8 Days in Datong: What to Do and See in Datong

Day 1 | Morning

Yungang Grottoes

Opening Hours: Open from 9:00am-5:00pm

Ticket Price: 100 RMB

Recommended Length of Stay: 4-5 Hours

Location: Yungang Town, South Suburb of Datong City

Yungang Grottoes Scenic Area is divided into a landscape zone and the grottoes. It is one of the three largest grottoes in China. The sculpture combines Chinese and Western art. Here you can experience the artistic charms of Northern Wei Dynasty. Yungang Grottoes not only embodies traditional Chinese art style but also integrates art styles of ethnic groups from ancient India, countries west of China and China's central plains. It is a famous historical site in Datong City.

Reviews from Real Guests:

Trip.com User: A spectacular sight, well worth its UNESCO status. I would say you need around 2-3 hours for this place alone as there is so much to see and do. You can take tourist bus 603 from the centre for 7RMB and the same bus back. It is 150RMB for entrance with special discount for students/OAP’s. Well worth the fee as you cannot see anything like this elsewhere in the world. Food/drink available on site as well as a little shop selling cheap gifts.

Trip.com User: Amazing Grottos accessible by bus from DaTong’s inner city. Very big area with lots of grottos to see. You can enter most of the large ones. Crowds even on a Thursday but its a large area so they never felt overwhelming. On par with MoGao grottos in Dunhuang.

Day 1 | Afternoon

After finishing the tour at Yungang Grottoes, you can head to Datong Fantawild Adventure, the most worth visiting place around the corner.

Datong Fantawild Adventure

Opening Hours: Open from 10/12-10/15,10:00am-5:00pm;Open from 10/16-10/17,10:00am-8:00pm

Ticket Price: 260 RMB

Recommended Length of Stay: 0.5-1.0 Days

Location: No. 3666, South Ring Road, Pingcheng District, Datong City

Datong Fantawild is one of the most famous entertainment spots in Datong City. Its best known features include its interactive fantasy and science fiction activities. Datong Fantawild has all kinds of exhibits and activities to participate in including the Light of Life, Escape from Dinosaur Island, Snowy Tangla Pass, Five Thousand Years of China and Boonie Bears. There are many interactive experience installations, such as Fly the Limits, the 3D magic show in the Magic Castle, and the snowy mountain adventure simulation Snowy Tangla Pass, which will give visitors an unforgettably amazing experience.

Reviews from Real Guests:

Trip.com User: its a great place for visit

Day 1 | Evening

After visiting the glorious Datong Fantawild Adventure, North Capital International Hotel nearby is the best place to stay.

North Capital International Hotel

The North Capital International Hotel (Datong Beidu Guoji Jiudian) is located near the Yuhua Dijing residential area, just outside the old city walls. It will take just several minutes' walk to get to Yuhe Garden, Wen Temple and Guandi Temple. Datong Railway Station is approximately 5 km (3 mi) away while it will take around 25 minutes to reach the airport by car. Guests can dine at one of the multiple on-site dining outlets including a buffet restaurant, Guangdong-style tea restaurant, Chinese restaurant, banquet hall and tea house. For those traveling on business, two conference rooms of various sizes are available, as well as the services of the business center. Guests looking to keep in shape can visit the gym for a workout, while the spa and sauna provide the perfect option for those looking to relax. Dance the night away in the on-site nightclub, or unwind with a few games of billiards. This Datong hotel provides Wi-Fi access in public areas as well as free parking.

Day 2 | Morning

Huayan Temple

Opening Hours: Open from 4/1-10/31,8:30am-6:00pm;Open from 11/1-3/31,8:00am-5:30pm

Ticket Price: 50 RMB

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 Hours

Location: No. 459 Xia Sipo Street, Datong City

Huayan Temple is located in the center of Datong. This temple was built in the 8th year of Liao Qingning Period (AD 1062). In the Daxiong Hall of Huayan Temple, you can see the groundworks of Liao Dynasty and the buildings of Jin Dynasty, as well as the statues of Ming Dynasty and the murals of Qing Dynasty. The Hall of BojiaJiaocang in the temple is the only Liao Dynasty building here. The statues from Liao Dynasty in the Hall are extremely precious. There is a double-storey pavilion-style cabinet behind the Hall of Bojiajiaocang, the upper level is for Buddha statues and Buddhist altars, and the lower layer stores for books.

