Blogs from Datong, Shanxi, China, Asia
Pleasant astonishment and vast disappointment in Datong ...
Published: December 7th 2011Asia » China » Shanxi » Datong
November 20th 2011
Datong - Ancient Land of Buddhism The border crossing from Mongolia was in fact more interesting than the Russian-Chinese one. We had a lot of time and we could choose whichever option we liked. Obviously the most convenient way was to take the last leg of the Trans-Mongolian and go directly to Beijing but somehow we changed our mind after few weeks in UB. Maybe because there was almost nobody doing that or just maybe because we have heard about some nice places to visit in Inner Mongolia or Northern China. I should probably mention the enormous price difference between the train to the border and the Trans-Mongolian. I could say it is the advantage of this option that every backpacker finds very appealing ;-) The second decision was to go to Hohhot but after reading ... read more
October 8th 2011
The flight to Beijing from Seoul was uneventful. Gimpo Airport is only about 15 minutes on the airport subway line from my hostel in Seoul and the check-in and security process there was really easy. A few hours later I was landing in Beijing. Immigration and customs was easy as well - just show them the passport and visa and you are good. An airport express train took me pretty close to my hostel in Beijing. It was only a short walk from the station to the hostel, well it is supposed to be short. I ended up going in the wrong direction before realizing my mistake, but it wasn't too bad. I got to see a small part of the city and I didn't walk too far off course. The hostel - Sanlitun Youth Hostel, ... read more
July 21st 2011
Up early again to beat the dreaded tour groups to today's attraction; Heng Shan Hanging Monastry. Our lovely driver took us the 100+km round trip for little more than the public bus. Jutting out of the cliff on long stilts, the halls of the small monastery are built in contours of the cliff and connected with small stairways and corridors. From the top of the small rickety maze it appeared much further to the ground and Having been 'templed out' in Asia in the last few years this was a welcomed break from the usual and topped off what had been a lovely 24h experience of Datong...... read more
July 20th 2011
After a six hour train ride north west from Beijing we arrived in Datong, a much nicer city than The China Rough Guide describes; "Gritty polluted and unattractive there would seem little reason to visit Datong". We had a beautiful evening walking along the restored city wall taking in the children playing in the streets below and the signs of destruction and development on the horizon until we realised we couldn't get off at the other end and needed something more in our stomachs than the cup noodles we had on the train. We got in a taxi and Dani asked in Chinese for him to take us somewhere good to eat in his mind this was KFC! We ended up finding what i think has been the best meal yet, meat on a stick! Yummy ... read more
November 13th 2010
I visited the temple in Datong on a cool brisk morning. I arrived just as the gates were opening - perfect timing. There was no-one else visiting the temple! It was more than a temple, more like a collection of temples surrounded by a high wall. A couple of things surprised me - one that there was a budda with heavy black eyebrows and a thick black beard. He actually looked rather fierce even though he was in the budda pose. Secondly, there was a temple to one of the Hindu gods just behind the main buddist temple. I can't remember which one - the hindu god with all the arms. In addition, there was a christian church just behind the temple. If I recall correctly, the cross or steeple of a christian church is supposed ... read more
November 12th 2010
While in Beijing I picked up a book titled "The Long March" by Sun Yunshan (I may have the name wrong, the book is not with me). I have always been interested in the Long March since studying Chinese modern history and reading Edgar Snow's account of his interviews with Mao Ze Dong and other top ranking communist party leaders after the Long March was completed. I made plans to follow the Long March in reverse, starting from their base in Shaanxi. From Datong I planned to go to Yan'an in Shaanxi. Having completed reading the book in Datong, I've given up this plan. I had always been impressed by the commitment of the early communists and bought into the official version of the Long March. But Sun's book questions the official version through interviews with ... read more
November 12th 2010
I took the train from Beijing to Datong - I got a hard sleeper (basically a bunk in a six bunk room). The trip is 6 hours and 260 km long almost directly west of Beijing. The day I left Beijing was brisk but relatively clear (pollution is a constant problem). The train was also pleasant. I'm sorry that I forgot to bring pictures of family and friends. I had a basic conversation with a middle aged woman who had the bottom bunk (I was in the middle bunk, so I either had to lay down the entire trip or ask to sit on the bottom bunk with her). She was shocked and saddened that I was alone, I think I also said that I was alone in life. For the Chinese, you are nothing if ... read more
The Yungang Caves and a Hanging Monastery
Published: November 10th 2010Asia » China » Shanxi » Datong
November 3rd 2010
The train from Pingyao to Datong was an interesting experience. The train arrived at the station in Pingyao and only stopped for 3 minutes so everyone (us included) rushed onto the train at once. The compartment was completely full, standing room only. Carrying our heavy packs, it was a bit of a challenge to get to the other end of the compartment which is where our seats were. Finding a space on the overhead racks for our bags was another challenge. But finally we settled in and after a few stops the train actually cleared out a little and things were relatively comfortable for the 7 hour journey. We didn't have any accomodation booked when we arrived in Datong and the information we had was unfortunately out of date. Someone eventually informed us that the place ... read more
July 16th 2010
English below Datong war ziemlich enttäuschend, aber eine nette Abwechslung von Peking. Der Plan war sich das hängende Kloster und die Yungang-Höhlen anzusehen. Jedoch haben wir es nur zum hängenden Kloster geschafft. Gott sei Dank war ich mit Philip unterwegs da ich sonst niemals zum hängenden-Kloster gegangen waere. Die Busfahrt dauerte etwa zwei Studen und als wir ankammen hat man uns gesagt, dass wir in ein Auto einsteigen mussten um weiter zu fahren. Es war uns unklar warum der Bus nicht weiter fahren konnte, aber es mag daran gelegen sein dass wir die Einzigen waren die zum Kloster wollten. Das Auto sah sehr verschrottet aus und nicht sehr sicher. Waere ich alleine gewesen dann waere ich niemals ins Auto gestiegen und stattdessen waere ich mit dem Bus zurueck gefahren. Das hängenden-Kloster war sehr schön. Philip hat ... read more
March 30th 2010
Datong, at the Coalface of China Datong, located 300 km west of Beijing in Shanxi province, has a reputation for being one of the most polluted cities in China. Coal is its thing, and there’s no hiding it. Yet, perhaps undeservedly, it is also the guardian of two of northern China’s finest historic treasures. Datong The five-hour bus to Datong gives a basic impression of what is to come. Beside the highway lies the main railway towards Beijing, along which great locomotives heave an endless succession of trains, each a hundred carriages long. They are all carrying coal bound for the capital’s power stations. For Shanxi, feeding Beijing with coal really is akin to selling gummy bears to the fat kid at school. But you wouldn’t say Datong has reaped endless rewards from the relationship. While ... read more
