Exploring Shanxi with the Monkey King - Northern Shanxi Chapter

On August 20, the domestically acclaimed and groundbreaking game "Black Myth: Wukong" was globally unlocked, and it had already been pre-loaded on multiple platforms. Among the 36 filming locations across various provinces and cities, 27 are located in Shanxi Province. The game features magnificent and realistic Chinese landscapes, ancient architectural complexes, Taoist and Buddhist statues, and even bizarre images of celestial beings and demons, providing every gamer with an unprecedented experience.Notably, the Yungang Grottoes, Hanging Temple, Shanhua Temple, and others in northern Shanxi all appear in the game. Let’s take a look!

Yungang Grottoes, nestled at the southern foot of Wuzhou Mountain in the western outskirts of Datong City, Shanxi Province, are one of the three major Buddhist grottoes in the world. They are one of the inspirational sources of the game's scene design. Carved during the Northern Wei Dynasty under the patronage of the imperial court, the grottoes were initiated by the esteemed monk Tan Yao. Boasting over 59,000 Buddhist statues in various forms, these grottoes provide a comprehensive record of Buddhist iconography. The "Open-Air Great Buddha" stands as a masterpiece among them.

The Hanging Temple, which appears in the game, is located in Hunyuan County, Datong City, Shanxi Province. It can date back over 1,500 years to the late Northern Wei Dynasty. As a unique convergence of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, it is hailed as the "First Scenic Wonder" among the Eighteen Scenic Spots of Mount Heng.