Reviews from Real Guests:

Le Vu Tuan: Beautiful temple with many things to see. I got the feeling of jumping into some Chinese movie during visiting this place.

Trip.com User: peaceful and scenic with excellent preserved relics .

Day 2 | Afternoon

After finishing the tour at Huayan Temple, you can head to Weidou Water Amusement ParkWeidu Water World, the most worth visiting place around the corner.

Weidou Water Amusement ParkWeidu Water World

Opening Hours: Open all day, Water park facilities opening hours: 10:00-20:30; swimming pool: 6:00-21:00, hot springs, steaming opening hours: open all day, including equipment running time is 10:00 to 18: 00 (Winter and summer holidays and large holidays extended to 20:00).

Ticket Price: 89 RMB

Recommended Length of Stay: 0.5-1.0 Days

Location: Weidu Avenue, South Suburb of Datong City

Weidu Water World in Datong City is a large-scale water amusement park with various water entertainment projects. Among them, the “Big Horn Skyrocketing” is a favorite project for many tourists. Besides, you can also enjoy hot spring bath and experience comfort of sauna. Weidu Water World also offers a buffet for tourists.

Day 2 | Evening

Don’t forget to book Atour Hotel(Datong Dongxin Plaza high speed railway station) in advance, because all the tourists head to Weidou Water Amusement ParkWeidu Water World love staying at it.

Atour Hotel(Datong Dongxin Plaza high speed railway station)

The Atour Hotel(Datong Dongxin Plaza high speed railway station) was recently opened in 2020, making it a fantastic choice for those staying in Datong.

The hotel is only 7km from Datongnan Railway Station and 18km from Datong Yungang Airport, giving guests a number of convenient transportation options. Famous local attractions Ruibao Amusement Park, 31號監區（真人喪屍鬼屋） and 布娜尼歡樂世界, can all be reached with a short walk.

This hotel makes a great place to kick back and relax after a long day of sightseeing. Guests of this Datong hotel can make use of the parking facilities.

Germaphobes can rest easy - the level of cleanliness is highly rated at this hotel. This hotel is particularly popular with those traveling on business.

Day 3 | Morning

The Grand Mosque

Opening Hours: Open from 8:00am-6:00pm

Ticket Price: 12 RMB

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: No.5 Jiulou Lane, Daxi Street, Urban Area, Datong 037004, China

The Great Mosque was built in the second year of Zhenguan in Tang Dynasty and has a history of thousands of years. The temple is simple in architecture and rigorous in structure. The whole building has both traditional Chinese wooden architectural features and Arabic style. It is also the only mosque in my country that is included in the "Twenty-Four Histories". The meteorite inscription in Jiajing Bingwu (1546) of the Ming Dynasty in the Great Temple is also the only A-Chinese inscription inscribed on the meteorite in the country. The temple has a main entrance, a cross-piercing pavilion, a stone bridge, and a worship hall. The main building is connected by four groups of halls, and there are bathing rooms on both sides of the central line. Among them, the pool, the back arch bridge, the meteorite platform, the archway, the monument building, etc. are the relics of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Day 3 | Afternoon

After finishing the tour at The Grand Mosque, you can head to Datong Soil Forest, the most worth visiting place around the corner.

Datong Soil Forest

Opening Hours: Open all day

Ticket Price: 60 RMB

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 Hours

Location: Duzhuang Village, Duzhuang Township, Datong County, Datong City

Nature's ingenuity has created a strange and fascinating landscape of the soil forest. When visitors enter this place, it is difficult to understand that they are still on the Mars and still in the magic field. This is the Datong Soil Forest. The locals are called “Stone Trench” and it is the only known soil forest attraction in North China. Looking at it, the strangeness of the forest is dazzling, like an old castle rather than an old castle, like a sculpture and not a sculpture. Under different sunlight, the forest has different styles, or glittering, or red like a flame, and it is magnificent, which is favored by many photographers.

