Dirty Datong

The city of Datong is a big dirty hole of coal dust, really ugly and dirty, but there are two cool sights to see nearby so we stopped for a night, and did a tour the next day. We saw the hanging monastery (which was originally occupied by buddhist monks, then later by the other two big 'religions' of china -taoism and confucianism) and the Yungang caves (buddhist carvings in sandstone). Both were really impressive and unlike anything we've seen so far.

clinging to the rock face

hanging monastery

more carvings in yungang caves

china's prime minister (apparently)

yungang caves

sandstone carvings in yungang caves

dinner time on the pavement in dirty datong

Datong, China