China - Datong (22.09.2013)

Three new housemates arrived this evening. One boy from the south of China. One boy from Canada and one girl from Israel. The Chinese boy invited me to eat with him the famous noodles from Datong.

China - Datong (21.09.2013)

Today, I went to the Hanging/Suspended Monastery/Temple and to the Yungang Grottoes.

The Hanging/Suspended Monastery/Temple was built in the VII century on a mountainside at 50m height.
It is unique in China.
It is located 65km east of Datong.
It was really impressive.

The Yungang Grottoes present the first traces of Buddhist sculpture in China.
There are about twenty grottoes with Buddha inside.
It is located 16 km west of Datong.
It was really wonderful.

Tomorrow, I'm going to walk in the streets of Datong.

China - Datong (20.09.2013)

I arrived safely in Datong.

The night train was really safe and clean.
There are four checkpoints when you take the train:
- At the entrance of the train station: passport, visa and ticket
- At the entrance of the station platform: ticket only
- When you get on in the train: ticket only
- When you are in the train: ticket only
The staff clean and sweep the wagon before each train station.

When I arrived in Datong, I didn't want to take cab or bus in order to save money.
So I asked my way to the people in the street. It took 1h30 to find my youth hostel.

Tomorrow, I'm going to visit the Yungang grottoes and the Hanging temple (Xuankongsi).

Story of the day:
While I waited my train, I met a chinese guy from Baotou (north of China).
We used a live traduction tool on his mobile phone to communicate.