Chapter 5: continued list of most interesting spots I visited in China so far...

1) Yunggang Buddhist Caves: located near Datong

(which I guess most of you never heard of, just as I up to last week had no idea where to look for it on a map). UNESCO World Heritage complex of 21 caves contains over 53000 statues, some of which are the oldest of this kind in China. You can clearly see Greek, Persian and Indian influences in the sculpting of the statues, especially the faces and clothing.

Truly amazing place and, although a bit touristy (again that high tourist season and school vacations in China), absolutely worth a few hour visit.

2) Hengshan Hanging Monastery: it's basically a Buddhist monastery consisting of several wooden buildings... hanging on a cliff in the mountains. It has over 40 different halls / temples / altars and an impressive array of bronze, stone, clay and iron statues. I found it a true masterpiece of engineering (hats off to all those engineers out there who know how to build stuff. Yes, honey, you too). I loved this place, both the architectural design of the structure seemingly growing out of pure hard rock as well as a temple-like atmosphere and spiritual peace glowing from it.

3) Shapotou: hmmm, that was an "interesting" experience. Known as the Disneyland of China. You don't find this place in mny tourist brochures. Somehow manages to be beyond tacky and exiliratingly entertaining at the same time. It's basically an adventure park by, located on the banks of Yellow River, where you can slide down HUGE sand dunes, zip-line across Yellow River, bungee jump, ride camels and horses, raft on Yellow River on a sheepskin raft (basically, you take a dead sheep, you remove all guts from the inside and hair from the outside, and you're left with skin which you inflate into a ballon. Planks of wood attached to several of these sheep skins and you got yourself a raft). Immense fun with Chinese disco music in the background!

4) Gao temple in Zhongwei: it's definitely one of China's most original temples. It's a multi-faith complex for Buddhists, Confucians, Taoists and even Christians. Dates back to the 15th century but was largely rebuilt after an earthquake in the 18th century. A series of restored underground bomb shelters (???) now serve as rooms and corners, where various representations of hell are presented in the form of paintings and sculptures. Very freaky, accompanied by even freakier noises from the sound system of people being tortured, so of course my (normally well behaved) group of fellow travellers turned into a bunch of silly teenages running around and scaring each other in the dark corners of the temple. Fun!