Day 3 | Evening

Looking for a bed nearby after finishing your journey at Datong Soil Forest? Datong WanJiaYuan Hotel is one of your top choices.

Datong WanJiaYuan Hotel

The Datong WanJiaYuan Hotel is one of the newest hotels in Datong, having opened in 2020.

Traveling to the hotel is easy with Datong Yungang Airport located approximately 12km away and Datongnan Railway Station roughly 16km away.

This hotel makes a great place to kick back and relax after a long day of sightseeing. Guests of this Datong hotel can make use of the parking facilities.

If you demand a high level of service, our guests have indicated that this hotel has excellent standards.

Day 4 | Morning

Datong Volcanic Group

Opening Hours: Open from 8:30am-6:00pm

Ticket Price: 45 RMB

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 Hours

Location: Yunshan District, Datong City

The Datong Volcanic Group is one of the Quaternary Volcanic Groups in my country. It stopped erupting about 60,000 years ago. There are more than 30 known volcanic groups, mainly distributed in the eastern part of the Datong Basin. In the four areas of south and north, the western volcano located in the northeast of Datong County is a part of the volcanic cone landscape, which is dense and spectacular. Most of their altitudes are between 1100 meters and more than 1400 meters above sea level, probably due to the flat and broad valley landforms. Among the volcanoes in the west area, the larger diameter of the crater is Langwo Mountain, which is about 500 meters, almost in the shape of a perfect circle, and the average depth of the crater is 30 to 50 meters, which is also the deepest crater in the Datong volcanic group. Haotian Mountain is a relatively complete volcanic crater in the western part of Datong. From a bird's-eye view, you can find less than a little trace of water erosion on the mountain body over hundreds of thousands of years. It is located in the northeast suburb of Datong County, and has become a relatively prominent natural landmark of this small county. The volcanic cone of Jinshan is more like a bright "comet" burning in the summer night sky. And sparkling white. Looking down at Ge Laoshan from a high altitude, its shape is like a golden "peach heart". Since it is surrounded by radial water-eroded ditch texture, the "golden light" emitted from the "peach heart" is even more pronounced. charming. The volcanic cone of Dongping Mountain is far away from the dense area of volcanoes in the west area. It is located about two kilometers away from the due east of Datong County. When the volcano erupted, the lava flow spewed in the southeast direction, so there is a volcanic cone left in the southeast of the volcanic cone. The obvious gap makes the entire volcanic cone look like a vivid giant, horseshoe.

Day 4 | Afternoon

Now we come to another great highlight in the city: Grotto 6.

Grotto 6

Ticket Price: 120 RMB

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-1 Hours

Location: Yungang Grottoes Scenic Area

The fifth and sixth caves are a group of double caves, located in the middle of the Yungang Grottoes. Cave 6 is an elite cave "Ta Temple Cave" with very fine design, gorgeous carving, rich content and many statues in Yungang Grottoes. The central tower with a height of 15 meters is divided into upper and lower layers. The upper layer of the "Sifang Buddha" is proud of the clothes and the bodice. On the lower level, there are large double Buddha statue niches on four sides, which are luxurious and unique, with different niches: Sakyamuni sitting in a cross-legged posture in the south; Amitabha Buddha sitting in a cross-legged position in the west; Amitabha Buddha sitting in a good position in the west; Maitreya Bodhisattva sitting in lotus position (crossing feet). The four walls of the cave are covered with statues and decorative patterns of Buddhist niches, and there is no gap. There is a platform on the lower level of the north wall, which is 1 or 2 meters above the ground, supported by two thousand Buddha pillars, and a large Buddha statue niche with a width of 13 and 8 meters and a height of 7 meters. , although the weathering is serious, but its design spirit is still alive. The upper floors of the east, west, north, south and four walls (except the width of the open window) are 49.5 meters long, 3.8 meters high, and about 188 square meters in area. , Each Buddha statue is surrounded by Erwei Bodhisattva and other offering Bodhisattvas. The shrines are separated by disciple statues. The scene is warm, gorgeous and solemn. What is fascinating in Cave 6 is the "Buddha Biography" picture carved on both sides of the large niche on the lower level of the tower and on the four walls of the cave, showing the experience of Sakyamuni from birth to becoming a Buddha. Cave 6 has 37 pictures of carved Buddhist stories, which are treasures in the story of Buddha's book in cave temples in the Northern Wei Dynasty.

