I’ve seen a lot of amazing temples in my time in China. One of the most amazing was the Hanging Monastery in Datong, China. It’s built on the side of a sheer cliff face, and is holding up thanks to a few beams and walkways. But the Hanging Monastery has
Left Alone in a Buddhist Temple
Three giant Buddhas, more than 10 feet tall, are staring down at me. Their half-closed eyes look like a smirk. “Laowai,” they seem to say looking at me and my friend Hannah standing in front of their alter, hands clasped together in prayer pose, our knees resting on the padded
The Hanging Monastery in Datong
I mentioned one UNESCO World heritage site as a reason to go to Datong, China, but the fun doesn’t end there. That’s because there is another, equally amazing and slightly more intense site to see in the same area: the Hanging Monastery. This is an unbelievable sight at first, one
The God of Wealth
You can’t travel for very long in China without seeing a picture, or statue, of one of the most revered gods. Statues of gods are a dime a dozen here, but everyone, no matter what their religion gives this man his props. Who is he and why is he so
Kicking Ass at the Shaolin Temple
I’ve never taken a kung fu class (or karate) and I’ve only seen one Bruce Lee flick yet I have always wanted to go to Shaolin Temple. I’ve read Matthew Polly’s book about training at Shaolin (twice) and even he desribes it as touristy and yet I and have always
The Statue with a Thousand Hands and Eyes
In the middle of Kaifeng stands the Temple of the Chief Minister. And in the middle of that temple stands one of the most amazing statues I have ever seen. The Four-Faced Thousand Eyes Thousand Hand Statue of Guanyin. It is an amazing statue, towering at 23 feet and in