2025 Datong Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in January)

Why not visit Taiyuan, Shanxi? This ancient city has a history of over 2,500 years and was the filming location for the movie "Red River Valley". The city is home to many historical buildings and has a clear cross-street layout and well-preserved streets and lanes. It is shaped like a phoenix with its head to the north and tail to the south, hence its nickname "Phoenix City". "One city to see Shanxi, one street for 5,000 years", you must visit Taiyuan Ancient County City! For accommodation, we recommend Home Inn Taiyuan World Trade Center Changzhi Road Wangcun South Street Subway Station. Experience a different kind of service and experience. Come and feel it!

Last year, I planned a trip to visit ancient buildings as a designer, and checked in at the following classic ancient buildings in Shanxi: Taiyuan: Jinci Temple, Qingyuan Confucian Temple, Tianlong Temple, Dou Dafu Temple, Shuangta Temple, Chunyang Palace Xinzhou: Drum Tower, Daizhou Confucian Temple, Foguang Temple, Nanchan Temple, Yanqing Temple, Hongfu Temple, Princess Temple, Yanshan Temple Datong: Yungang Grottoes, Huayan Temple, Shanhua Temple, Hanging Temple, Yong'an Temple, Yuanjue Temple Lvliang: Taifu Temple Shuozhou: Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, Chongfu Temple, Jingtusi Temple Jinzhong: Pingyao Ancient City, Houtu Temple, Zishou Temple, Zhenguo Temple, Shuanglin Temple, Jingxin Temple Ruicheng: Yongle Palace The twenty-day journey brought me so much shock. The aesthetics, wisdom, and craftsmanship of the ancients are all worth learning from! However, checking in at ancient buildings in Shanxi is not easy. There are many spots and they are scattered. It is recommended to drive by yourself. Some niche ancient buildings are not open to the public and require contacting cultural preservation personnel.

Seven destiny check-in spots discovered in northern Shanxi 🔗P1: Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, Shanxi Built in 1056 AD (the second year of Liao Qingning, the third year of Northern Song Zhihe), the pagoda is 67.31 meters high, with a base diameter of 30.27 meters and a total weight of about 7,400 tons. It is the tallest and oldest existing pure wooden structure pagoda-style building in the world. 🔗P2: Foguang Temple, Wutai Mountain, Shanxi It is the only palace-style building from the Tang Dynasty that has been preserved to this day, fully embodying the essence of Tang architecture. The grand dougong (bracket sets) and deep eaves give the impression of a great roc spreading its wings, creating a light and graceful atmosphere despite the otherwise oppressive architecture. 🔗P3: Hanging Temple, Datong, Shanxi The Hanging Temple was built in the late Northern Wei period (491 AD), over 1,500 years ago. It is a unique temple that integrates Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. The architecture of the "Hanging Temple" is highly distinctive, known for its perilous position as if it were on the brink of an abyss. It is famously described in the saying, "Hanging Temple, halfway up the sky, suspended by three horse tails," highlighting its precarious and lofty position. 🔗P4: Chongfu Temple, Shuozhou, Shanxi Chongfu Temple faces south and is grand in scale, with its main buildings located along the central axis of the temple, extending longitudinally from north to south. Despite the changes in dynasties, Chongfu Temple retains the memory of traditional architecture and the craftsmanship of various dynasties, continuing the architectural history and reflecting the technological and cultural levels of the times. 🔗P5-P7: Yungang Grottoes, Datong, Shanxi As the first royal-authorized grotto in China, the Yungang Grottoes reflect the political ambitions of the Northern Wei Dynasty. Compared to other grotto temples in China, the Yungang Grottoes are most influenced by Western styles, with strong elements of Indian and Central Asian art, as well as Greek and Roman architectural forms, decorative patterns, and facial features. This unique blend highlights the connections with major world civilizations and is unparalleled in the treasure trove of Chinese art, significantly influencing the development of Chinese culture and art in later periods. 🔗P8-P10: Huayan Temple, Datong, Shanxi Built in the eighth year of Liao Qingning (1062 AD), Huayan Temple is one of the earliest and most well-preserved Liao and Jin temple complexes in China, and one of the three major Liao temples still existing in China. 🔗P11-P12: Shanhua Temple, Datong, Shanxi The architecture of Shanhua Temple is staggered in height, with a clear primary and secondary structure, and symmetrical layout. It is the largest and most complete Liao and Jin period architectural complex still existing in China.

