Prefecture-level city · Shanxi

Datong 大同市

Datong is a prefecture-level city in northern Shanxi Province in the People's Republic of China. It is located in the Datong Basin at an elevation of 1,040 metres (3,410 ft) and borders Inner Mongolia to the north and west and Hebei to the east.

Location of Shanxi, the surrounding province-level areaView province guide

Get to know Datong

The restored historic city wall and adjacent landscaped grounds in Datong (大同古城墙), photographed in June 2025.
The restored historic city wall and adjacent landscaped grounds in Datong (大同古城墙), photographed in June 2025. Photograph date recorded by the source: 2025-06-01 10:28. · xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0
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Administrative area
Prefecture-level city · 地级市
Part of
Shanxi
Chinese name
大同市
Local areas
10 local areas

Area & population

Area in the source
14,068.00 km²
Population · 2020 census
3,105,591
Administrative seat
Pingcheng District

Source: cited geographic source, as of the dates shown.

Tourism

The Yungang Grottoes are a collection of shallow caves located 16 km west of Datong. There are over 50,000 carved images and statues of Buddhas and bodhisattvas within these grottoes, ranging from 4 – 700 cm. Most of these icons are around 1500 years old. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important attractions in Datong.

Within the city itself, there are a few surviving sites of historical interest such as the Nine-Dragon Wall, the Huayan Monastery, and the Shanhua Temple. Further afield is the Hanging Temple built into a cliff face near Mount Heng. Most of the historical sites in this region date to the Liao, Jin and Ming dynasties, but the Hanging Temple dates to the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534).

Transportation

China National Highway 109 China National Highway 208 G55 Erenhot–Guangzhou Expressway G5501 Datong Ring Expressway Datong railway station and Datong South railway station Datong Yungang Airport

Explore Datong

Core places to explore, with English and Chinese names.

Places to explore around Datong

The restored historic city wall and adjacent landscaped grounds in Datong (大同古城墙), photographed in June 2025.The restored historic city wall and adjacent landscaped grounds in Datong (大同古城墙), photographed in June 2025. Photograph date recorded by the source: 2025-06-01 10:28.

Datong大同

Datong's historic centre brings together substantial Liao and Jin temple halls, a Ming dragon screen and a city wall whose visible surfaces have undergone extensive rebuilding. That mixture is the key to reading the city…

Read the place guide →Yungang Grottoes · 云冈石窟Yungang Grottoes · 云冈石窟

Yungang Grottoes云冈石窟

Yungang's sandstone cliff preserves a long sequence of Northern Wei Buddhist chambers, from monumental Buddhas to densely worked narrative surfaces. The early Tanyao caves, numbered 16–20, provide the strongest sense of the…

Read the place guide →Hengshan Hanging Temple (Xuankong si) · 悬空寺Hengshan Hanging Temple (Xuankong si) · 悬空寺

Hanging Temple悬空寺

The Hanging Temple uses beams inserted into the cliff to support a narrow chain of rooms and galleries above the valley. Its standing buildings largely reflect Ming and Qing rebuilding, despite the much older foundation story…

Read the place guide →Mount Heng (Shanxi) · 恒山Mount Heng（Hengshan）, is a mountain in north-central China's Shanxi Province, known as the northern mountain of the Five Great Mountains of China.

Mount Heng (Shanxi)恒山

Northern Hengshan rises south of Hunyuan, with Tianfengling Peak above a group of mountain temples. Its religious buildings exploit the steep slopes and cliff recesses, so the approach and changes in level are part of their…

Read the place guide →The interior of the main hall at Huayan Temple, Datong; 23 March 2025.The interior of the main hall at Huayan Temple, Datong; 23 March 2025.

Huayan Temple华严寺

Huayan Temple is particularly rewarding for the contrast between its two great historic halls. The Jin-period Daxiongbao Hall creates a broad ceremonial interior beneath a large roof, while the earlier Bojia Jiaozang Hall…

Read the place guide →Daxiongbao Hall and its courtyard at Shanhua Temple in Datong, August 2013.Daxiongbao Hall and its courtyard at Shanhua Temple in Datong, August 2013.