Day 4 | Evening

Looking for a bed nearby after finishing your journey at Grotto 6? Starway Hotel (Yungang Jinneng store) is one of your top choices.

Starway Hotel (Yungang Jinneng store)

The Starway Hotel (Yungang Jinneng store) is one of the newest hotels in Datong, having opened in 2021.

The hotel is located approximately 15km from Datong Railway Station and 30km from Datong Yungang Airport. There is no shortage of things to see in the area, with the Ertong Zhuti Qinzi Amusement Park, Kouquan Botanical Garden and Mass Grave all nearby.

In their spare time, guests can explore the hotel's surroundings. Guests of this Datong hotel can make use of the parking facilities.

When it comes to Datong hotels, the Starway Hotel (Yungang Jinneng store) is highly regarded for its excellent facilities.

Day 5 | Morning

Lingyan Temple

Opening Hours: Open from 8:00am-5:00pm

Ticket Price: 60 RMB

Recommended Length of Stay: 0.5-1 Days

Location: Yungang Grottoes Scenic Area in the South of Datong

Datong Lingyan Temple is located in the center of the lake island in the Yungang Grottoes Scenic Spot. After entering the gate of the scenic spot, walk through Tanyao Square, cross the simple and elegant Qikong Bridge, and the temple gate appears in front of you. The main Buddha statues in the three halls of Lingyan Temple are all made of huge camphor wood, and they were carved by Master Huang Wenshou, a woodcarving family descendant from Putian, Fujian Province. Among them, there are 3 main Buddhas in the mountain gate, with Maitreya Bodhisattva in the middle and Dharma protectors on both sides; there are 7 main Buddhas in the Thousand Buddhas Hall, with Sakyamuni Buddha in the middle, and the Burning Lamp Buddha and Duobao on the left and right. Buddha, Avalokitesvara, Dashizhi Bodhisattva, etc.; the main statue of the Mahavira Hall is the Buddha of the past, present and future. The four corner towers and six annex buildings around the temple, plus the "one bucket three liters herringbone arch", are even more fascinating.

Day 5 | Afternoon

When time permits after visiting Lingyan Temple, don’t forget pay a visit to Three Caves.

Three Caves

Ticket Price: 120 RMB

Recommended Length of Stay: 20-40 Minutes

Location: The westernmost point of the eastern cave group area of Yungang, Datong City, Shanxi Province

This grotto is a larger grotto in Yungang, with a peculiar shape, and its plane is concave. In terms of appearance, it is different from ordinary caves. The cave is very large, and the shape of the cave is also very irregular. Its plane is concave, the bottom is more than 40 meters wide, the sides are 15 meters deep, and the cave is nearly 20 meters high. In such a huge cave, only three Buddha statues are carved. The three statues are carved on the west side of the protruding wall, occupying only one-third of the wall. The carvings of these three statues are very exquisite, and they are different from other Yungang statues. Other than that, there are no statues on the walls of the cave. The cliff in front of the grotto is 25 meters high. It is said to be Tanyao Translation Building. There are 12 rectangular stone holes in the middle and upper part. The cave is divided into front and rear chambers. . On the south and west side of the back room, there are three statues with round faces, plump muscles, fine corolla, and smooth clothing patterns. They are statues of one Buddha and two bodhisattvas. Naturally, the clothing is smooth and the face is plump. It is the style of clothing and statues in the Sui and Tang Dynasties, and it is an engraved work after the Northern Wei Dynasty. Grottoes such as Cave 3 are a strange thing in the Yungang Grottoes, and are rare among all the caves in the country. The third cave is a mysterious cave.

