In order to calm the most anxious travelers, I must say that what you see is all part of a magical illusion.

The temple is not suspended in the air with the help of only fragile wooden posts, as it initially appears to visitors. In reality, a foundation of large beams, unseen by visitors, was inserted into the rock to secure the structure.

Therefore, no leap of faith is needed to enjoy the visit, as the temple has remained intact through various disasters during the last 1,500 years, including several earthquakes.

Only 100 km south of Taiyuan stands the ancient city of Pingyao. The town, which is listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, is a living example of an ancient Chinese merchant center.

A 12 meter-high wall that stretches for 6.4 km protects the labyrinthine city, known as "Turtle City" because of its street layout that resembles the body of the hard-shelled reptile.

Pingyao is a charming combination of narrow streets, beautiful courtyards and enough shops to satisfy the most demanding souvenir hunters.

Our trip ended with a visit to the Yungang Grottoes, located about 16 km west of the city of Datong. The impressive site, composed of 51 grottoes that host thousands of ancient carved Buddha statues, reinforced the feeling that Shanxi is filled with cultural treasures that one may not be expecting but that are well worth looking for.

Contact the writer at emmagonzalez@chinadaily.com.cn

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