Datong Travel Guide
Datong is located in northern Shanxi and was called Pingcheng in ancient times. It was once the capital of the Northern Wei dynasty and also a secondary capital of the Liao and Jin. As a place where the Central Plains agricultural civilization met the northern grassland civilization, it has left behind a large number of precious heritage sites including caves, temples, a wooden pagoda and ancient city walls, giving rise to the saying that "for above-ground cultural relics, look to Shanxi."
Datong is an important stop for inbound travelers to understand Buddhist art and ancient architecture in northern China, and can be linked with Pingyao Ancient City and Mount Wutai into an in-depth Shanxi itinerary.
Must-Visit Attractions
Yungang Grottoes — a World Cultural Heritage site and royal Northern Wei cave complex, whose Tanyao Five Caves and exquisite statues display the grandeur of Buddhist art; Hanging Temple — an ancient architectural marvel suspended on the cliffs of Mount Heng, combining Confucianism, Buddhism and Daoism; Yingxian Wooden Pagoda (Sakyamuni Pagoda of Fogong Temple) — the tallest and oldest existing wooden pagoda in the world, still standing after a thousand years; Huayan Temple — Liao and Jin architecture and the Liao-dynasty painted sculptures of the Bhagavati Treasury Hall; Shanhua Temple — a Liao and Jin temple whose Mahavira Hall is magnificent; Datong Ancient City Wall — Ming-dynasty city defenses, with spectacular lights on a night visit; Nine-Dragon Wall — a Ming-dynasty glazed screen wall in brilliant colors.
Specialty Food
Knife-cut noodles, Datong shaomai, mutton offal, Hunyuan liangfen, youmian kaolaolao, yellow rice cold cake, copper hot pot, and all kinds of noodle dishes seasoned with Shanxi aged vinegar.
Best Time to Travel
From May to October the climate is relatively pleasant and suitable for visiting ancient architecture and caves; winter is cold but you can enjoy snowy scenery, and the Yungang Grottoes are quieter with fewer people; in spring and autumn pay attention to the temperature difference between day and night and to windblown sand.
Transportation Guide
Datong South Station has high-speed rail connections to Beijing, Taiyuan and other places, and Yungang Airport connects to major cities; the Yungang Grottoes are about ten-plus kilometers from the city, reachable by bus or chartered car; the Hanging Temple and Yingxian Wooden Pagoda are in the direction of Hunyuan and Yingxian, so chartered cars or one-day tour shuttles are recommended.
Suggested Itineraries
Classic two-day tour: on the first day visit the Yungang Grottoes and in the afternoon tour Huayan Temple and the Datong Ancient City Wall; on the second day head to the Hanging Temple and Yingxian Wooden Pagoda. A three-day tour can add Shanhua Temple, the Nine-Dragon Wall and the Datong Museum, or extend to Mount Heng and Mount Wutai.
Travel Tips
For the Yungang Grottoes, it is recommended to hire a guide or rent an audio guide to understand the meaning of the statues; visiting the Hanging Temple requires queuing under visitor limits, so pay attention to safety; the north is dry and windy, so bring moisturizer and a jacket.
Off-the-Beaten-Path Experiences
Climb the Datong Ancient City Wall in the evening to see the sunset and lights; look for quieter caves beyond the popular ones at the Yungang Grottoes; examine Northern Wei artifacts in detail at the Datong Museum; order a bowl of freshly cut knife-cut noodles at an old noodle shop in the ancient city; stroll the imitation ancient street at night and feel the lively atmosphere of a frontier city.
One-Day Trips Around Datong
Hanging Temple + Mount Heng — ancient architecture and the scenery of the Northern Sacred Mountain; Yingxian Wooden Pagoda — a thousand-year wooden architectural marvel; Mount Wutai — a famous Buddhist mountain (farther away, can be two days); Chongfu Temple in Shuozhou — Liao and Jin ancient architecture; Datong Volcanic Group — geological landform sightseeing.