Shanhua Temple善化寺

Shanhua Temple is a clear lesson in the progression of a northern Buddhist monastery: a substantial gate, the Sansheng Hall and the raised Daxiongbao Hall follow one axis. The main hall preserves Liao-period architecture around…

Read the place guide →The north face of Datong's Nine-Dragon Wall, August 2013.The north face of Datong's Nine-Dragon Wall, August 2013.

Nine-Dragon Wall (Datong)九龙壁

Datong's Nine-Dragon Wall survives from the Ming Prince of Dai's residence, whose original palace was lost. Its glazed surface turns a long screen into a procession of nine differently posed dragons among clouds and waves, with…

Read the place guide →Datong Volcanic Field (大同火山群)Datong Volcanic Field · 大同火山群

Datong Volcanic Field大同火山群

The Datong volcanic field lies east of the city in Yunzhou district.

Read the place guide →Upward view of a watchtower on the Datong city wallA gate tower of the Datong city wall, Pingcheng District · 大同古城墙城门楼，平城区 Source-recorded photograph date: 2016-10-09 11:21:57.

Datong Ancient City Wall大同古城墙

Datong Ancient City Wall (大同古城墙) is the restored defensive circuit around Datong's old city in Pingcheng District, following the form of a major Ming frontier stronghold.

Read the place guide →Row of tall columns along the entrance porch of a museum buildingThe colonnaded entrance porch of Datong Museum, Shanxi · 山西大同市博物馆门廊柱廊 Source-recorded photograph date: 2011-07-06.

Datong Museum大同市博物馆

Datong Museum introduces the successive identities of a northern Chinese city: the ancient Dai region, Northern Wei Pingcheng, Liao and Jin Xijing, and the fortified city of the Ming and Qing periods.

Read the place guide →A tall brick pagoda beside temple buildings at the base of a golden-lit cliffThe pagoda of Jueshan Temple rising above the temple village at the foot of the mountains, Lingqiu County · 灵丘县觉山寺塔及山下寺院村落，背靠山崖 Source-recorded photograph date: 2012-12-30 15:20:03.

Jueshan Temple觉山寺

Northern Wei foundation in Lingqiu, Shanxi, rebuilt in the Qing, with a 13-tier Liao brick pagoda of 1089 holding Liao murals.

Read the place guide →

Local life & food

Datong local specialties

大同市特色美食 · 11 specialties to discover

Datong copper hotpot · 大同铜火锅 · AI dish illustrationDatong copper hotpot 大同铜火锅AI dish illustration · AI 菜品示意图

Tender ingredients and absorbent components gradually exchange flavors in the broth. It is more about a varied warming meal than a single strongly spiced sauce.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Flower-shaped steamed dumplings · 百花烧麦 · AI dish illustrationFlower-shaped steamed dumplings 百花烧麦AI illustration · AI 示意图

The delicate, almost translucent edges contrast with a generous, moist center. Flavor depends on the selected meat or other filling.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Hunyuan liangfen · 浑源凉粉 · AI dish illustrationHunyuan liangfen 浑源凉粉AI dish illustration · AI 菜品示意图

The jelly is cool, slippery and resilient; acidity and chili provide most of the intensity, while crunchy additions change each bite.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photograph of Knife-shaved noodles (刀削面).Knife-shaved noodles 刀削面

The center stays springy while the edges become tender, creating more contrast than an evenly rolled noodle. Broth or sauce clings to the irregular surfaces.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: Lizixuannn · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Datong Braised Rabbit Heads (大同兔头) — dish photographDatong Braised Rabbit Heads 大同兔头

Datong Braised Rabbit Heads (大同兔头) are a seasoned snack with a history tied to the rabbit trade in Datong (大同).

Read the dish guide →
Photo: Source photographer · License not provided
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Datong Sheep Offal Bowl (大同羊杂) — dish photographDatong Sheep Offal Bowl 大同羊杂

Datong Sheep Offal Bowl (大同羊杂) represents the northern branch of Shanxi’s (山西) sheep-offal cooking, with broth and solids simmering together in one large pot.

