Datong Travel Guide – Discover Yungang Grottoes and More
Located in the northern part of Shanxi Province, Datong City is the second-largest city of Shanxi which is no more than 2.5 hours’ high-speed train ride from Beijing, and about 3.5 hours’ train ride from Pingyao Ancient Town.
Since it once served as the capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty and several other northern ethnic regimes during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Datong is recognized as one of the nine famous ancient capitals of China. Its strategic location at the junction of Shanxi, Hebei, and Inner Mongolia made Datong a key military stronghold in many dynasties, including the Tang, Liao, Jin, Ming, and Qing. These historical roles and its enduring significance contribute to the rich historical and cultural heritage in Datong, including UNESCO-listed Yungang Grottoes, the Hanging Temple, Huayan Temple, and the ancient Datong City Wall, etc.
- Chinese Name: 大同 (dà tóng)
- Population: 3,079,000 in 2023
- Area: 14,176 square kilometers
- Location: In north of Shanxi Province, in the Datong Basin, at the junction of Shanxi, Hebei, and Inner Mongolia
Why Travel to Datong?
- Rich historical and cultural heritage: Datong is home to a wealth of historical sites. The UNESCO-listed Yungang Grottoes, the top highlight of Datong, offers an insight into the exquisite Buddhist sculptures and carvings from the Northern Wei Dynasty. Huayan Temple will introduce you to numerous Buddhist artworks. Hanging Temple attracts worldwide tourists with its cliffside location and unique architectural style. The Datong Ancient City still well preserves the historic Drum Tower, the Four-Arched Pavilion, and the Nine-Dragon Screen, etc.
- Impressive natural wonders:Besides cultural and historical immersion while traveling in Datong, you’ll also rewarded with impressive natural wonders. The Hengshan Mountain is one of the Five Sacred Mountains in China, offering breathtaking sceneries and many ancient temples and cultural sites. Datong Volcanic Cluster allows you to marvel at over 30 volcanic cones scattering among the east of Datong Basin.
- Easy accessibility:Thanks to its advantageous location, Datong is easily accessible from many major cities. The frequent high-speed trains connecting Beijing to Datong make it can be reached easily in about 2 hours. Additionally, the high-speed train ride from Xian, Taiyuan, Pingyao Ancient Town, and Hohhot to Datong takes about 3 to 5 hours. Visitors can easily pair Datong with any of these cities for an extended tour.
Datong’s attractions are dominated by historical heritages thanks to its prosperous history. The Yungang Grottoes, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, Hanging Temple, Datong Nine-Dragon Screen Wall, etc. are some of the most remarkable and valued historical landmarks in China. The unique mountainous landscapes are also outstanding and worth your visit.
Shanhua Temple
A time-honored Buddhist temple housing rich heritage, Shanhua Temple was initially built in the Tang Dynasty, housing numerous ancient buildings and cultural relics. The main structures, such as Shanmen Tianwang Hall, Sansheng Hall, and Mahavira Hall, are all outstanding examples of the architectural styles of the Liao and Jin Dynasties.
Datong City Wall
Dating from the Northern Wei Dynasty, Datong Ancient City Wall boasts one of the best-preserved ancient fortifications in China. The most existing structures are reconstructed during the Ming Dynasty. As an advanced military architecture of ancient China, the city wall is equipped with a series of defensive structures, such as moats, drawbridges, watchtowers, corner towers, etc.
Datong Weather & Best Time to Visit
Datong has a typical temperate continental monsoon climate which is characterized by distinct seasons, low precipitation, and large temperature variations between day and night.
Spring is the period when the city sees quick warming, with average temperatures hovering around 5°C – 15°C. Spring also sees more windy days, with dust storms occasionally occurring. If travel to Datong in spring, remember to bring a hat and a scarf.
Summer in Datong is generally cool but rainy. It is the season seeing most rainy days, but still not so much compared to most other places. Average temperatures in this season are generally around 12°C to 26°C, with highs seldom exceeding 35°C.
Autumn is when Datong experiencing suddenly dropping temperatures and rainfalls. Average temperatures in this period hover around 9.0 – 21.0°C. You can see more clear blue days if visit Datong during this season.
Winter is usually cold, dry, and long in Datong, with average temperatures hovering between -12.8°C to -6.3°C. Snowy days are possible, but relatively rare to see.
Datong’s ancient heritages and historic grottoes are suitable to be visited all year round, and the weather doesn’t matter these attractions much. While April to October is normally recognized as the best time to go by most tourists for the more temperature and comfortable weather.
Datong Transportation: How to Get to & Travel Around?
How to Get to Datong?
By Air
Datong Yungang Airport is about 17 kilometers from Datong City, operating flights to about 19 major cities in China, including Guangzhou, Wuhan, Shanghai, Taiyuan, Chengdu, Chongqing, Shenzhen, etc.
By Train
Datong South Railway Station is the main high-speed railway station in Datong, and also a key hun in Shanxi, connecting Datong to Beijing (about 2 hours), Xian (about 5 hours), Pingyao (about 3.5 hours), and Hohhot (about 3 hours).
How to Travel Around?
Datong has a very developed bus network that can cover most areas of the city. The city also offers many special tourist bus routes reaching main attractions like Yungang Grottoes, Datong Ancient City, and Datong City Wall, etc. Taxis and ride-hailing services are also readily available for your convenient transfer to further attractions.
But overall, chartering a private car with a local guide or booking a Datong tour with us is more recommended for time-efficient transfer and a more personalized travel experience.
Recommended Datong Tours:
What to Eat in Datong
Datong is home to diverse flavorful dishes and is especially outstanding for its rich noodle culture. Generally, most Datong dishes feature a savory taste, heavy oil use, and distinctive regional characteristics.
Datong Knife-Cut Noodles (大同刀削面) is the No.1 popular dish in Datong, featuring unique preparation, and chewy noodles. Other popular dishes include Hunyuan Bean Jelly (浑源凉粉), Datong Lamb Offal Soup (大同羊杂), Datong Fried Cakes (大同油炸糕), Yellow Cake (黄糕), etc.
Where to Stay in Datong
It’s recommended to plan for 2-3 days to explore the best highlights of Datong, like Yungang Grottoes, Hanging Temple, Huayan Temple, and Yingxian Wooden Pagoda. That means you’ll need to stay 1-2 nights in the city.
Datong city center, especially areas near Datong City Wall is preferred by most people for the easy accessibility to many attractions, and the abundant hotel, food and shopping options. We recommend choosing a 4 or 5-star hotel to ensure the best possible comfort and amenities during your stay.