This Datong flash tour plan originally didn't include this place. When passing by the museum, I saw this modern and fashionable building and decided to come and take a look. It turned out to be the Datong Art Museum, no wonder it has such an artistic atmosphere inside and out～ The sharp corner design is fashionable and simple, and it is also a beautiful scenery line in this ancient cultural capital. 📷The photo spots are mainly divided into the exterior and interior of the building, two completely different styles ❤️The exterior features a red sharp corner design under the blue sky and white clouds, with a circle of photo spots suitable for taking pictures. Pay attention to the angle of the sun to avoid shadows making people look dark👨🏿‍💼 ❤️The interior is a pure white building with a strong sense of geometry. The lines paired with the minimalist style are the feel I like. It is very suitable for shooting those spacious environment portraits. However, due to limited time this time, I couldn't appreciate the artworks one by one, which is a pity. It is recommended that friends who want to visit here reserve 1-2 hours, the exhibitions are still worth visiting. 🌈Datong Art Museum ⏰Summer 09:00-18:00 📱No need to book in advance, you can make a reservation at the entrance, and the tickets are free～

Datong is a great weekend getaway destination for people from Beijing, Tianjin, and the surrounding areas. This time, taking advantage of the workday plus the off-season double buff, the experience concludes: Datong is worth a special trip! 🎈 Yungang Grottoes: Recommendation Rating⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The murals and Buddha statues of the four major grottoes are unparalleled, and a thousand-year dialogue makes the trip worthwhile. Special reminders: 1. The grottoes open at 9 am, don't go too early or you'll freeze! It's still quite cold in the morning now. 2. Tickets are 100, half-price for students at 50, make sure to bring your student ID. 3. The museum is not open. 4. Yungang Grottoes mini-program, search will redirect to Lijiang guide, which automatically explains based on your geographical location. 5. Generally, photography inside the caves is not allowed. 🎈 Huayan Temple: Recommendation Rating⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Tickets are 35. A thousand-year-old temple, the moment you step into the Mahavira Hall, you will definitely feel that the trip was worth it. You can climb to the top of the Huayan Pagoda! The underground palace contains relics, and the history of the Tripitaka is the oldest! 🎈 Shanhua Temple: Recommendation Rating⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An ancient architectural complex with a hundred years of history, the Tang Dynasty style will refresh your senses, as if the heyday of the Tang Dynasty was just yesterday. 🎈 Ancient City Wall⭐️⭐️⭐️ Following the principle of 'since we're here, let's do it', if you have enough energy, go up and take a look. The sightseeing car is not necessary. 🎈 Nine Dragon Screen⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Old stuff, very big! Free! 🎈 Fahua Temple⭐️⭐️⭐️ Free! The front is beautiful, the inside is new, come out in 5 minutes. 🚞 Itinerary: Day1, Yungang Grottoes — Huayan Temple — Lunch (Zini 369) — Shanhua Temple — Ancient City Wall — Nine Dragon Screen — Fahua Temple — China Sculpture Museum — Dinner at Longjuxiang Day2, Follow a one-day group tour, Hanging Temple — Hengshan — Yingxian Wooden Pagoda — Datong City Area — Dinner at Xijindao 🌳 Some suggestions: 1. Datong is really worth a detailed visit, if you have enough time you can go to a few more attractions. 2. The overall cost of living in Datong is low, and the local customs are simple. The phenomenon of overcharging tourists should not be too serious. In particular, jaywalking is a serious issue in Datong, so pay attention to traffic safety. 3. Besides the Yungang Grottoes, I highly recommend Huayan Temple, Shanhua Temple, and Yingxian Wooden Pagoda! They are truly ancient buildings that have stood for a thousand years, friends, what else can you say but 'impressive'? 4. The Yingxian Wooden Pagoda I visited with a group included a guide, and I think this is the attraction that most deserves a guided tour! If you go there on your own, be sure to hire one, because the guide will explain in great detail and make you feel passionate and slightly regretful. 5. For Hengshan, take the bus to the mid-mountain and then climb up. It takes one hour to climb up and 40 minutes to come down. To be honest, the scenery is just average. 6. Personally, I feel that the 100 ticket for the Hanging Temple is a bit expensive, and going up just means being pushed around by the crowd. 🌳 Shanxi may not have a high profile, but it is truly worth a visit. You will feel the charm of ancient Chinese architecture, and it will definitely leave you with lasting memories!

