Datong Events and Festivals

Datong’s event calendar is anchored by the Lunar New Year temple fairs and a handful of Buddhist and Taoist observances tied to the region’s temples. Dates move with the lunar calendar, so confirm them before booking. For month-by-month climate so you can time a visit around these, see the Datong weather by month page and the Datong city guide.

Datong Events and Festivals in Winter and Spring

• Chinese New Year (Spring Festival): late January or February, dates set by the lunar calendar. The old city hosts temple fairs around Huayan Monastery and the city walls, with folk performances, food stalls and lantern displays running about a week. Expect the busiest and coldest stretch of the year, with many hotels booked out; reserve early via our where to stay in Datong guide.
• Lantern Festival: the 15th day of the first lunar month (February or early March). The old city walls and gates are lit with large lantern installations, best viewed from the South Gate plaza and the wall in the old city neighborhoods.
• Mount Heng Temple Fair: held in the fourth lunar month (April or May) at the mountain’s Taoist temples. Pilgrims and vendors gather around the lower slopes, and it is the busiest single day at Mount Heng, which is covered in our things to do in Datong list.

Datong Events and Festivals in Summer

• Yungang Grottoes Night Tours: during July and August, the grottoes occasionally run evening openings with the caves lit. Check the official site for dates, as the schedule changes yearly. Nights are cooler than the 29°C daytime highs and the site is far less crowded than midday.
• Shanxi Tourism Culture Festival: regional events rotate through Shanxi cities in summer, and Datong sometimes hosts legs focused on the Yungang Grottoes and the Hanging Temple. Programming varies by year, so confirm locally rather than planning a trip around it.

Datong Events and Festivals in Autumn

• Datong International Hot Air Balloon Festival: held around September, with balloons launching near Yungang or the airport area. Dates have shifted between years, so verify before travel. The clear autumn sky in Datong makes it one of the best times of year for photography anyway, as our best time to visit Datong guide explains.
• Mid-Autumn Festival: the 15th day of the eighth lunar month (September or October). Families gather for mooncakes and evening walks on the city walls, and the South Gate area fills with food vendors. For getting there, see the Datong travel tips page.