|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
Ulink Travel Center
Home> China City Guide> Datong
Providing full travelling information about Datong, the well-known historic and cultural city.
Introduction
Datong, located in northern Shanxi Province, is a well-known city of historic and cultural interest listed by the State.
A town of strategic importance, Datong used to be a fortress in North China and a centre for political, economic and cultural exchanges among different nationalities. In the fifth century, it was the capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty and known as Pingcheng. It was during this dynasty that the famous Yungang Grottoes were cut. During the Liao and Kin Dynasties (916-1234), Datong was an alternate capital known as Xijing.
The Yungang Grottoes, located at the southern base of the Wuzhou mountain, 16 kilometres west of Datong, were carved during the Northern Wei Dynasty under the charge of a Buddhist monk named Tan Yao as ordered by the emperor. Stretching one kilometre, the remaining 53 caves, with 51,000 carved statues and bas-reliefs, constitute one of China's largest grottoes and world-famous treasure-house of arts and culture.
Located within the city's Ximen (western gate), the monastery has a spacious Daxiongbaodian (the Hall of Sakyamuni) built in the Liao Dynasty (916-1125). The hall, covering 1,559 square metres, is China's biggest Buddhist shrine-hall. There are five statues of Buddhas and 20 statues of lokapalas in the hall. In the monastery's Hall for Keeping Bhagavan Scriptures, there are 31 lifelike sculptures of the Liao Dynasty and 38 scripture-keeping cases standing around the hall in several storeys. On the back of the hall also hangs the peculiarly built Celestial Pavilion.
Located in Nancheng District, the monastery is the best preserved of monasteries built in the Liao and Kin Dynasties.
Located at the city's Dongdajie Street, the screen was built 600 years ago during the reign of Emperor Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) as a wall screen facing the mansion house of Zhu Gui, the 13th son of Zhu Yuanzhang, the first Ming Emperor. The screen, 45.5 metres long, 8 metres high and 2 metres thick, is made of glazed tiles of different colours. The nine dragons are vividly portrayed as if flying in the air. Besides the Nine Dragon Screen, there are also a five dragon screen, a three dragon screen and an one dragon screen in the city.
Home> China City Guide> Datong
Any question or suggestion, please e-mail us
Copyright © 1999-2000 Ulink Travel Center All rights reserved.