Traveling to Datong in winter is really great! There are hardly any tourists, you can enjoy the happiness of contracting the whole scenic area!! You can visit and take photos as much as you want, and the temperature has started to rise recently, with the highest temperature during the day approaching 0 degrees, and it's warm when the sun is shining, making the trip very comfortable. The entrance tickets for the scenic spots in the off-season are cheaper! Accommodation is also very cost-effective! Four or five stars are only about 200! There are so many delicious foods, such as Guo You Rou, Sha La Juice, Datong Knife-cut Noodles, Shao Mai, etc.~ It's a paradise for lovers of carbohydrates, meat and sweet and sour taste. I found that the portion of food here is so large, half a portion is close to the portion in the south!

We stayed in Datong for 1 full day during January 2023. The temperature ranged between-10 and -20 so was pretty chilly and you need lots of layers. There are two main activities/ attractions in Datong, the Yungang Grottoes and The Hanging Temple. the Yungang Grottoes are close to the city about a 20min taxi from the centre and definitely worth a visit. The Hanging Temple is further away and requires a 1hr to 1hr and half taxi. Which our hotel helped organise. but this is definitely worth doing the Temple is just magical.#2023travelwish #datong

Datong's city wall was built in 1372 (early stage of Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644). Towering to 14 meters high with a perimeter of 7270 meters and 4 main gates, 4 turrets, and 46 watch towers. During the Ming Dynasty, the ancient wall was designated as one of the nine military towns along the Great Wall of China, defending against the steppe nomads from the north. #china #ancient #ancientWall #citywall #datong #shanxi #traditional #architecture #traditionalArchitecture

Datong city has lots of interesting places to visit. One of them - Buddhism Hanging Monastery in Heng Mountain. It’s an unusual place for such construction but mountain protects the building from sun, rain and snow. Plus it challenges the monks and gives the peace. When you look at it you can’t believe how it was possible to build it there. Monastery is hanging between the earth and the heavens. ✅The best time to visit this complex is from April till the end of October. ✅Working hours: from 8:00 am till 6:00 pm. ✅If you want to visit the monastery the entrance ticket will cost 130 rmb. If you want just to walk around and not to climb the mountain you need to pay only 15!rmb. #bucketlistreboot

It’s a Buddhist cave-carving complex. All the statues are carved in caves or small grottoes. They are dated 5th and 6th centuries. It’s a UNESCO heritage and it’s amazingly beautiful! Statues really impress. Some of them are big like skyscrapers, some statues are very small, but cover the whole wall in the cave. The complex is big, you can walk around. There is a part with caves, but the other part of mountains is surrounded by beautiful natural landscape. You can walk in the park, or alone the river. You will spend at around 4 hours there, so food 🥢🥡 options are available on the territory. #bucketlistreboot

Datong city is: coal, noodles and temples. We went to Datong during a chinese holiday, 8 hours drive from Beijing or 2-3 hours of high speed train. The must see attraction are: - the hanging temples (very long queue when we went but worth it, a stunning structure and view) - the Yungang grottoes (is incredible how these sculptures remained intact through the time, I was super excited to see these grottoes since I studied so much in my chinese art class in uni 😅--> love it despite the bad weather) - huayuan monastery (it's inside the city, and from the top of the tallest temple you can see pretty amazing views of the city. Be aware of the steep stairs 😣 ) - the city wall (this one was my fave ❤️ we did the tour during the night with the golf cart, but you can easily rent a bicycle, tandem or risciò and cycle around ) #naturalwonders#ancientarchitecture#historicculture#culturalattractions