Day 5 | Evening

After visiting the glorious Three Caves, Yunzhong Traditional Courtyard nearby is the best place to stay.

Yunzhong Traditional Courtyard

The Yunzhong Traditional Courtyard provides a great place for travelers to relax after a busy day. Visitors to Datong will find that the Yunzhong Traditional Courtyard is a fantastic accommodation choice.

The hotel is conveniently located just 5km from Datong Railway Station and 20km from Datong Yungang Airport. Keeping busy is easy, with 華嚴寺廣場, 遼金元民族融合博物館 and 鐘樓 all nearby.

After a long day of sightseeing, guests can retire to the comfort of the hotel. This Datong hotel features parking on site.

Our guests consider this hotel to have excellent service.

Day 6 | Morning

Shuri Kannondo Temple

Ticket Price: 15 RMB

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-1 Hours

Location: Nanjiao, Datong, Shanxi, China

The temple was built in the Liao Dynasty, and the existing building was rebuilt on the old site in the 8th year of Shunzhi (1651 AD), and has been repeatedly restored to this day. The temple preserves many cultural relics and treasures from the Liao Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, especially the statues of the Liao Dynasty, which are extremely rare. The temple has a compact layout. The stage, Guanyin Hall, Sanzhen Hall, and Taidian pavilions are arranged from front to back along the central axis, and the layers are high. The structure of the mountain gate is a brick scroll door, and the three characters "Guanyin Tang" are written on the forehead of the door. A stage, sitting south to north, is built at the entrance of a cave 8 meters above the ground. Under the cave is the ancient road for carriages and horses. The stage is separated from the main hall (Guanyin Hall) by the waist wall. Entering the waist gate, there are bell and drum towers and stele corridors on the left and right sides. There is a 6-meter-high stone statue of Guanyin in the center of the hall, with a headdress and a corolla reaching the roof. On both sides of Guanyin, there are two 2-meter-high stone statues. These statues are all golden powder, made in the Liao Dynasty. On the east and west sides of the hall stood the Ten Great Kings. There are also 24 paintings on the wall, telling the story of Guanyin Bodhisattva's rescue. In front of the temple, there is a three-dragon glazed screen, the only double-sided screen in Datong City, which is a relic of the Ming Dynasty. There is a three-meter square double hook "Buddha" engraved on the cliff in the west of the temple. According to research, it is a relic of the Liao Dynasty.

Day 6 | Afternoon

Having the chance to enjoy the charming Shuri Kannondo Temple, Baideng Mountain next to it is another great place that you will never want to miss!

Baideng Mountain

Opening Hours: Open from 8:30am-6:00pm

Ticket Price: 20 RMB

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 Hours

Location: Five kilometers east of Datong County, Datong CityFive kilometers east of Datong County, Datong City

Bai Deng is the battlefield of "Baideng Siege" in history. In the sixth year of Emperor Gaozu of the Western Han Dynasty (201 BC), Han Wangxin rebelled in the Datong area and colluded with the Huns in an attempt to attack Taiyuan. Liu Bang personally led an army of 320,000 to attack the Xiongnu, and they went straight to Baishan Mountain in Datong. As a result, they fell into the trap of the Huns and were trapped in Baishan Mountain for seven days and nights. Thanks to the counselor Chen Ping for Liu Bang's advice, he sent a lot of money and pictures of beautiful women to Mo Dun's wife Yan, and wrote a letter saying: "If Shanyu continues to besiege, the Han Dynasty will give the beautiful women to Shan. Yu, at that time, the position of the Yan family will not be able to be preserved...;...;" After accepting the bribe, the Yan family strongly persuaded Chan Yu to withdraw his troops, but when he heard that the reinforcements of the Han army were about to arrive, he was afraid that it would not be good for him, so he had to relieve the siege and withdraw. A "Hanque-style" stele pavilion is now built at the foot of the mountain. The engraved inscription describes in detail the fierce battle between the two armies in the "Baden of Baideng".

Day 6 | Evening

For convenient access to more popular attractions, Heqi Yard Hotel (Datong Government Store) is the best places.

