, lacks protection, and the stairs are also very steep and narrow, so be careful not to bump your head. The official of the Hanging Temple scenic area has reluctantly built a tour line in the temple, and everyone should visit according to the order of the signboard route, do not go against the current, to avoid danger. It should be noted that try not to lean out of the cliff to take pictures on the plank road, or stand in crowded places for a long time to take pictures. This behavior affects the order of the visit, poses a risk to personal safety, and will be stopped by staff. So if you want to slowly appreciate the unique beauty of the Hanging Temple, it is recommended to go on weekdays or around 7:00 in the morning or during the off-peak tourist season.