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Datong

LISTING 10 ENTRIES FROM THIS SPECIFIC LOCATION (chronologically ordered)

 
 

Monday August 21st, 2006

Asia > China > BeijingAsia > China > Datong

(travel diary) Arrival: China

Category: China, 2006
We landed at 8 in the morning, local chinese time. The customs and everything went smooth, clear blue sky and about 30-35 degrees Celsius. Took the shuttle to XiDan (16 Yuan) central in Beijing near Tian An Men Square. We would now try to find a hotel in this area for our two first nights in China.
We knew there should be a low priced hostel in Wang Fu Ying, close to Xi Dan. While searching for this hostel, a chinese girl stopped us. She wanted to help us find it and a couple of minutes later we were there. But.. it was full and we were told that we should come back at 14:00 and maybe there was a room. Ok, the chinese girl that led us here said she was an art student and she asked us that in the meentime, maybe we would like to see her work? The gallery was very close to the hostel, actually more or less wall-to-wall.
[I will cut down on details now I think] Oh, well. The thing was that she wanted to sell as much as possible to us 4 hours young China tourists and to prices that were much higher than the markets. She wanted about 100-150 Yuan for her paintings.. Not really expensive and they were pretty nice but we didn't buy any. We didn't feel like to carry extra weight. This was too early on the trip to buy things.

However, this girl connected us with a guy that had a appartment for rent. Now we are living there for two nights. It's situated in a new area, the area is not quite finnished, but almost :)
 

Wednesday August 23rd, 2006

Asia > China > Datong

Billiards in Datong

Category: China, 2006
Billiards in Datong - Me (center) in a 8-ball billiards battle against some very friendly chinese[...]
Me (center) in a 8-ball billiards battle against some very friendly chinese pool junkies.

Photo: TobiasNew window
 

Thursday August 24th, 2006

Asia > China > Datong

(travel diary) Sightseeing in Datong

Category: China, 2006
Today we started with a visit to the hanging monastery. Two hours by minibus 65 km south-east of Datong.
The monastery is about 1400 years old and was built "hanging" to protect it from weather. Originally the monastery was more than 100 metres above the ground but nowadays it's only about 15 metres up because of the dirt the water has brought from the mountain.

After this our minibus drove us to the Yungang-grottoes about 16 km west of Datong. In the grottoes there are about 50.000 statues in different sizes.
 

Thursday August 24th, 2006

Asia > China > Datong

Yungang grottoes

Category: China, 2006
Yungang grottoes - In this mountain of sandstone is the grottoes located. Behind the trees.[...]
In this mountain of sandstone is the grottoes located. Behind the trees.
 

Thursday August 24th, 2006

Asia > China > Datong

Yungang caves II

Category: China, 2006
Yungang caves II - Yungang-grottoes.
Yungang-grottoes.
 

Thursday August 24th, 2006

Asia > China > Datong

Yungang grottoes III

Category: China, 2006
Yungang grottoes III - Yungang grottoes.
Yungang grottoes.
 

Thursday August 24th, 2006

Asia > China > Datong

Yungang grottoes IV

Category: China, 2006
Yungang grottoes IV - Cave man size X-Large.
Cave man size X-Large.
 

Thursday August 24th, 2006

Asia > China > Datong

Hanging monastery

Category: China, 2006
Hanging monastery - A panorama of the monastery.
A panorama of the monastery.
 

Thursday August 24th, 2006

Asia > China > Datong

Hanging monastery II

Category: China, 2006
Hanging monastery II - The hanging monastery. View from the entrance side.
The hanging monastery. View from the entrance side.
 

Thursday August 24th, 2006

Asia > China > Datong

Hanging monastery III

Category: China, 2006
Hanging monastery III - Door knob from one of the doors in the hanging monastery.
Door knob from one of the doors in the hanging monastery.