We had breakfast it was interesting so I had 2 toast and 2 boiled eggs. The receptionist who checked us in last night was on and she gave me details to catch 2 buses out to Yungang so we could see the Grottoes and the directions to get us back. The hotel is situated inside the ancient walled city of Datong and today it looked amazing but bloody cold – 14 C but clear skies, the first we have experienced since in China.
Got the number 3 and 38 buses out to Yungang and cost 30 pence each for both rides. The bus going out was a bone shaker but we got there. Found our way to the entrance and they asked for our passports which seemed strange and only had to pay for Penny to get in, nice of them to let me in for free. Had to pass through some buildings and 2 Buddhist Temples and then we came out to the Grottoes which were amazing built 1600 years ago and now this is an amazing UNESCO Site. The height of the Buddhists in the grottoes was around 16 m tall. Penny and I rate this highly up there with the Summer Palace and the Great Wall. After the grottoes we found the museum which was built into the ground and the roof showing. It was nice and warm in there as we warmed up and looked at the various artifacts. Coming back we passed around the Buddhist Temples which is sitting on piles on this frozen lake looked spectacular. Exiting the site we come across the souvenir sellers who were not that pushy but basically they were selling crap. Came across an old man with a camel and we took some photos with the camel and gave him 10 yuan he was happy.
Got the buses back to the area we are staying in and was walking through the Monastery area and with out realising we had bumped into our hotel. Time for siesta and do the blog. The video I have put up shows our hotel in the background.
Maurice's Travel 