Heqi Yard Hotel (Datong Government Store)

Visitors to Datong will find that this hotel is a fantastic accommodation choice.

The hotel is only 7km from Datong Railway Station and 15km from Datong Yungang Airport, giving guests a number of convenient transportation options. The nearby area boasts an abundance of attractions including Datong Library, Datong University Library and Datong Grand Theatre.

In their spare time, guests can explore the hotel's surroundings. Guests of this Datong hotel can make use of the parking facilities.

Day 7 | Morning

Prince Dai Residence

Opening Hours: Open on Tue-Sun,9:00am-12:00am,2:00pm-5:30pm;Closed on Mon

Ticket Price: 38 RMB

Recommended Length of Stay: 1.0-2.0 Hours

Location: Heyang Street, Pingcheng District, Datong

Daiwangfu is a large-scale residence of a vassal king in the Ming Dynasty. The Daiwangfu is centered on three halls, covering an area of 190,000 square meters, with more than 20 palaces of various sizes and more than 800 houses. It is one of the largest wooden structure ancient buildings.

Day 7 | Afternoon

Now we come to another great highlight in the city: Datong Ancient City Wall.

Datong Ancient City Wall

Opening Hours: Open all day

Ticket Price: Free

Recommended Length of Stay: 1.0-2.0 Hours

Location: West Yuhe Road,Datong City,Shanxi

The ancient city wall of Datong was built in the fifth year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty. A major feature of the Datong city wall is that the outline is like a gear, the pier is protruding, and the trapezoidal structure is a special shape for the fortification of the Datong city wall. The existing ancient city wall was built on the basis of the old cities of Han, Wei, Tang, Liao and Yuan in the fifth year of Hongwu in Ming Dynasty (1372). . The city walls are all based on regular and well-organized stone strips, slabs and stone cubes, rammed with "three-in-one soil" and covered with blue bricks. The city wall is 14 meters high, 12 meters wide at the top and 18 meters wide at the bottom. It is 6.6 meters wider than the Nanjing city wall. There are 62 gates, turrets and watchtowers on the city wall. There are four city gate towers, of which the south gate tower is a three-story building with a width of 61 meters and a depth of 23.35 meters. Four corner towers stand on the four corners of the city wall, especially the northwest corner tower, which is octagonal and called the dry tower. Among the 54 watchtowers, the Hongzi Tower is the watchtower, which is rare among other ancient city walls. At the same time also built 96 nests. About 40 meters away from the wall, there is a moat, 10 meters wide and 5 meters deep. There is Wengcheng outside the four gates, with a construction area of about 17,600 square meters. The Moon City was built outside the Weng City, and the Weng City was surrounded by a city gate. In this way, there are three door cards to enter and exit Datong City. There are also "arrow towers" or two-story "plaque towers" on each gate. The city has four gates, the east is called Heyang, the south is called Yongtai, the west is called Qingyuan, and the north is called Wuding. The watchtowers, turrets, gate towers and arrow towers on the wall stand at intervals. The moat suspension bridge, Wengcheng, Yuecheng, Guancheng, and Ercheng are heavily guarded. The city walls are tall and majestic, sturdy and steep, with tight defenses and perfect facilities. Because it occupies a very important position in the northern frontier defense and has played an important role in many battles, it has always enjoyed the reputation of "a strong town" and "the key to the north". A special feature of the Datong city wall is that its outline is like a gear. There are fifty-two protruding piers in total. It has a trapezoidal structure with a bottom length of about 23 meters, a top length of about 20 meters, and a top area of 400 square meters. Corner pier: slightly taller than the watchtower. Outside the four corner piers, each has a military control platform (or Wangjuntai), about 16.6 meters wide, about 15 meters long, and about 66 meters away from the corner piers. meters, and the pedals are connected to the city wall. A special shape for the fortification of the Datong city wall.

Reviews from Real Guests:

Le Vu Tuan: Great place, believe me, this City Wall is much much better than other. I love the feeling of wandering in the wall and look at Hua Yan Temple.

