[2025 Guangling Attraction] Travel Guide for Shengquan Temple (Updated May)

Location Located in Yixing Township, Guangling County, Datong City, Shanxi Province, 13 kilometers south of the county town, the temple is built on the cliffside of Tianwang Ridge in the Hengshan Mountain Range. Known for its perilous terrain, it is constructed against the mountain and is as famous as the Hanging Temple, earning the nickname "Little Hanging Temple." 🚗 Transportation Guide By Car: Depart from Datong city center and drive south along Provincial Road S203 for about 2 hours to reach Guangling County. Then navigate to "Shengquan Temple." Note that some sections of the mountain road are narrow, so it is recommended for experienced drivers. By Public Transport: Take a bus from Datong Bus Station to Guangling County (approximately 1.5 hours). Upon arrival, take a taxi or hire a car to the scenic area (about 30 minutes). 🌟 Highlights of the Scenic Spot Hanging Wonder The temple is built on a cliff over 100 meters high, supported by dozens of wooden pillars. From afar, it appears to be hanging in mid-air, resembling the Hanging Temple of Hengshan. The main hall, "Daxiong Baodian," is well-preserved and features Ming and Qing dynasty murals with ancient and rustic colors. Sacred Spring Water Inside the temple, there is a thousand-year-old spring that never dries up. The water is clear and sweet. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own bottles to collect and enjoy this natural gift. Cliffside Stone Inscriptions Along the way, you can see cliffside stone carvings from the Song and Ming dynasties, which document the history of repairs and literary works by scholars, showcasing profound cultural heritage. Natural Scenery Tianwang Ridge is lush with vegetation, vibrant in spring and summer, and adorned with colorful foliage in autumn. From the heights, you can overlook the entire Guangling Basin. 📝 Travel Tips Route Planning: Entrance Gate → Tianwang Hall → Hanging Architecture Complex → Sacred Spring → Rear Mountain Viewing Platform (approximately 2-3 hours in total). Best Time to Visit: Spring and autumn (April-June, September-October) when the weather is cool and the mountain scenery is at its best. Ticket Information: Currently free to enter. Some areas are under renovation, so it is advisable to check with the scenic area management office in advance. ⚠️ Important Notes Cliffside paths lack guardrails, so safety precautions are necessary, especially for visitors with children who should be supervised at all times. Wear non-slip athletic shoes as some stone steps are steep and slippery. Respect cultural relics—do not touch murals or stone carvings, and avoid littering. 🍜 Nearby Recommendations Local Cuisine: Guangling tofu, yellow millet fried cakes, buckwheat "bowl托" (a local dish). Recommended spot: "Guangling Snack Street" in the county town. Other Attractions: Water God Temple (located in the county town, a Ming dynasty architectural complex), Baiyang Valley (a natural gorge, 30 minutes' drive from Shengquan Temple). Summary Shengquan Temple combines hanging architecture, historical culture, and natural scenery, making it ideal for visitors who enjoy exploring ancient sites and photography. Avoid visiting during holidays to better experience the temple's tranquility. Before departure, contact Guangling County's cultural and tourism bureau to confirm its opening status. Have a wonderful trip! 🌄

Starting from Beijing, simply adjust your route using maps and navigation. A 2-day trip to Weixian, Hebei, is approximately a 3-4 hour drive from Beijing. For a 3-day trip, include Guangling, Shanxi, which is conveniently located near Weixian. **Day 1: Weixian** - Depart at 8:00 AM, and it's recommended to take the Nanshan Lailai Expressway for a more comfortable drive. - Arrive at the Airy Plateau at noon. Do not enter the scenic area. About two kilometers before the entrance, look to the left for a stunning small canyon. You can camp or have a picnic in the car (don't forget to bring food), then take a break and capture some photos. - Next, head to Feihuyu Grand Canyon. Walk along the road in the canyon without needing a ticket. The most famous spot is Feihuyu Yi Zhuzhang, with picturesque scenery along a 15-kilometer road, complete with numerous rest areas to park. - In the evening, make your way to Weixian County for dinner and accommodation (be sure to book in advance), as it is close to the ancient city of Weizhou that you will visit the next day. **Day 2: Weixian** - In the morning, explore the ancient city of Weizhou. There are numerous small attractions, and if time permits, you can view the Nanan Temple Tower and Bell Tower from outside. Choose other attractions based on your preference. More details are available in a separate note. - Enjoy lunch in the ancient city. For a 3-day trip, spend an additional two hours in the city after lunch; for a 2-day trip, proceed directly to the next destination. - Visit the Warm Spring Ancient Town, navigating to "Xigu Baogao of Warm Spring Ancient Town." There are three ancient forts, with the largest and most well-preserved being the Xigu Fort, which is highly recommended. It features an ancient street to explore, and entry is free. - If it's a 2-day trip, conclude your journey here. For the return trip, consider adding "Xidashenbao" as a stop to see it. - For a 3-day trip, in the evening, you have two options: watch the tree blossom performance in Warm Spring Ancient Town (check in advance for availability, usually during holidays) and book a homestay here, or head to Guangling County for dinner and accommodation. **Day 3: Guangling** - In the morning, visit the Shuiren Hall, a small lake with a central island and a cluster of ancient buildings. Entry is free. - Explore the Shengquan Temple, a small suspended temple that is quite impressive. Entry to the temple below is free, but it's unclear if you can climb the cliff and the potential entrance fee. - Conclude your trip. As with the return trip, it's recommended to stop at Xidashenbao on the way back.

