You cannot imagine until you stand gazing up at them how awe inspiring are the statues and stone-cut architecture of the Yungang Grottos. Over 50 thousand Buddhas in 252 man-made caves punctuate the cliff of Wuzhou Mountain.The statues range in size from tiny Buddhas smaller than an inch, arrayed like tiles in the sandstone, to great carvings 55 feet high (17 meters). UNESCO made this a World Heritage Site in 2001, describing it as “a classical masterpiece of Chinese Buddhist art.” Half a century in the making, involving tens of thousands of workers, this temple like the great cathedrals of Europe is a testament for the ages. It can not but raise our gaze. Your private English-speaking guide will explain it all in detail.

This marvel is our destination. But first a more modern adventure: We'll shoot from the city for a roughly two-hour ride on the Beijing-Datong bullet train. From sleek steel to ancient stone – pretty amazing contrast in this day to remember for a lifetime.