Yungang Grottoes in China’s Datong. There are high figurines for Buddhist emperors of the Sinicized nomadic dynasty of Wei, We travelled to Datong on the 8:40am fast train from Beijing North and organised for the taxi driver we got at the new Datong South station to take us to the caves and then bring us back to the station after a few hours at the caves (we have some basic Chinese language skills) It was certainly very cold but the caves are so amazing that we didn’t even think about how cold we were. The whole place is very well done and seeing the caves is very easy - being so cold (-4 on the day we visited) we did pay the 15Y for the electric bus around the site. We highly recommend the Yungang Grottoes if you have time. #naturaloxygenbar #historicculture #museumquest #museumquest#artgallery#historicculture

Everyone needs to experience Datong! From the amazing historical sites to the delicious local food to the friendly people, Datong is a wonderful place to visit! The historical sites are very impressive, and some places are free to visit. The two main attractions are incredible - Yungang Grottoes and Hengshan Hanging Temple. There are other temples, parks and the city wall as well. To experience everything, you need several days. The food is all fantastic - walk into any restaurant or eat the street food, and you will love it! Getting There - airport, train Attractions - Yungang Grottoes, Hanging Temple and more Hotels - A wide variety to choose from and all conveniently located Food & Restaurants - all local food is great! Shopping - Markets and malls #unforgettableexperiences#scenicspotguide#deliciousfood#historicculture

Address - Datong Ambiance/Facilities - breakfast, pool, restaurants Highlights - great rooms, good food, good location, friendly and helpful staff Avg. Price per Person - 300rmb per room Rating - 5 diamonds #hotelstay

Datong is an old place on the mend. The city is trying to restore some resemblance to it's former glory. The city walls and temples are being rebuilt so it's possible to experience a traditional atmosphere if you ignore the construction equipment and rubble here and there. One would expect more ancient sites in the city itself, but the main attractions are out in the countryside. The Hanging Temple is a taxi ride away. It's slightly commercialized, but, nonetheless, the temple still stand. It's a grand old structure built into the mountainside adorned with carvings and old paintwork. Definitely worth a visit. Personally, the more impressive site is the ancient Yúngāng Grottoes. They're genuinely awe-inspiring! The statues are massive and well-preserved. Inside the caves are many detailed carvings that decorate the cave walls and roof. You might be pushed along by numerous tour groups, but it's worthwhile. All-in-all, it's a cool spot with a rich history. There aren't many fancy hotels or restaurants, so it might be best to plan a short backpackers-type trip grazing on noodles and street food. #ancientlandmark#historicculture

Getting There - Taxi Attractions - Yungang Grottes. Hotels - Pipa Hotel Food & Restaurants -  Shopping - 

#hengshan#datongshi#nanchengzhuang Village.You should not miss such places.

We visited these caves as well as the Longmen caves. Both are remarkable although Longmen has a greater “wow” factor. Keep in mind if you do go to Datong that it is a coal city and the air is often polluted. #wintergetaway #wintergetaway

Datong is the city located in the Northern part of Shanxi Province. Here you can visit some of very famous places. One of them is the city wall. The city wall of Datong is one of the oldest in China. Inside the city wall, there are some temples and museums as well as great places to eat and shop. Spend some time to walk around here as it is beautiful especially at night time. #HalloTrip

Yungang grottoes is located near the city of Datong. It is a very common place for tourists who come to visit Datong, as it is easy to reach. Public bus will take around 40 minutes so it is quite convenient. Inside, you will see really massive statues from the history which are just beautiful. There is also a museum inside. #HalloTrip  

The existing ancient city wall of Datong was built by the Ming Dynasty general Xu Da in the five years of Ming Hongwu on the basis of the Han, Wei, Tang, Liao, Jin and Yuan old cities. There are four main buildings, the main city gate, Yang, Yongtai, Qingyuan and Wuding. At the same time, there are also moats, suspension bridges and castle towers. The ancient city wall is free of visits to tourists. After boarding the city wall, you can choose a battery car or rent a bicycle to ride around the city for a week, 360 degrees to see the true Datong ancient city more than a thousand years ago. It coincides with the setting sun, and the beauty of the scenery cannot be described.

