Insight tour of Datong

Pick up at flight/train station arrival and help you to check in your hotel. The rest of the time will be free on your own or take an optional evening tour depending on your interests and arrival time.

A day dedicated to the city highlights. We start from the most important site of Yungang Grottoes and spend two hours or more here. Yungang Cave is one of the most supreme achievements of Buddhist cave art in China. The remains of this wonder comprise of 252 caves and niches with over 51,000 ancient statues and celestial beings, all were built by the top artists 1500 years ago. Each is unique and beautifully painted with mixture of Chinese character and influences of designs from Indian, Persian and Greek that swept along the Silk Road.

In the afternoon, we visit Huayan Temple, a nearly 1000-year old Buddhist Temple, located right in the downtown of Datong city. There are beautiful artistic sculptures, frescos and inscriptions in the ancient architectures. Huayan pagoda also provides a very good overview over the whole old city at its highest balcony. Then take a brief visit of a very nice artistic work, Nine Dragon Screen, which is the oldest and largest one in China.

Today we drive about 1.5 hours out of Datong southwards mainly for the Hangying Monastery. It is a beautiful architectural wonder with history over 1,500 years. It is built on the west cliff of Jinxia Gorge, more than 60 meters above the foot of Mt. Heng. The whole complex based on the support of wooden pillars inserted into the side of the cliff, and rock at the back of the building, seemingly hanging on the cliff face. Different from others, Hangying Temple is the only existed one hosting worship for the Taoists, Confucians and Buddhists.

If time permit, we also pay visit to Mt. Heng, which is one of “the five sacred mountains” in China with numerous taoist temple. View from the highest peak is really enjoyable.

On the way back, visit the marvelous landscape of earth forest, 20km south of Datong. Hundreds of earth columns and earth walls forms a unique scenery in the area of 3km from north to south, and 1km from east to west.

Datong is called “the museum of Great Wall” because the city has abundant wall relics built in different dynasties. Today we will drive some 150km southwards to visit the most famous part, Yanmen Pass. It was a key point in long history due to its strategic position like a doorway, controlling the access of nomads in the north to the agriculture nation in the south. Now the scenic area covers the Yanmen Pass and its stretch of the Great Wall with beacons, towers and forts. The ancient structure and magnificent mountainous landscapes make it a difference from those parts in Beijing, and really deserves the time to visit.

En route, take a brief visit of the wooden pagoda which is the tallest wooden pagoda in the world.

Tips: if your next destination is Pingyao, it is ok to take evening train at Yingxian instead of going back to Datong for the extra night. Train departing from Datong to Pingyao pass Yingxian as well.

Transfer you to the airport/train station after breakfast.

Bullet trains connect Datong conveniently with Beijing, Taiyuan and Pingyao.