Plan at a glance
Entrance and two ticket types
Hanging Temple clings to the cliffs on the west side of Jinlong Gorge (金龙峡) at Mount Heng in Hunyuan County. Set “恒山游客中心 (Hengshan Visitor Centre)” as the final navigation destination. The valley-level admission ticket costs about CNY 15 and covers viewing and photography from the valley path only. The temple-access ticket costs about CNY 100 and allows entry to the temple's plank paths and halls; the two experiences are sold separately.
Reservations and hours
Temple access requires a real-name reservation through “北岳云游 (Beiyue Yunyou).” Typical high-season hours are 08:00–18:00, with entry stopping at 17:30. Tickets are limited. You can enter visitor identity information in advance; release or booking times are usually 20:00 on the day before travel or 07:20 on the day itself. Ticket availability, shuttles and performances follow the day's arrangements.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
View Visit Optionsvia Trip.comChoose your visit
What to see on the temple access route
The one-way route runs through the South Tower (南楼), the cliffside plank paths and the North Tower (北楼). The South Tower contains Chunyang Palace (纯阳宫), the Three Officials Hall (三官殿) and Leiyin Hall (雷音殿); one section of the path overlooks the Three Buddhas Hall (三身佛殿), and the highest point of the North Tower is the Three Teachings Hall (三教殿). Suspended and painted sculptures in the Three Officials Hall, Confucian, Buddhist and Daoist figures in the Three Teachings Hall, and the buildings fitted into the cliff are the main highlights.
Who the valley view suits
Visitors without a temple-access ticket, or anyone uncomfortable with narrow high-level paths, can spend 30–40 minutes viewing the temple from the valley path. Xia Ke Pavilion (侠客亭), the “天下巨观 (Tianxia Juguan)” stele and the “悬空寺 (Xuankong Si)” stele offer places for photos. Architectural photographers can first understand the whole cliff setting from below, then decide whether to spend more time on the temple route; a valley ticket does not allow entry to the temple.
Valley photography spots
The “悬空寺 (Xuankong Si)” stele area works for a full view of the building, while the round windows of Xia Ke Pavilion (侠客亭) can frame it in the foreground. The path below the dam gives a lower upward angle. All shooting positions must stay on the open valley paths; do not cross railings or enter water-control installations.
Safer viewpoints after entering
With a temple-access ticket, you can photograph the gorge through the windows of the Bell and Drum Towers, or take a quick group photo from the platform at the Three Teachings Hall. Corners on the plank paths are narrow, so move aside for others and keep people and equipment there only as long as the crowd allows.
Build your day
A 1–1.5-hour temple route
At the temple-side ticket checkpoint, follow the South Tower route through Chunyang Palace, the Three Officials Hall and Leiyin Hall. Continue across the plank paths and past the Three Buddhas Hall, then reach the Three Saints Hall and Three Teachings Hall in the North Tower before returning through the one-way exit. The temple visit itself takes about 1–1.5 hours; high-season queues to enter may add another 1–2 hours, so keep the line and passage clear while waiting.
A 30–40-minute valley route
After changing to the shuttle at the Visitor Centre, reach the valley area and follow the path past the “天下巨观 (Tianxia Juguan)” stele, the “悬空寺 (Xuankong Si)” stele and Xia Ke Pavilion (侠客亭) before returning to the shuttle stop. Without a temple-access ticket, use this route for the full exterior view. If the nighttime *何以悬空寺 (Heyi Xuankong Si)* show is running, its venue and entry rules are separate, and the temple itself cannot be entered during the performance.
Get there
Shuttle and driving
Take the shuttle from the Visitor Centre to the ticket checkpoint by the temple. The fare is about CNY 20 per person one way, and the ride takes about 10–15 minutes. If driving, park at the Hengshan Visitor Centre and change to the shuttle; vehicles cannot bypass the centre and drive to the temple. A one-way taxi from central Datong costs about CNY 100–150.
Direct shuttle and Hunyuan connection
Direct tourist shuttles serve stops in Datong's old city and at Datong South Railway Station. The fare is about CNY 19.5–39; ask whether the return trip is included when boarding. Hanging Temple and Mount Hengshan share the Visitor Centre as their shuttle starting point, but the temple-access ticket, Mount Hengshan admission and mountain routes are separate. Hunyuan liangfen cold noodles fit well on the return trip or during a stop in the county town.
Know before you go
Tickets, queues and photography
If temple-access tickets are unavailable online, the Visitor Centre ticket window may have same-day tickets, but the queue may begin around 03:00–04:00 and a ticket is not guaranteed. Do not rely on touts or supposed shortcuts. The temple paths are narrow. The Bell and Drum Tower windows and the platform at the Three Teachings Hall allow quick photos when you are not blocking the route. Drones are prohibited, and flash restrictions follow the on-site rules.
High places and the night show
Space is limited on the paths, at corners and on the stairs. Move to the side and pass quickly; do not stop where you block the walkway or cross a railing for a photo. The nighttime *何以悬空寺 (Heyi Xuankong Si)* show may change with operations, and flash photography is prohibited throughout it. Temple access and the night show are separate arrangements, with the ticket and staff instructions taking priority.