Visiting the “world’s most precarious temple” in China, where getting there is half the battle

Xuankong Si, also known as "The Hanging Temple," is a unique and challenging destination for tourists visiting China. Seiji, the writer, recently experienced this temple firsthand in a journey that began with a high-speed train ride from Beijing to Datong South Station, followed by a drive through the mountains lasting about an hour. The scenery along the way reminded Seiji of the landscape from Dragon Ball, where Goku met Bulma for the first time.

Upon arriving at the temple area, Seiji discovered that the visitor center's ticket counter opened at 7:30 a.m., but his arrival at 8:40 meant he missed the tickets for the morning session. Tickets are sold in two batches of 600 each, with the second batch available at noon. By that time, the line had reached an astonishing size, comparable to the Comiket crowd.

Despite the challenge of obtaining a ticket, Seiji managed to secure access to both the general area and the temple itself. Accessible only through a sheer cliffside, The Hanging Temple is a true testament to human ingenuity and resilience. The experience left Seiji in awe of both the temple's stunning architecture and the surrounding Chinese countryside, which he compared to the adventure-filled roads of the Dragon Ball universe.