Read the dish guide →
Photo: Source photographer · License not provided
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.

Steamed Yellow Millet Cake (黄糕) — dish photographSteamed Yellow Millet Cake 黄糕

Steamed Yellow Millet Cake (黄糕) is the steamed cake of yellow millet (黄米) that Datong (大同) people eat plain, as sugao (素糕), or wrapped round a filling and deep-fried as youzhagao (油炸糕).

Read the dish guide →
Photo: Source photographer · License not provided
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Datong Fried Millet Cakes (油炸糕) — dish photographDatong Fried Millet Cakes 油炸糕

Datong Fried Millet Cakes (油炸糕) are small filled cakes with thin wrappers, crisp exteriors and soft interiors. In Datong (大同), the base is steamed yellow millet cake.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: 三猎 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo adjustments

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All dish names · 全部菜名 (11)

More dishes from across Shanxi are in the Shanxi food guide.

EXPLORE THE NEXT LEVEL

Counties & districts in Datong

10 areas belong directly to Datong.

10 areas

District

Xinrong District新荣区

Xinrong District (simplified Chinese: 新荣区; traditional Chinese: 新榮區; pinyin: Xīnróng Qū) is a district of the city of Datong, Shanxi, People's Republic of China.

Explore the area →District

Pingcheng District平城区

Pingcheng District (simplified Chinese: 平城区; traditional Chinese: 平城區; pinyin: Píngchéng Qū), formerly known as Chengqu (城区; 城區; Chéngqū) or Cheng District is a district of Datong, Shanxi, China.

Explore the area →District

Yungang District云冈区

Yungang District (simplified Chinese: 云冈区; traditional Chinese: 雲岡區; pinyin: Yúngāng Qū) formerly, Nanjiao District (南郊区) is a district of the city of Datong, Shanxi province, China.

Explore the area →District

Yunzhou District云州区

Yunzhou District (simplified Chinese: 云州区; traditional Chinese: 雲州區; pinyin: Yúnzhōu Qū) is a district of the city of Datong, Shanxi.

Explore the area →
View all 10 areasShow fewer areas

Plan your visit

Build your route

Datong and Yungang Grottoes are about 20 km apart in a straight line. The linked place guides have entrance and visit details.

Continue with Shanxi →

More in Shanxi

Taiyuan太原市 →Yangquan阳泉市 →Changzhi长治市 →Jincheng晋城市 →Shuozhou朔州市 →Jinzhong晋中市 →Yuncheng运城市 →Xinzhou忻州市 →
Sources & geographic information

Administrative names and parent areas: Official geographic directory · Reference date 2026-09-06.

Background text adapted from Datong — Wikipedia contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Text has been shortened and reorganized; source revision 1370243994.

Photo: Datong · xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.

Photo: Yungang Grottoes · xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0. Wikimedia thumbnail; fitted to the ranking-card frame.

Photo: Hanging Temple · Charlie fong · CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikimedia thumbnail; fitted to the ranking-card frame.

Photo: Mount Heng (Shanxi) · Charlie fong · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and WebP compressed; subject not altered.

Photo: Huayan Temple · Dudva · CC0. Proportionally resized and converted to WebP without cropping, retouching or changing the photographed subject.

Photo: Shanhua Temple · Zhangzhugang · CC BY-SA 3.0. Proportionally resized and converted to WebP without cropping, retouching or changing the photographed subject.

Photo: Nine-Dragon Wall (Datong) · Zhangzhugang · CC BY-SA 3.0. Proportionally resized and converted to WebP without cropping, retouching or changing the photographed subject.

Photo: Datong Volcanic Field · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.

Photo: Datong Ancient City Wall · Veo0607 · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.

Photo: Datong Museum · 猫猫的日记本 · CC BY-SA 3.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.

Photo: Jueshan Temple · Fymking · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.

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