3The Hanging Temple, China

Perched precariously on a cliffside near Datong, China, the Hanging Temple (Xuankong Si) defies gravity and logic.

Constructed more than 1,500 years ago, the temple clings to a sheer rock face using wooden beams embedded in the stone. It combines elements of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism in one structure—rare in Chinese religious architecture. How it was built and why it was placed in such an inaccessible location are still debated.

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