When it comes to Shanxi Datong, many people know that the coal industry is very developed. In fact, this city is also the capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty, and it is also the capital of the Liao and Jin Dynasties. The long history of building a city has left Datong with a lot of cultural and architectural heritage, and Huayan Temple is one of them. Huayan Temple was built in 1038 AD, which is the northern emperor-Liaozhongxi seven years. In the early days, it was the royal ancestral temple of the Liao Kingdom. It was not open to ordinary people. Because you are the royal ancestral temple, the architectural community of Huayan Temple is laid out and constructed according to the specifications of the palace. The temple is from west to east, and more than 30 buildings are arranged on the two main lines of the south and the north. Standing on a high point, the panoramic view of the temple is quite a bit like the Beijing Forbidden City. Because it was a Buddhist temple built during the Liao Dynasty, the Buddha statues in the temple reflect the aesthetics of the time. Compared with the thin winds of the Northern Wei Dynasty, the Buddha statues carved in the Liao Dynasty were partial and strong. Huayan Temple is the best-preserved Liaojin temple complex in China. It was destroyed in various periods due to war and other reasons. It has undergone several re-constructions and has its current appearance. Many dynasties in China have changed, and you sing me to the stage, and finally the East-West fusion, East and North culture. Looking at China, there are countless ancient temples, but there are not many historical scales close to Huayan Temple.

Chinese Buddhist temples are generally built between plains and forests. Shanxi has a temple built on top of cliffs and is known as the most dangerous temple in the country. This temple is the famous Hanging Temple, located in Hengshan Scenic Area, Datong City, Shanxi Province. The hanging temple has a history of more than 1,500 years and is a temple of Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism and Taoism. Although there are many gods dedicated to worship, each temple is very narrow, and there is not much extra place except for the placement of the gods. Each temple is hidden in the cracks of the rock, and is actually based on the geological conditions of the cliff. The hanging temple has three floors, the bottom of the building is supported by wood, and the building looks like it is hanging in the air. Some corridors are very narrow and can only accommodate one person. A few people will cause "traffic congestion." Walking on the promenade, you can hear the squeaking of the oblique board. Standing on the promenade, blowing the wind, looking at the abyss underneath, although there is no security problem, it naturally produces a fear heart. The temple of hanging temple is very simple, but some believers still sincerely salute, and the practice of not burning incense is worthy of admiration. You can find the location of the photo during the off-season tour of the Hanging Temple. If you go to the peak season, it is difficult to find the location. For security reasons, many places are not allowed to stay too long.

The intelligent ancient craftsmen are not only highly skilled, but also deeply understand the principles of architecture. The entire suspended temple is adapted to local conditions, making full use of the natural state of the cliff to arrange and construct various parts of the temple. The temple is not only a single temple, but its eaves have single rafts, heavy rafts and three layers of rafts; the structure has a flat-top structure with a raised beam structure and a bucket arch structure; the roof has a ridge, a ridge, and a barren; the overall appearance is The structure is macro, overlapping, resulting in a kind of cave in the building, there are caves in the building, half-walled temple half-wall caves, caves and buildings, the unique style of the hall. Even if I am a junior player who is just getting started with Chinese ancient architecture, I still know that the difficulty is extraordinary, let alone the millennium before the mechanical conditions are extremely underdeveloped. The wisdom and technology of ancient craftsmen is really admirable.

Today's volcanoes still have traces of erosion by magma hundreds of millions of years ago. Tens of thousands of years of time have passed, and the changes in the sacred fields have changed, and these traces have not been erased. Instead, they have become more and more new with the passage of time. Existence has existed, and time will never let history weather. Someone said: After watching the Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple, or after eating Datonghuafu and Wuyuan, choose a weather with a gloomy afternoon and stand in the Datong Basin. In the middle of the group, doing nothing, just watching the wind blew through these volcanoes and feeling the vicissitudes of the millennium. Face this sacred and solemn volcano, you don't need any language, maybe you can really read it here. A silent, distinctive, and abruptly standing Datong between heaven and earth.

