中国海峡旅行社 CHINA SUNRISE TRAVEL SERVICE

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1 中国海峡旅行社大同旅行日期行程用餐住宿 10 月 6 日北京大同 ( 火车 ) 21:00 汽车往北京站 23:18 乘 2603 次火车往大同. 火车中大同 ( 旅行车 ) 10 月 7 日 6:03 抵达大同, 当地导游在站台接站, 汽车往酒云冈国际酒店店, 用早餐后如果酒店有房间入住酒店上午游览早 / 中 / 晚云冈石窟下午参观华严寺九龙壁汽车返回酒店 10 月 8 日大同北京 ( 旅行车 / 火车 ) 早餐后, 汽车往浑源悬空寺, 游览悬空寺午餐后游览北岳恒山 ( 缆车费用自理 ) 22:33 乘 K606 次硬早 / 中 / 晚火车中卧火车返回北京 10 月 9 日北京 ( 旅行车 ) 早 5:27 抵达大兴黄村火车站, 旅行结束 Datong Trip DATE ITINERARY MEALS ACCOMMO. Oct.6 th Beijing / Datong (Train) Leave for Beijing Railway Station at 21:00. Take Train No.2603 to Datong at 23:18 (hard sleeper). On the train Datong (Coach) Oct.7 th Arrive in Datong at 6:03. Drive to hotel, after Yungang Int l breakfast, check in hotel if rooms are ready. 早 / 中 / 晚 Hotel Visit the Yungang Cave in the morning. After lunch, visit the Huayan Monastery and Nine-Dragon Screen at afternoon. Oct. 8 th Datong / Beijing (Coach / Train) After breakfast, drive to Mt. Hengshan. Visit the Hanging Temple in the morning. After lunch, Visit the Mt. Hengshan (Please pay cable car by 早 / 中 / 晚 On the train yourselves). Drive back to downtown. After dinner, take Train No.K606 (hard sleeper) back to Beijing. Oct. 9 th Beijing Arrive at Huangcun Railway Station in Daxing County at 5:27. End. 当地陪同 : 梁红娥 Local Guide: Ms. Liang Hong e

2 中国海峡旅行社

3 of minorities' cultural and Han culture. The scenery of Datong differs markedly from the delicate and pretty cities south of Yangtze River. Here, green hills and small clean streams are rarely seen. What you can find is continuous peaks rising one upon another; majestic old temples standing for thousands of years and the vast sky and light cloud over your head. All of this reveals a grand and infinite air. Datong History Datong is blessed with a wealth of historical sites which go to serve as a reminder of the city's rich history. The renowned Hanging Monastery and Yungang Grottoes were originally constructed as far back as the Northern Wei Dynasty, and the ornate Nine-Dragon Screen built during the Ming Dynasty. Historians have claimed that the area was inhabited as early as 100,000 years ago by the Xujiayao man, said to be a descendant of Peking man. In the 1970's, stone implements and mammal fossils from the Paleolithic Age were found in the west of Datong City. Since then, further discoveries of microlithes and ceramics from the Neolithic Age have also been made in the city. In the Spring and Autumn Period (770 B.C.-476 B.C.), the region is known to have served as a base for several nomadic tribes. Until to about 300 B.C., during the Warring States Period (476 B.C.-221 B.C.), administrative agencies were set up in Datong by the Zhao States, namely those of the Yanmen and Dai Shires. Datong also became an important military fort for the Zhao, with a senior general and his troops dispatched to the area to confront ongoing attacks by the Hun. In the later Qin Dynasty (221 B.C.-206 B.C.), a total of 300,000 imperial troops were permanently stationed in Datong to deal with the threat of invading armies. The Emperor also gave orders to build what would become what is now known as the Great Wall along the western border as a measure to defend against enemies of the ruling state. In the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-220), the Emperor renamed the region Pingcheng County (Peaceful County) in attempt to encourage peace and stability in the region. In the year of 398, Pingcheng County was appointed the imperial capital by the Northern Wei Dynasty ( ), a group of peoples originating from the Xianbei tribe. After establishing themselves in the area, the leaders began to embark on a series of large-scale construction works that would include palaces, temples and the famous Yungang Grottos. Pingcheng was to remain the political, economic and cultural center of northern China for the next 96 years. During this period, the state helped to fund the building of a number of Buddhist and Taoist temples. Many of these still stand today and give present-day Datong City a sense of spiritual ambiance. In the latter Sui and Tang Dynasties, Datong remained the focus for battles against the 2

