US students find shared experiences in China

"My first impression is how small I really am — not only because of the huge mountains that surround us, but also because of the huge temple built into the mountains," said Khalil Shaheed, a student from the United States, as he stood in front of the Hanging Temple during a recent trip to Hunyuan county, Datong city in Shanxi province.

This was his first trip to China and he was awed by the sight of the ancient temple.

Built during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534) and with a history of more than 1,500 years, the Hanging Temple is one of China's rare surviving sites where Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism coexist within the same complex.

"The things they represent and the beliefs that helped create it have been around for much longer than I have," he said.