Strolling Through Datong's Ancient Temples

After a full day of exploring Datong Ancient City, I was deeply captivated by the ancient charm of Fahua Temple and Huayan Temple~ The two temples are close to each other, easily connected on foot, making history buffs and photography enthusiasts truly delighted! 🌿 Fahua Temple | A Free, Serene White Moonlight A hidden treasure temple deep within the ancient city, you can immerse yourself in tranquility without an entrance fee~ The highlight is the white pagoda shaped like a treasure vase, pure and jade-like under the sunlight, perfectly contrasting with the blue sky for incredibly clean photos! Walking around the white pagoda, the wind chimes at the eaves gently ring, with little commercial atmosphere. Sitting on the stone steps in the courtyard and daydreaming is very healing. The temple’s red walls and carved doors and windows are also great for photos; standing by the door for a shot gives a vintage masterpiece vibe. It’s recommended to wear light-colored clothes to create a soft contrast with the white pagoda and red walls~ 🏯 Huayan Temple | The Majesty of a Liao-Jin Royal Temple As a filming location for "Black Myth: Wukong," Huayan Temple truly embodies grandeur in its bones! Upon entering, you’ll be amazed by the unique west-to-east layout (built this way due to the Liao dynasty’s sun worship). The 4.5-meter glazed roof ridges on the Main Hall are even taller than those in the Forbidden City, and looking up instantly impresses with the majestic ancient architecture. There are so many must-see highlights: ✅ The massive mural in Puguangming Hall, created over three years by teachers and students from the Central Academy of Fine Arts, vividly depicts the story of Sudhana’s fifty-three visits. Light and shadow streaming through the doors and windows cast a cinematic effect on the painting; ✅ The “Eastern Venus” in the Bhikkhuni Hall — the mud sculpture of the Bodhisattva with hands clasped and teeth showing, whose Liao dynasty smile is irresistibly sweet and whose posture is so lively it looks like she’s dancing; ✅ The underground palace of the Huayan Pagoda made entirely of pure copper, with a thousand golden Buddhas shimmering softly. Entering it instantly calms the mind, and climbing to the top offers a panoramic view of Datong Ancient City. 📸 Photography Tips: ▪️ Arrive at Huayan Temple before 8:30 AM to avoid crowds; use the door frame of Puguangming Hall as a foreground to create a frame-within-frame shot, and a low angle helps avoid people; ▪️ Shoot upward from the steps in front of the Main Hall to capture shots like those in the game’s filming locations; ▪️ Use a telephoto lens in front of Fahua Temple’s white pagoda to capture both people and the pagoda in the same frame with great depth. ⚠️ A Little Reminder: Huayan Temple tickets cost 50 RMB (half price for students), Fahua Temple is free; flash photography is prohibited inside the halls, wear comfortable shoes for walking; for those wanting to take photos in Hanfu, red and gold colors match the temple atmosphere perfectly~ In Datong’s ancient temples, every brick and tile holds stories of the Liao and Jin dynasties. When the wind blows past the eaves, it seems to whisper tales of a thousand years. This ancient city stroll is truly healing and unforgettable~