4 Hun. During the middle part of the Tang Dynasty, the Kaiyuan Temple (now the Shanhua Temple) was constructed for state ceremonies and functions. However, the fortunes of the ruling elite had taken a downturn by the end of the dynasty, with Datong conceding occupation to the fierce Khitan tribe. The Khitan were the founders of the the Liao Dynasty ( ) and by then governed a significant part of northern China. The Liao's leaders sought control of this region since it provided an important gateway for its troops to overcome the Central Plains inside the Great Wall. Similar to projects undergone during the Northern Wei Dynasty, the Liao also attempted to further the development of the city through the carving of Buddhist grottos and construction of temples. This type of work was also continued in the later Jin Dynasty ( ) by its rulers the Jurchen. Unfortunately, Datong City was partly destroyed when conquered by the first leader of the Yuan Dynasty ( ). The city was also renamed Xijing. In the year of 1277, the noted explorer Marco Polo arrived in Datong and praised the city for its beauty as well as its thriving businesses and industries, especially those dedicated to the manufacture of weapons and arms. Defending against invading armies was a priority of the time, with the Ming authorities ordering not only the strengthening of the city wall but also the introduction of a comprehensive defense system inside the city to guard against attacks from the Mongolians or Jurchen tribe. Upheaval as a result of dynastic change and the transfer of power from the Ming to the Qing ( ) meant that Datong again suffered serious damage. Consequently, a series of reconstruction works were undertaken to restore the city to it former glory, and Datong once again became a renowned center for Buddhist and other spiritual activity. On May 1st 1959, Datong City and its 13 villages was peacefully librated by the Communist army. It is now the second largest city in Shanxi Province, with four districts and seven counties contained within its prefecture. Hanging Monastery (Xuankong Si) Hanging Monastery stands at the foot of Mt. Hengshan, 5 kilometers (3 miles) south of Hunyuan County, and 65 kilometers (40 miles) from downtown Datong City. Since it hangs on the west cliff of Jinxia Gorge more than 50 meters above the ground, it is called Hanging Monastery. Hanging Monastery, built in 491, has survived more than 1400 years. The extant monastery was largely rebuilt and maintained in the Ming Dynasty ( ) and Qing Dynasty ( ). 3

5 How could a building like this withstand the winds and storms of so many years? Hanging Monastery is an architectural wonder. A unique mechanical theory was applied to building the framework. Crossbeams were half-inserted into the rock as the foundation, while the rock in back became its support. Seen from below, Hanging Monastery appears to be a tumble-down castle in the air. Inside, Hanging Monastery provides the same scene as other temples. Construction experts from countries including Britain, Germany, and Italy, come to see the monastery. In their words, Hanging Monastery, which mixes mechanics, aesthetics, and Buddhism, is rare. The monastery and everything it symbolizes embodies a great cultural achievement of Chinese people. The second attraction of Hanging Monastery is that it includes Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. Inside the monastery, the sculptures of Sakyamuni, Confucius and Laotzu appear together, which is unusual. There are 40 halls and cabinets, which contain about 80 sculptures made of copper, iron, terracotta, and stone. The features are vividly carved. Why build a monastery like this? Location is the first reason; building a monastery on the cliff could shield it from floods. In addition, the mountain peak protects it from rain and snow; and the mountain around it also diminishes damage from long-time sunshine. The second reason is that the builders followed a principle in Taoism: no noises, including those from rooster crowing and dog baying; so from the upper ground, all noises drop away. Mt. Hengshan Scenic Spot Chinese recorded history tells us that Emperor Shun (circa 2372 BC) toured his northern domain years ago, and he was so impressed by the sight of Mt. Hengshan that he proclaimed it the 'North Mountain' (Bei Yue). Many later emperors had also come to visit Mt. Hengshan. The renowned traveler Xu Xiake came to visit in Ming Dynasty ( ) and left behind Hengshan-inspired writings. Others did similar things. Mt. Hengshan, one of the most famous 'Five Sacred Mountains (Wu Yue)' in China, is located about 62 kilometers south to Datong City of Shanxi Province. It attracts people by its natural sceneries and man-made landscaping. Ancient battleground: Mt. Hengshan has been an age-old battleground. It is the bottleneck to Central Hebei Plain from Plateau beyond the Great Wall. Many emperors utilized Mt. Hengshan in national defense planning. Emperors and generals 4