On the inner walls of the temple, there is a vivid picture of the story, which is a fairy story of the clouds. They have different expressions and different looks, only indicating the difference in identity between costumes and headwear. The gems in the rhyme of the clouds, the two worlds fly together. Long bowed to the golden body and prayed for a lifetime. No worries, no worries, and the heart is old with Cangshan. Sitting in lotus, accepting the dignified Buddha of worship and prayer. For thousands of years, he sat quietly here, his eyes wide open, and his compassionate tenderness. For thousands of years, he silently listened to the deep desires of his followers, the unsatisfactory realities in the real world, and the secrets of his heart. Then he used his compassionate eyes to penetrate the darkness to bring dawn, and to resolve the troubles and sorrows. .

Listening to Zen Buddhism, Zen tea, this is the bliss of life.

It is the sky that is shrouded in deep endless darkness, reaching out and not seeing the fingers, the world is silent, except for the footsteps of your own feet. In the distance, the dark shadows seem to engulf life. In the meantime, there are black shadows passing by, and you squatting and trying to see and see, and when you touch it, you will start a cats embarrassment. Or the smog, thick and heavy black clouds will completely cover the entire sky, the sky is black as if it can screw out the black dye, like the oppression before the end of the last day, the next second will collapse, the whole world will soon But the suffocation of gas. However, between the two, the dark clouds are scattered, the golden light is now, the colorful clouds are everywhere, and the clouds are thousands of miles. Or you can shuttle back and forth between the hills in the highlands, and the sky is clear and clear, and sometimes the clouds are covered with dark clouds. The mounds are changing with the light, sometimes golden, sometimes snowy, sometimes red and fireworks. Sometimes it is like an abyss. The Tulin of Datong will make your imagination no longer just for imagination, singularly magical and splendid, with you, to appreciate the different Buddha Light Datong, and another ancient charm of the same style. A soothing yellow land surrounded by mountains. The unusual view of the Datong Basin is nothing strange. But as you stroll down the slope, lie in the valley, and shuttle through the maze of gullies. There are many pillars standing next to each other, and their postures are dizzying and dazzling. It seems to be in the field of fairyland or landing on the outside planet.

A warm sun casts on the grassy hills of the grass, red peaks, and the red wall. The vast mountains of the vast expanse of the sky are almost outside the sky, but the embers are the original wax. Among the mountain peaks and gullies, the Great Wall is like a giant scorpion that passes through the sky, hovering up and down, rising and falling, and the same height as the mountains, with the rising sun. In the midst of the sun, the golden dragons danced in the sky, and the graceful figure swayed over the hustle and bustle of the peaks, stretching freely and rushing away. Looking at the ancient and modern times, the Great Wall is like a huge architectural museum. A Fortress is a sample of a living ancient sculpture. And the time is like a white pass, and its been a thousand years. Thousands of years ago, those bonfires and smoldering days have passed away, and they have gradually disappeared. They eventually disappeared in the ancient long rivers of the years, leaving only the ancient Great Wall in the suburbs of the suburbs, leaving the descendants alone.

Want to really understand a city, understand its customs, understand its past and present, it is not enough to walk around the streets. Every city has its own aura, its history, and Datong is no exception. Dongtong's Zhongling Yuxiu is in Hengshan, and the Buddha's rhyme is far away in Huayan. The fascinating nature is in the sky, and it is amazing in Yungang, and its rich and simple history is reflected in its ancient and modern vicissitudes, revealing its secrets hidden for hundreds of millions of years. Still need to go to the Datong Museum. It shows us the vicissitudes of life that occurred and interpreted in the Datong Lake and Sanggan River; the Mingcheng Mingtang site and the Fangshan Yonggu Mausoleum, which recorded the footprint of Xianbeis feudalization; the true and powerful cloud The Gang Grottoes mark the beginning of the localization of Buddhism in the West. The cultural relics of Song Shaozu and Sima Jinlong's tomb witness the process of cultural exchange and integration between the Northern and Southern Dynasties.