Shan Hua Monastery (1) Location, Entrance Road

How to Get There -

The ShanHua Monastery of Datong lies adjacent the former South Gate into the Walled City of Datong on NanMen Dajie (=South Gate Street).

First established in the 8Th Century AD, the Shan Hua Monastery is originally a Tang Dynasty

structure and thus

has the typical

architecture

and roofstyles of

this period.

Due to the

relatively small

size of Datong, the

limited number of

Temples and its

clearly marked

location Shan Hua

Monastery soon became known a "The Southern Temple". Built in 713 AD, the Monastery Halls remained standing and

- Impression and Photos of the South Entrance Road -

This page was last updated: June 5, 2017

Shan Hua Monastery (1)

View of Datong's Shan Hua Monastery South Hall and Entrance with adjacent ticket office.

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Shan Hua Monastery of Datong - The Ticket !

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The Ceremonial South Entrance through this Hall of 4 Guardian Deva's.

Details of the Front Face of the closed Hall of Guardian Deva's taken through its metal gate.

Details of Admissions Price and the usual number to contact with complaints.

View from Shan Hua Monastery Gate of the Old City housing seperating the Monastery from the now dilapidated Earthen City Walls.

The Ceremonial South Entrance through this Hall of 4 Guardian Deva's. Mouse over - visitors entrance to the right of the closed Ceremonial Gate.

Official description of the Shan Hua Monastery.

always in use near the South Gate, until the

year

1122

AD,

when

it was

de-

stroy-

ed.

The

Monastery and Temple Halls were rebuilt in their original style during the Jin Dynasty (1115 AD - 1234 AD).

The Main attractions of the Shan Hua Monastery are found in the Main and Central Hall. Here, the grandiose statues of 24 Vajras, or Heavenly Generlas are enshrined.

Unfortunatly, the statues are jealously watched and guarded against photography. Rather a disappointment if you came this far to see see somethings.

Map of Datong Old City with Shan Hua Monastery location.

Apart from its collection of large wooden Halls, the Shan Hua Monastery also has a rather spacious temple garden. Hidden away in the East, in a small seperate section is a miniature Dragon Screen. This screen, not an Imperial One, has only five dragons, but it still captures the entire backwall of this garden section. Garden Statues, among which a bronze bull, complete the garden decorations.