Datong

Datong is a prefecture-level city in northern Shanxi province, People's Republic of China, located in a basin at an elevation of 1,040 metres (3,410 ft) and bordering Inner Mongolia to the north and west and Hebei to the east. It had a population of 3,318,057 at the 2010 census of whom 1,629,035 lived in the built up area made of 3 out of 4 urban districts, namely Chengqu, Kuangqu and Nanjiao. The Hanging Monastery outside of Datong.

Datong is a small city with little experience with foreigners. People here are friendly and curious, and will definitely stare at foreigners. For simple entertainment, stop at a chuanr (meat on a stick) stand near Red Flag square, or Red Flag square itself and chat up the locals.

As of spring 2013, the city is overwhelmingly under construction, and shows no sign of completion anytime soon. Many streets are being torn up while buildings are being torn down; rubble and debris is littered all over the city. Expect taxi rides to take strange, roundabout routes because of the poor roads. Other than the city walls, there is not much to see in the city itself.

Tours

15-day Ancient China Culture Journey

Beijing → Datong → Taiyuan → Pingyao → Xian → Luoyang → Zhengzhou → Shanghai

Discover the great ancient Chinese civilization with series of top amazing sights and experience of culture and history in China!

5-day Datong Mt. Heng Mount Wutai Tour

Datong → Wutaishan

5-day Datong Mt. Heng Mount Wutai Tour to visit the world heritage sites Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple in Datong, we drive to Wutaishan Mountain to view more religious temples in 5 days. They are all the must-see things that over 1,000 years history.

7-day Datong Taiyuan Pingyao Shanxi Tour

Taiyuan → Datong → Pingyao → Wutaishan

Shanxi is not only the capital of coal in China, but also homes to many amazing historical and cultural sites Pingyao Ancient City, Yungang Grottos, Wutai Mountain, Qiao Family's Compound... which are listed as the world heritage sites by the UNESCO. Take this 7-day trip in Shanxi and view the best of the province!

Attractions

Hanging Monastery

Hanging Monastery also called Xuankong Si, is a temple stands at the foot of Mountain Hengshan. The temple is about 65 kilometers south of Datong downtown, and could be reached by 1-hour’s drive.

Nine-Dragon Wall Datong

The Nine Dragon Screen Datong, is the oldest and largest screen wall in China, another two similar walls are from Beihai Park and Forbidden City of Beijing.

Shanhua Monastery

Shanhua Temple covering an area of nearly 14,000 square meters, and the three main buildings are The Gate, the Hall of Three Saints and Daxiong Bao Dian.

Mountain Hengshan

Mountain Hengshan, also called Ziyue was renowned as "North Mountain (Bei Yue)", one of the Five Sacared Mountains in China. Mt.Heng is located about 62 kilometers south to Datong city, famous for the natural scenery and man-made landscaping.

Yungang Grottoes

The Yungang cave is located 16km south-west of Datong city, in the valley of the Shi Li river at the base of the Wuzhou Shan Mountains; and can be reached for 30 minutes car.

Huayan Temple

Huayan temple or Huayan Monastery is an ancient temple in downtown area of Datong Shan’xi province; just located on Daxi Street on the south western of the city. The monastery was originally built in Liao Dynasty and was regarded as an ancestral temple for emperors.

Hotels

Yungang International Hotel

Yungang International Hotel, located at No. 38, Daxi Street, Datong, Shanxi, the center of historical cultural city. And it was ranked as the first Five-star Tourism Hotel in Datong by the National Tourism Administration in May of 2007. The hotel is 20 km away from the airport, 2.5 km from the railway station, 2 km from the bus station, and only 18 km the Yungang Caves, the world culture heritage, and near the municipal sight at hand, such as Huayan Temple and Nine Dragon Wall. It is the perfect place for quarter for traveling, sightseeing, commerce and trade. The hotel totally has 236 sets of guest rooms, including the magnificent luxury administrative suites, luxury solo rooms with unique layout as well as the warm and elegant standard rooms.

