Datong old city

Thursday we visited and explored the old part of Datong. As Datong once was the capital of China. This country has had quite a few different capital over the history. Outside the walls of the old city are towering high-rises and highways comparable to any modern metropolis. The old city underwent a seriously heavy restoration project which started in 2009 and is still continuing. They restored many structures and demolished 20th century additions, which were replaced with building and housing completely rebuilt in the old style architecture. Very impressive. There are quite a few superlatives. The old city includes an old temple, an old palace (a smaller version of the forbidden palace) and the oldest, largest existing architectural ceramic tiled nine dragon wall in China. The Huayan temple includes the oldest and biggest timber structure in China.

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