6 went down in history on battles won and lost right here. Plenty of ancient battlefield relics litter the landscape with passes, fortresses, castles and beacon towers. These make Mt. Hengshan unique among the famed mountains. Overhanging Temple: Overhanging Temple, at the mountain's foot, was built in Northern Wei Dynasty ( ), on the high cliff hemmed in by a precipice on either side. It sits up there beyond reach in abject solitude. From the bottom you see range upon range of pavilions supported by dozens of wooden pillars. Entering the temple, people will be surprised by its half-house and half-cave inner structures. Overhanging Temple deserves a visit. Tianfeng Summit: At meters (6,617 feet), Tianfeng Summit, in Hunyuan County, Datong City, is the highest peak. The steep north slope is covered with verdant pine trees. Climbing onto the top of the mountain, you will see endless pine trees, some of them growing on the cliff with roots burrowing in the rocks, exotic flowers and rare herbs and odd-shaped stones, and so forth. The tourists are too delighted to return home. The south slope is studded by lots of temples where emperors worshipped the North Mountain. Yungang Grottoes Yungang Grottoes, one of the three major cave clusters in China, punctuate the north cliff of Wuzhou Mountain, Datong. The area was excavated along the mountain, extending 1 km (0.62 miles) from east to west, revealing 53 caves and over 51,000 stone statues. The Caves are divided into east, middle, and west parts. Pagodas dominate the eastern parts; west caves are small and mid-sized with niches. Caves in the middle are made up of front and back chambers with Buddha statues in the center. Embossing covers walls and ceilings. Started in 450, Yungang is a relic of the Northern Wei Dynasty ( ). Absorbing Indian Gandhara Buddhist art, Yungang sculptures developed traditional Chinese art melded with social features of the time. During the reign of Emperor Xiao Wen a monk named Tanyao took charge of the construction of Yungang Grottoes. The largest cave is No.6. In the 20-meter (65.6-foot)-high cave stands a 15-meter (49.2-foot)-high pagoda-like column decorated with Buddha statues and designs. On the four sides of the tower pillar, and on the east, south and west walls of the cave, 33 embossed panels depict the story of Saykamuni. Caves worth special attention are No.16, 17, 18, 19, and 20. Upon Tan Yao's 5

