Built in 1056, this impressive five-storey tower is the world’s oldest and tallest (67m) wooden pagoda. The clay Buddhist carvings it houses, including an 11m-high Sakyamuni on the 1st floor, are as old as the pagoda itself. Due to its fragile state, visitors can no longer climb the pagoda, but there are photos of the higher floors to the side of the pagoda.
Mùtǎ is located in unlovely Yìngxiàn (应县). Buses from Dàtóng’s south bus station (¥30, two hours) run to its west bus station (西站; xīzhàn). From there, get public bus 1 (¥1) to Mùtǎ 2km up the road. Hourly buses return to Dàtóng until 6pm, or you can travel onto Tàiyuán (¥85, 3½ hours, last bus 2.30pm).
