Hengshan Mountain
The
North Mountain, Hengshan Mt., 62 kilometers south from Datong, is one
of the famous Five Mountains in China. It is 2,016.8 meters above sea
level and is a grand scenery. The
highlight of the mountain is the Overhanging Monastery on the cliff.
The Overhanging Monastery was built onto the cliffs above Jinlong Canyon, 5 km to the south of the town of Hunyuan at the foot of the Heng Mountains. Since the ancient times, the Monastery has been regarded as the First View on the Heng Mountains.
The Overhanging Monastery was constructed during the years of 471 to 523, more than 1,400 years ago. The present site that one can see was the one re-constructed during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The gate of the temple faces the south. It now has 40 halls and pavilions, all of which are of wood structure. They were built along the contours of the cliff face using the natural hollows and outcrops, plus wooden beams for support. The North and the South Pavilions are hanging over the cliff, with corridors, bridges and boardwalks connecting each other.
In the Monastery there are more than 80 bronze, iron, clay and stone statues of gods and Buddhas. Especially in the top building, one can see the statues of Sakyamuni (founder of Buddhism), Laozi (founder of Taoism), and Confucius (founder of Confucius), representing three different religions and schools. This kind of arrangement with the three founders being housed in one hall is rarely seen in any other monasteries or temples in China. The Overhanging Monastery is a masterpiece of Chinese architectural art, being the top wonderful scene of the Northern Mountains.