Datong Hotel

The Datong Hotel (Datong Binguan) is located in the city center, close to the railway station and some famous attractions. All rooms are equipped with international direct dial phones, satellite TVs, mini bars, safes and Internet access. The Chinese restaurant serves Sichuan, Shandong, Cantonese and local dishes. Authentic French and Italian cuisines are on offer in the western restaurant. Rose bar is an ideal rendezvous for a list of drinks. There are also six meeting rooms, where the largest can hold up to 400 people.

Tongmei International Hotel

The Tongmei International Hotel (Datong Tongmei Guoji Jiudian) is located in the core area of mining area. It is 16 kilometers away from the popular Yungang Grottoes. This Datong hotel houses a variety of room types ranging from single rooms to business suites. The on-site restaurant specializes in royal, Sichuan, Hunan and Datong cuisines. Business facilities include three multi-functional banquet hall.

Garden Hotel Datong

Located in the heart of Datong, the Garden Hotel (Huayuan Dafandian) is a comprehensive hotel offering both leisure and business facilities. Datong's main sights, including Shanhua Temple, the Drum Tower, and other cultural hotspots are within a few minutes' walk. All guestrooms are spacious and clean with large panoramic windows, some of which look onto an internal courtyard or atrium. Safety deposit boxes and free high-speed Internet are among the amenities available for all guests. Dining options include a Chinese restaurant that combines Chinese favorites with a Brazilian BBQ served up by Brazilian chefs. A multifunction banquet hall is ideal for parties, conferences and other large scale events. The hotel's tourist office can assist with booking travel to local sights such as the Hanging Monastery and Yungunag Grottoes then, after a hard day's sightseeing guests can come back and relax with a massage or a spa treatment or, for the more energetic, a session in the hotel gym or a game of ping pong.

Hong Qi Grand Hotel Datong

The Hong Qi Grand Hotel (Hongqi Dafandian) is located 100 meters north of Datong Railway Station, in convenient proximity to local transport and points of interest.

Howard Johnson Jindi Plaza Datong

The Howard Johnson Jindi Plaza Datong (Datong Jindi Haosheng Dajiudian) elevated as first international hotel in the city, the art of hospitality to new levels. Conveniently located in the commercial district, in close reach of the historical sites, it serves as ideal location for business or leisure travelers. Embodying the rich culture of the area, the Howard Johnson Jindi Plaza Datong, with various elegantly and spacious appointed rooms and suites, reflects a world of sophistication and comfort combined with unprecedented attention to details. Enjoy the unmatched variety of food and beverage options, highly regarded for their exceptional, innovative cuisine as well as highest personalized service. Flexible meeting and banquet venues for every occasion, latest technology and dedicated catering professionals will ensure that your event will be successful and memorable. Extensive entertainment and leisure facilities, like the tranquil Tea House, Chess Rooms, Gymnasium, Indoor Swimming Pool, Beauty Salon, KTV and Sauna are inviting to unwind after a stressful day.

Holiday Inn Datong City Centre

Newly opened in 2010 and sitted in the central commercial area of Datong city, Holiday Inn Datong City Centre is the first major full-scale international hotel managed by the InterContinental Hotel Management Group, aiming at a real-concerned and fully-hearted customers' personal experience. Whether during a business travel, attending a meeting or just only for a 'stolen half a day from floating Life', Datong Grand Hotel will be you sweety home away from home. The hotel has elegant and stylish deluxe rooms, including executive suites, ambassadorial suites, Royal Palace, the executive floor and non smoking floors. All our rooms are well equipped with broadband internet access, international and domestic long-distance telephone, international satellite TV channels, mini bar, ice bucket, iron, ironing board and safe for your notebook. Especially the comfortable beds and pillows, a powerful shower facilities, a unique sound effect and fragrance fumigation, will create a home-like free space for a night of quality sleep.

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