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Datong packs more than a millennium of Buddhist and imperial history into one city: the UNESCO-listed Yungang Grottoes, the cliff-hanging Xuankong Temple, and a rebuilt Ming walled city. Most sights are inside the old city or within a 70km day trip, so you can cover the highlights in two full days. Pair this list with the Datong weather by month guide to pick your dates, and the Datong city guide for the climate overview.
Things to Do in Datong: Buddhist Cave Art and Temples
Yungang Grottoes
A UNESCO World Heritage site 16km west of the city, the Yungang Grottoes hold about 51,000 Buddhist statues carved into 45 caves between 460 and 525 AD. The five colossal Tanyao caves (numbers 16 to 20) are the must-sees, with the 17-metre seated Buddha in cave 20 the icon of the site. Entry costs 120 RMB April to October and 100 RMB November to March, open 8:30 to 17:00 (closing an hour earlier in winter). Bus 3 runs from the city centre, or a taxi costs about 40 to 50 RMB. Allow three hours. September gives the clearest skies for photography; see best time to visit Datong.
Huayan Monastery
Inside the old city, this Liao-dynasty monastery (founded 1038) holds one of the largest surviving wooden Buddhist halls in China in its Upper Temple, plus a restored Lower Temple. Entry is 65 RMB and it opens 8:00 to 17:30 in summer. The Thousand Buddha hall and the glazed roof figures are the highlights. It sits two blocks west of the Drum Tower.
Shanhua Monastery
A short walk south of Huayan, Shanhua dates to the Tang dynasty with a main hall rebuilt in the 12th century, supported by eight great pillars. Entry is 50 RMB. It is far quieter than Huayan, which makes it the better spot to see Jin-dynasty wall paintings and statues without crowds.
Nine Dragon Screen
Dating to 1392, this is the largest glazed nine-dragon screen in China at 45.5 metres long and 8 metres high. It sits in a small courtyard just east of Shanhua Monastery and is free to view from outside the fence. The five-clawed dragons were an imperial symbol, a reminder that Datong was once a Ming garrison capital.
Things to Do in Datong: The Hanging Temple and Mount Heng
Hanging Temple (Xuankong Si)
Built into a sheer cliff face about 65km southeast of Datong in 491 AD, the Hanging Temple is suspended on wooden beams more than 50 metres above the ground. It is the only temple in China that mixes Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian halls in one structure. Entry is 130 RMB in the April to October season and 125 RMB in winter, open 8:00 to 18:00 (8:30 to 17:00 in winter). Most visitors day-trip here from a base in the centre; see where to stay in Datong for options. Hire a car for about 300 RMB or take a bus from Datong East bus station.
Mount Heng
One of China’s five sacred Taoist mountains, Mount Heng peaks at 2,017 metres about 3km from the Hanging Temple. A cable car and shuttle whisk you most of the way up, then you climb the last stretch to the summit temples. Peak-season entry is 55 RMB plus a cable car ticket. Allow a full morning here if you combine it with Xuankong Si, and time it around the spring temple fair in our Datong events and festivals calendar. Bring a jacket, as the summit runs about 10°C cooler than the city.
Things to Do in Datong: The Walled Old City
Datong City Walls
The Ming-era walls ring the old city for about 7.2km, rebuilt and open to walk on top. The south Yongtai Gate is the most impressive entrance. Walking or renting a bike on the ramparts is free, and the wall is lit at night. It is the easiest way to orient yourself before diving into the temple streets below.
Drum Tower and Old City Streets
The restored Drum Tower marks the centre of the old city, with pedestrian streets fanning out to the south and west. Here you will find knife-cut noodles (daoxiao mian), Datong lamb and the local specialty braised beef. The surrounding lanes have been rebuilt in Ming style, so they are atmospheric rather than genuinely old, but the street food is real. See the Datong neighborhoods guide for where to eat and sleep nearby.
Things to Do in Datong: Day Trips
Yingxian Wooden Pagoda
About 75km south of Datong, the Yingxian pagoda is the oldest fully wooden multi-storey structure in the world, built in 1056. It stands 67 metres tall and has survived nine centuries of earthquakes. You can no longer climb past the ground floor, but the exterior and the adjacent museum are worth the trip. Entry is 50 RMB. It pairs well with the Hanging Temple on a longer day trip.
Yanmenguan Pass on the Great Wall
Roughly 100km southwest of Datong, Yanmenguan was one of the most fought-over passes of the Great Wall, guarding the route between the steppe and the Central Plains. The restored pass, gates and watchtowers sit in the Hengshan range, about 1.5 hours by car. It is a quieter Great Wall site than Badaling and has none of the Beijing crowds. Check the Datong travel tips page for car hire and bus options.
