Holiday in Datong

About Datong

Datong is located in northern Shanxi at the historic border between the Chinese heartland and the steppes of Mongolia. The city was once the capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty (398–494 AD) and is now famous for two of China's most spectacular historical sites: the Yungang Grottoes and the Hanging Monastery. The Yungang Grottoes (Yungang Shiku) are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most significant Buddhist cave art sites in the world. Over 51,000 statues in 252 caves were carved into sandstone between 460 and 525 AD. The largest statue measures 17 meters and depicts a seated Buddha. The variety of styles — from Indian-Gandhara to Chinese — documents the cultural exchange along the Silk Road. The Hanging Monastery (Xuankong Si), located about 65 km southeast of Datong, is an architectural wonder: a Buddhist-Taoist-Confucian temple that has clung to a vertical cliff for over 1,500 years, supported only by thin wooden pillars. It is one of the few temples in China that unites all three major religions. The Wooden Pagoda of Yingxian (Yingxian Mu Ta), about 75 km to the south, is the oldest and tallest wooden pagoda in the world (built in 1056) at 67 meters. It has survived earthquakes, wars, and centuries — without a single nail in the entire construction. The restored old town of Datong, with its impressive Ming Dynasty city wall, offers insight into the historical border town between China and Mongolia. The Nine-Dragon Wall (Jiulong Bi) from 1392 is the oldest and largest of its kind in China.