Navigation: Guangling Shengquan Temple, located in Guangling County, Datong, Shanxi. This Shengquan Temple, if calculated by driving distance from Beijing, is less than 300 kilometers, and possibly up to 300 kilometers on the east side. Below is an introduction to Shengquan Temple and my personal opinions and feelings. 1 Guangling Shengquan Temple was founded during the Taihe period of the Northern Wei Dynasty in the Southern and Northern Dynasties, nearly 1600 years ago, and is relatively well-preserved. 2 Because there is another temple built on the cliff at the foot of Hengshan Mountain in Datong called the Hanging Temple, which is more famous compared to this temple, some people refer to this Shengquan Temple as the 'Little Hanging Temple' or 'Guangling Hanging Temple'. 3 I personally prefer this Shengquan Temple because it's more original, without too many traces of modern restoration (of course, there have been restorations), and it lacks an excessive commercial atmosphere. When I visited, there was no admission fee required (not sure if this is always the case), just some souvenirs and wishing activities. Also, part of the cliff is inaccessible, with the main gate closed, and I don't know if there are other times when it is open. 4 To get to this temple, you have to walk a long mountain road, which is narrow, but it's a cement-paved road, so cars can drive up without any problem. I guess there is no public transportation, and if you are not driving yourself, it should be easy to find a ride from the town of Guangling County, which is only about ten kilometers away. 5 The mountain road past this temple leads all the way to the top of the mountain, as seen in picture 9 on the top left, which looks nice. Unfortunately, I had to give up the idea of driving to the top of the mountain because there was ice and snow on the road surface at that time.

This cliff temple, named Shengquan Temple, is located in Guangling County, Datong City, Shanxi Province, China. Although it is not as famous as the Hanging Temple of Hengshan, it has unique natural scenery and architectural art value. Shengquan Temple was built during the Northern Wei Dynasty and has been renovated during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The temple we see today should be the result of renovations in recent decades. The temple is built on the mountain, simple and elegant, like a pavilion carved into the wall. The newly built part is clean and tidy, with a square courtyard and bluestone paving. The surrounding area is the common temple, and the cliff temple embedded in the rock gives a sacred feeling. When you climb the stairs and enter the high platform in the air, you can discover the beautiful scenery in front of you, overlooking the ancient temple in the valley from a high place, which is very beautiful. Shengquan Temple perfectly combines architectural aesthetics and mechanics. It uses the horizontal beams embedded in the mountain as the foundation, cleverly uses the support of the mountain rock, the structure of the wooden tenon and stone mortise is rigorous, and the layout is clever, making the pavilion between the cliffs more beautiful. This peculiar architectural art combined with cultural edification is rare worldwide. It is deserved to be praised as a miracle in the history of architectural art. Buildings like the Hanging Temple are not only the treasures of ancient Shanxi architecture, but also the pride of our country's ancient architecture. They have witnessed the long history and cultural heritage of our country and are worth our inheritance and promotion.

#awesomepic A spiritual place to visit if you go to Dai Dong. You should go early in the morning because it can rain in the afternoon or in the cold season it gets dark quickly. I rented a taxi to get here in about 1 hour and 30 minutes. The path is narrow and there are many people so you have to wait in line to go up. If you go on weekends or holidays, it will probably be very crowded. When buying tickets, remember to buy a combo ticket. If you don't buy enough, you won't be able to go up to the temple.