Datong

Buddhist grottoes and historic temples

Time to explore: 3–4 days
Best months: May · Jun · Sep · Oct

Datong in northern Shanxi was a Northern Wei capital and an important Liao-Jin city, with rich Buddhist art and frontier history. Prioritize Yungang Grottoes for sculptures shaped by cultural exchange, then Huayan Temple for architecture and painted statuary. Walk the old city for a sense of its layout. The cliff-built Hanging Temple is in Hunyuan County and deserves a separate outing toward Mount Heng.

The best of Datong

Yungang DistrictAbout 4 hoursCNY 100–120

Yungang Grottoes

The Northern Wei court developed Yungang while ruling from Pingcheng, using Buddhist monuments to express both faith and imperial authority. Tanyao's five caves contain monumental Buddhas, while later chambers include musicians, flying figures and narrative scenes. Indian, Central Asian and Chinese forms meet in the carvings, with drapery, columns and instruments showing how artisans adapted imported Buddhist imagery to local work.

BookingReal-name reservations apply, including visitors eligible for free entry. From April 15, 2026, the advance window is 15 days excluding the current day, through the official WeChat account or 云冈石窟文旅 mini-program.

Location: Southern foot of Wuzhou Mountain, north bank of the Wuzhou River, west of Datong, Shanxi
Opening hours: The official guide lists regular hours of 08:30–16:30; 06:30–18:00 applied only to October 1–7, 2026.
Admission: Standard adult admission to Yungang Grottoes. Official rates are CNY 120 April 1–October 31 and CNY 100 November 1–March 31; separate services are additional.

Hunyuan CountyAbout 3 hours

Hanging Temple

The Hanging Temple fits halls into a cliff near Hengshan. Beams embedded in the rock, connecting corridors and supporting members use natural recesses; the visible slender posts are only part of the structure. Buddhist, Daoist and Confucian figures share tightly connected rooms. Repeated repairs have sustained a building whose apparent suspension depends on careful relationships between rock and timber construction.

BookingClimbing requires both an entry ticket and a climbing ticket. Online climbing bookings use facial verification for every visitor. The June 2026 notice directs passport holders and unsuccessful verification cases to ticket windows; climbing capacity is limited.

Location: Hanging Temple on the cliffs of Cuiping Peak, Jinlong Gorge, Mount Hengshan, Hunyuan County, Datong, Shanxi
Opening hours: March, April and October 08:00–17:00; May–September 08:00–18:00; November–February 08:30–16:30.
Admission: No verified 2026 adult price split was obtained; an unsplit package total is not treated as a single admission item.

Pingcheng DistrictAbout 2 hoursCNY 50

Huayan Temple (Datong)

Huayan Temple takes its name from the Avatamsaka Sutra. The Bhagavat Scripture Hall preserves Liao painted figures and wooden scripture cabinets, including the celebrated smiling bodhisattva with joined hands. The much larger Jin main hall creates a contrasting worship space. East-facing orientation further distinguishes the complex, whose sculpture, storage structures and timber frames preserve major evidence of northern Buddhist architecture.

BookingThe attraction has multilingual online ticketing, including English, Japanese and Korean, with support for multiple currencies. Select the Huayan Temple admission product.

Location: Huayan Temple, southwestern part of Datong Ancient City, Shanxi
Opening hours: Regular high-season hours 08:30–17:30; summer and holiday visits may have extended hours.
Admission: Standard full-price adult peak-season admission to Datong Huayan Temple. The April 1, 2026 notice sets the peak-season rate at CNY 50; the previous winter's CNY 40 rate and short promotions are not applied here.

What to eat

Knife-cut noodles

Knife-shaved noodles with varying thickness, served in broth or with toppings.

Shumai

Open-topped steamed dumplings associated with Datong's local food traditions.

Arrive, explore, settle in

Arriving

Bus 67 links Datong Yungang International Airport and Datong South Railway Station. Use onward buses or a taxi to your old-town accommodation, and plan separate return transfers for Yungang Grottoes and the Hanging Temple in Hunyuan.

Getting around

Walk around Huayan Temple and the old town, with separate trips outside the center for Yungang and the Hanging Temple. Temple entry and climbing require different tickets; passport holders use the ticket window as directed by the operator.

Where to stay

The old town suits Huayan Temple and historic streets; Yudong is another option depending on accommodation and arrival transport. Plan transfers for outlying sights ahead of time.

Metro & taxis →Hotels & registration →Paying in China →

Route ideas

Route 1
Yungang Grottoes
Make Yungang the main visit for the day, studying Northern Wei figures and musicians without adding another distant attraction.
Route 2
Hanging Temple outing
Arrange entry, climbing tickets and return transport before visiting in your reserved slot. Allow waiting time for the narrow climbing route.
Route 3
Huayan Temple and old town
See Liao and Jin architecture and sculptures at Huayan Temple, then walk through the old town and try noodles or shumai.

More planning advice

At Yungang, start with the Five Caves of Tanyao, then compare musicians, drapery and Buddhist narratives in other caves. Review current cave, museum and conservation notices before booking.
The Hanging Temple is in Hunyuan County; consider visiting it separately from central Datong. Check park-entry and temple-ascent requirements separately, and ask about document verification if travelling with a passport.
Allow time at Huayan Temple for the Liao sculptures in the scripture hall and the timber structure of the main hall. Check regular visiting arrangements rather than relying on winter or holiday notices.

Good to know

How many days do I need in Datong?

Allow 3–4 days, excluding intercity travel. Leave room for journeys, queues and meals.

When should I visit Datong?

Suggested months: May · Jun · Sep · Oct. Check weather, holidays and opening arrangements for your actual dates.

Which sights need advance booking?

Read each sight’s booking note and check official information before fixing your dates. Foreign passport booking channels may differ. Booking with a foreign passport →