Northern Mountain Temple (Beishan Si)

The Northern Mountain Temple complex climbs the cliff face of Tulou Mountain north of the city centre, a colourful maze of Buddhist and Daoist cave temples, painted pavilions, and suspended walkways clinging to the sheer rock above Xining's northern suburbs. The temples mix Buddhist and Daoist traditions in a way characteristic of Chinese popular religion, with dozens of individual shrine rooms carved into and built onto the cliff at different levels.

The views from the upper sections of the complex look back over Xining and down the Huangshui River valley — a good orientation to the city's geography. Getting there involves a steep climb; a cable car operates for those who would rather not walk. The complex covers 28,000 square metres of cliff face, making it one of the larger hanging-temple complexes in northern China. Admission is around 30 yuan.

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A story
Beishan Si — the Northern Mountain Temple — is sometimes called the Hanging Temple of the Northwest, a reference to its striking position: dozens of cave temples and pavilions are cut directly into the cliff face of Tulou Mountain, connected by walkways and staircases carved into the rock. The oldest sections date back to the Northern Liang dynasty (397–439 AD), making it the most ancient religious site in Xining.