Day 7 | Evening

Looking for a bed nearby after finishing your journey at Datong Ancient City Wall? Datong Grand Hotel is one of your top choices.

Datong Grand Hotel

The Holiday Inn Datong City Centre (Datong Guibinlou Jiarijiudian) is located in downtown Datong, a mere 20-minute drive from either the railway station or the airport. With local attractions, such as the Yungang Grottoes, nearby, guests will have plenty to see and do.

The hotel offers free parking and disabled-friendly rooms for those that require them, while an airport pickup service is available to ensure guests arrive with as little hassle as possible.

The on-site restaurant serves an assortment of delicacies for Chinese, Japanese and Western palates, and a coffee shop is on hand to quench guests’ thirst.

This hotel is well equipped to cater for business persons, with a business center, conference rooms and banquets available.

Guests who want to indulge themselves over their vacation can head to the spa for a variety of health and beauty services. Those who prefer something more active can hit the gym or take a dip in the swimming pool, while for the socially minded there is an on-site bar.

Day 8 | Morning

Shanhua Temple

Opening Hours: Open from 8:00am-5:30pm

Ticket Price: Free

Recommended Length of Stay: 40-60 Minutes

Location: No. 6 Nansi Street, Datong City (near Loufang Lane)

Shanhua Temple, located in the southwest of Datong City, was built in the Tang Dynasty, then destroyed in the war, and began to rebuild in the Liao and Jin periods. Today's Shanhua Temple is a relatively complete Liao and Jin monastery in my country. The main buildings in the temple, the Three Holy Halls and the Daxiong Hall, are all located on the central axis in the north-south direction. Unlike many temples, Shanhua Temple does not have a gate (gate). The Daxiong Hall in the temple is the largest temple in Shanhua Temple. It was built in the Liao Dynasty and rebuilt in the Jin Dynasty. Coming to the hall, there are "five-sided Buddha statues" enshrined on the front. The arrangement from west to east is: the Buddha in the north, the Buddha in the west, the Buddha in the middle, the Buddha in the south, and the Buddha in the east. The Five Fang Buddhas are a group of deities worshipped in the "tantric sect" of Buddhism. There are also statues of twenty-four heavens standing on the brick platforms on both sides of the hall. These statues are all fine products of the Jin Dynasty. Each of these masterpieces of the unity of man and god is about three meters high. Some are wearing armour, some are wearing official robes, some are round, and their belts are floating. The expressions of the respected are vivid. On the wall of the hall, there are also murals painted during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. The contents of the murals are all Buddhist stories. In addition, the statues of the "Three Saints of Huayan" enshrined in the Three Holy Halls of the temple, Sakyamuni Buddha, Samantabhadra and Manjusri, are also vivid and lifelike. In the square in front of the temple gate, you can also see the Five Dragon Walls, which were relocated in the 1980s. The Five Dragon Walls are relics from the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. The five dragons in the wall are churning in the turbulent clouds and mist. Dragon", holding a fire bead in his arms, his head facing straight ahead, facing the ancient temple.

Day 8 | Afternoon

Having the chance to enjoy the charming Shanhua Temple, Jinhuagong National Mine Park next to it is another great place that you will never want to miss!

Jinhuagong National Mine Park

Opening Hours: Open from 11/1-3/31(Off Season),9:00am-5:00pm;Open from 4/1-10/31(Peak Season),9:00am-5:30pm

Ticket Price: Free

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 Hours

Location: Jinhua Palace, South Suburb of Datong City

Jinhuagong National Mine Park is located in Datong City. The location is excellent, the environment is quiet and beautiful, and the traffic is very convenient. The park integrates industrial site protection, ecological restoration and green mine construction. It is a mining culture and creative park that leaves the world with a complete modern industrial memory. The main attractions in the park are the Coal Museum and the Underground Adventure Tour. The Coal Museum is a large-scale address mine museum that combines science, knowledge and appreciation. The underground exploration tour can give you a true understanding of the history of coal formation during the Jurassic period 140 million years ago.

* All reviews in the blog are machine-translated.