[Photo by Deepankar Aron/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Shanxi province is home to ancient architectural structures, stunning natural landscapes, important places of religious worship and three UNESCO world heritage sites. It looks back at a history of over 5,000 years and welcomes the present with amiable openness. It is truly a province with magical charm.

While expanding business sectors are gradually changing the cityscapes into metropolitan areas of international standards, the calmer side of Shanxi still remains and is ready to be explored. This is where the real cultural treasures of the province are to be discovered, and from where traditional customs, stories and myths have spread all over China, becoming an integral part of the country’s historical past.

One of these treasures is the Hanging Monastery, or Xuankong Si, on Hengshan Mountain, situated 70 kilometers southeast of the city of Datong. Supported by vertical beams as thin as the arms of a person, it has overlooked the Golden Dragon Valley for more than 1,500 years and consists of an astonishing 40 halls and pavilions.

The Hall of the Three Religions unites Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism by displaying statues of the three corresponding leading figures: Laozi, Confucius and Buddha. It epitomizes a balanced approach to different religious and philosophical thought, and hence enables an atmosphere that allows people to live freely in accordance with their own faith.