Datong Travel Guide

Chinese Name: 大同 (dà tóng)
Population: 3,463,000
Area: 14,176 square kilometers (5,473 square miles)
Location: in the north of Shanxi Province, north China
Administrative Division: 4 districts (Chengqu, Kuangqu, Nanjiao, Xinrong); 6 counties (Yanggao, Tianzhen, Guangling, Lingqiu, Hunyuan, Zuoyun)
Area Code: 0352
Zip Code: 037000
GDP (2019): CNY 131.88 billion (USD 19.12 billion)  

Datong is the second-largest city in Shanxi. It is situated in northern Shanxi and bordered by Inner Mongolia to the north and Hebei to the east. As an important energy base in China, Datong has abundant and high-quality coal which is the outstanding industrial power fuel. Datong is also one of the most popular tourist destinations in China due to its magnificent and picturesque Mt. Hengshan. It has many religious buildings, especially the Hanging Monastery, the world’s oldest wooden pagoda hanging in the cliff.

In addition, Datong has preserved many exquisite sculptured reliefs in Chinese history. Taking the sculptures in Yungang Grottoes, Huayan Temple and Shanhua temple as examples, they have created the pinnacle of Chinese sculpture art. Now, the Chinese Sculpture Museum in the north city wall displays the works of modern Chinese and foreign sculptors in different forms every year.

 Pictures

These prosperous days left the city with a series of splendid historic and cultural relics like the Yungang Grottoes, Hanging Monastery and Wooden Pagoda. Most of them are the integration of minorities' cultural and Han culture. 

Yungang Grottoes

Yanmenguan Pass, Great Wall

 3 Days Private Datong Tour from Beijing

 4 Days Tour to Pingyao & Datong from $649

 Hiking Adventure: Information about hiking in Datong for your reference

Since it is a key resource city, transportation here is quite convenient, especially by air and by train. Series of flight routes and railways work as a huge net to connect the city with many nearby cities. The city has three main bus stations: Datong Bus Station, Xinnan Passenger Transport Station and Dongguan Bus Station. City-buses and taxis provide a lot of convenience for tourists to tour around the city.

 History: Datong is one of the 24 famous historical and cultural cities in China due to its ever prosperous history. With a history of over 2400 years, it was the capital of Northern Wei (386~534) for 96 years, and the 'support capital' of Liao (916~1125) and Jin (1115~1234). It was the political, economic and military center of ancient North China, which attracted many people from various nations for trade or business.

 Physical Features: The scenery here differs markedly from the delicate and pretty cities south of Yangtze River. Here, green hills and small clean streams are rarely seen. What you can find is continuous peaks rising one upon another; majestic old temples standing for thousands of years and the vast sky and light cloud over your head. All of this reveals a grand and infinite air.

 Local Highlights: Known as the 'City of the Coal', it has developed into the second largest industrial city in Shanxi due to its advantage in energy. Its large reserves of coal make it a very important energy base for China.

 Further Reading:
 Shopping & Nightlife        Dining