Datong City Tour

Datong City

Datong is located high in the northern part of Shanxi Province, at the center of Datong Basin. Surround by mountains, Datong is strategically located on the Yu River and once served as the capital during the North Wei dynasty. It officially became a center of provincial government in the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Datong remained significant strategic due to its position just inside the Great Wall, south of Inner Mongolia. The tall city walls were fortified for this purpose and date from the early Ming dynasty.  Though most visitors today are attracted by the Buddhist sites, Datong is also the closest city to Mt. Hengshan, one of the four holy mountains of Taoism. The mix of religion, strategic importance, rugged terrain and beautiful scenery make the Datong area a popular site for Chinese and foreign travelers.

Below are our suggested itineraries for your reference based on your travel time in Datong Shanxi

If you have only one day free in Shanghai, we suggest: 

Tour  A  Essential Datong 1 Day:  Railway Station Transfer, Yungang Caves, and Hanging Temple.
 

Tour B  Classic Datong 1 Day:       Yungang Caves, Huayan Temple, Nine-dragon      Screen, Shanhua Temple.

Tour C  Architecture Wonder 1 Day: Hanging Temple and Wooden Pagoda.

If all the Datong private day tours on this page are not what you are expecting, please contact us to plan a tailor-made Datong day tour. about the quotation ,Pls send us email angelleexin@yahoo.com

 Yungang Caves

Yungang Caves

Yungang Caves, one of the most spectacular cave clusters in China, grace the cliffs of Wuzhou Mountain. The excavated complex has revealed a total of 53 caves, housing over 51,000 stone statues.  Work on the caves started in 450 AD, and the complex is divided into east, middle and west sections. Pagodas dominate the eastern parts, west caves are small and mid-sized with niches, and the caves in the middle feature chambers with Buddha statues and ornate embossing on walls and ceilings.

                      Huayan Monastery

Huayan Monaster

The Huayan Monastery complex is located on the southwestern side of Datong City. There are two separate sections to the monastery. The upper part is referred to as the Grand Hall and houses five large Ming Dynasty Buddhas. The Lower Huayan Monastery was renovated and enlarged several times to its present form. The Huayan Monastery was originally the ancestral temple of the imperial family, where sacrifices were offered for emperors of the Liao Dynasty.

Nine Dragon Wall 

The Datong Nine Dragon Wall was built over 600 years ago, and is the oldest and largest glazed screen in China today. Built for the first Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, the wall has been well preserved and remains intact to this day. It is made up of 426 specially-fired glazed bricks with a design of a green wave on the lower part, and blue and yellow clouds above. The attention to detail is astounding in the main decoration, that of nine flying dragons using their abilities to call the wind and control the rain. 

Shan Hua Temple

 Shan Hua Temple is located inside the south gate of Datong City and was originally founded during the Tang Dynasty. The buildings were destroyed by war, rebuilt during the Jin Dynasty, and are the best-preserved temple of that era.Covering an area of nearly 14, 000 square meters, Shan Hua Temple has three main buildings: the Gate, the Hall of the Three Saints, and the most important building, Da Xiong Bao Dian. Aside from the great historic and architectural value, the Shan Hua Temple holds a significant place in the Buddhist religion.

Wooden Pagoda

The Wooden Pagoda is the oldest and tallest wooden structure in China, regarded as the "First Pagoda in the World" and an architectural wonder. Built during the Liao Dynasty, this wooden pagoda has nearly 1,000 years of history, and gives the appearance of being a five-story structure. In actuality, there are a total of nine stories, with four hidden inside. The Wooden Pagoda was built without any nails or rivets, joined together only with brackets, tenors and mortises. It is rustic and simple, yet has withstood all manner of weather and earthquakes. With its unique construction, wind-bells on the eaves, Buddha statues and vivid murals, the Wooden Pagoda possesses a very high level of craftsmanship and is a must-see visit in the Datong area.

 Hanging Temple

Hanging Monastery, built in 491, has survived more than 1400 years and was largely rebuilt and refurbished in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is, quite simply, an architectural wonder, with a foundation made entirely of rock and a wooden framework. Seen from afar, it appears to be hanging in mid-air. It is a special place for religion as well, with elements of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism appearing together. There are some 40 halls with 80 sculptures, vividly crafted from copper, iron, terracotta, and stone.

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