7 suggestion, five statues of Emperors Taizu, Taizong, Shizu, Gaozong, and Gaozu as Buddha express the religious theme that the Emperor is Buddha. Caves housing these statues are known as the Five Tan Yao Caves, similar in style but not identical. The statue in Cave 20 is martial and stately, No.19 handsome and elegant, while No.18 is dignified but lively. Their similarity lies in their thick lips, big noses, slanted eyes and broad shoulders depicting the ethnic culture of the time. Yungang Grottoes graphically tell the story of past glory. Nine-dragon Screen The Datong Nine Dragon Screen, built over 600 years ago, is presently the oldest and largest glazed screen in China today. It is three times larger than that in Beihai Park, Beijing City. The screen, built for the thirteenth son of Zhu Yuanzhang, the first Emperor of the Ming Dynasty ( ), has been well preserved and remains intact to this day. It is made up of 426 specially-fired glazed bricks, with a height of 8 meters (about 26 feet), 2.02 meters (6.6 feet) thick and 45.5 meters (149 feet) long. The Screen can be divided into three parts, the pedestal, body and roof. The pedestal is rectangular shaped with a height of 2.09 meters (6.9 feet). Its narrow middle section is composed of 75 glazed tiles with images of oxen, dogs, deer rabbits and other animals. The design of the body is that of a green wave on the lower part and a blue and yellow cloud on the upper part. It consists of nine flying dragons, with a golden-scaled, shiny-eyed dragon located in the center. On each side of the central dragon is a pair of light yellow dragons with their heads pointed East and tails pointed towards the central dragon. A second pair of elegant yellow dragons is next with their heads and tails pointed west. A third pair is ferocious-looking purple dragons which seem to be wrestling with the sea. The fourth pair is highly spirited dragons. The nine dragons are life-like and illustrating their ability of calling the wind and controlling the rainfall. The areas around the dragons are supplemented with images of plants, mountains, stones, water and grass. These patterns along with the nine dragons compliment each other. The roof is covered with glazed tiles. There is a pond with a stone bridge located in front of the screen. The reflection of the dragons becomes dynamic, especially when a breeze disturbs the surface of the water. Huayan Monastery The Huayan Monastery complex is located on Daxi Street on the south western side of Datong City, Shanxi Province. There are two separate sections to the monastery, 6

8 the upper one referred to as the Grand Hall housing five large Ming Dynasty Buddhas, and the lower section referred to as the Sutra Temple containing a library of some 18,000 volumes of Buddhist writings. Built during the Liao Dynasty ( ), the Huayan Monastery is the largest and best preserved monastery of the Liao Dynasty in existence in China. This monastery was built according to the Huayan Sutra Sect of the Huayan School and is unique in that it faces east instead of south. Emperors in the Liao Dynasty sincerely believed in Buddhism, so they built many monasteries. The Huayan Monastery was originally the ancestral temple of the imperial family, offering sacrifices for emperors of the Liao Dynasty. In the middle period of the Ming Dynasty ( ), the temple was divided into two parts, the Upper Huayan Monastery and the Lower Huayan Monastery and was renovated and enlarged several times to its present form. Now, the upper and lower monasteries are connected together, but each has a main hall. The main hall of the upper monastery is the Hall of Sakyamuni. It was first built in the Liao Dynasty and renovated in the Jin Dynasty ( ). Occupying an area of 1,553 square meters (about 0.4 acres) it is one of the largest Buddha halls of the Liao period still in existence in China. In the middle of the hall, there are five sculptures standing in a row at the bottom of a lotus flower. Another twenty sculptures of gods, standing bowing to show their respect accompany the five main gods. Paintings on the wall depict sutra stories. The total area of the well-preserved color frescos is 890 square meters (about 0.2 acres) which is rare in China. On top of the hall are color paintings from the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasties ( ) portraying dragons, cranes, flowers, all of which are images often found in Chinese legends on Buddhism. The Lower Monastery is simple and unsophisticated. Its main hall is the Bhaga Repository Hall in which Buddhist sutra is kept. The wooden library containing the Buddhist scriptures is exquisitely and elaborately designed. There are thirty-one sculptures in the hall among which the Bodhisattva with a pious prayer pose is the most famous; it possesses a lifelike human likeness rather than that of a god. 7

9D7N SHANXI MAY 14-22, 2016

EL SOL TRAVEL & TOURS SDN BHD - 54B, 1st Flr, Jln Desa Bakti, Tmn Desa, 58100 KL Tel: 603 7984 4560 Fax: 7984 4561 david@elsoltravel.com www.elsoltravel.com 9D7N SHANXI MAY 14-22, 2016 HIGHLIGHTS * Mt.