Datong Travel Guide

Datong, also known as Yunzhong and Pingcheng, is located in northern Shanxi Province at the heart of the Datong Basin. It is the second largest city in Shanxi and one of China’s first national historical and cultural cities, recognized as one of the country’s nine ancient capitals.

To the north lies Mount Heng, where the iconic Welcoming Pine greets visitors. At its base, the Jinlong Gorge features the Hanging Temple, a breathtaking structure perched on a cliff over 50 meters above the ground, giving the appearance of flying through the air. Its wooden construction and unique artistic style are remarkable. Another cultural gem is the Yungang Grottoes, a grand complex filled with Buddha statues and stone carvings, one of China’s four major grotto art treasures, hailed as a “miracle in the history of Chinese art” that shines with Northern Wei culture.

Datong is also home to numerous Liao and Jin Dynasty cultural sites, such as Huayan Temple, Shanhua Temple, Guanyin Hall, Jueshan Temple Pagoda, and Yuanjue Temple Pagoda, which provide insight into these historical periods. Even the remnants of Datong’s ancient city walls evoke a strong sense of borderland history, reflecting its past role as a strategic military town.