Beautiful history and very nice walk. It is definitely crowded in the summer vacation months though! Magnificent scale!

Amazing stone carvings from >1000 yrs ago, from small colourful statues to huge solem Buddhas. Preserved quite well! It is also amazing that admission is free for people over 60, regardless of nationality too.

The Grottes at Datong is an attraction that should not be overlooked. These ancient caves house intricately carved Buddha statues dating back to 5th century. The craftsmanship and detail in these sculptures are truly remarkable, offering a glimpse into the artistry and spiritual devotion of the time. As you explore the caves, you'll be captivated by the serene expressions and the impressive scale of the statues. This site not only provides a unique cultural and historical experience but also allows visitors to reflect on the enduring legacy of ancient civilizations. A visit to the Grottes at Datong promises to be both enlightening and awe-inspiring.

Absolutely breathtaking. I’m amazing at what humans were able to achieve this many years ago. I still get emotional thinking back to the visit. Grateful that these gems exist and are open for the world to see

Be prepared for crowds, which are relatively normal for tourist spots in China. All sculptures and paintings are spectacular and worth the visit. Travel there is not difficult - take the high-speed train from Beijing to Datong and then take a taxi to the Yungang Grottoes. It's better to stay a couple of days in Datong.

It's an amazing place, showing the spread of Buddhism across China. I'm comparing this to the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, and preferring that over this. The colors in Mogao are much more brilliant, perhaps because of better preservation n stricter management of tourists. At this Yungang Grottoes site, some of the old carvings are actually within reach of the public, and I clearly see children having a go at them while their parents click away. Still a good experience to see some amazing relics.

Buddism grattoes and statues created between 470-550 AD. Some are well preserved. Royal and nobleman spent their wealth trying to recreate the Budda Land discribed in Buddist scripture. - World heritage site - Rated 5A scenic site: plenty public amendities, convenient transport, good amount of english information board - Nice modern new musem inside the site - Sourvernier and book shop at last bus stop - Allow 2hrs for a brief visit, allow 4+ hours for a guided/detailed visit - !!! Avoid local public holidays, this apply to all tourist destination in China.

If you’re a history enthusiast, an art lover, or simply curious about Chinese culture, this is a must see site in Datong.

A beautiful place to come to explore. Kept clean and updated. Welcoming to tourists. Especially like the tall pagoda with a view of Datong and the copper basement. That was something unique.

Absolutely beautiful and wonderful, not many people know this place

An ancient temple from Tang dynasty

A great place to visit.

famous one

(Translated by Google) A historical treasure in the heart of Datong. Originating in the Tang Dynasty (8th century), although its current structure dates mostly from the Liao and Jin dynasties, it stands out as one of the best-preserved complexes from that period. The grounds exude peace and serenity. Its pavilions, pond (depending on the season), and oriental gardens invite you to stroll peacefully, read, or take photos in authentic settings. (Original) Un tesoro histórico en pleno corazón de Datong. Originado en la dinastía Tang (siglo VIII), aunque su estructura actual data mayormente de las dinastías Liao y Jin, destaca por ser uno de los complejos mejor conservados de aquel periodo. El recinto transmite paz y serenidad. Sus pabellones, estanque (dependiendo de la época del año) y jardines orientales invitan a pasear tranquilamente, leer o fotografiarse en rincones auténticos .

Beautiful example of Chinese architecture! I think the best time to admire this is in the evenings, near sundown where the light is warm!

(Translated by Google) The three-story Drum Tower of Datong with eaves and a cross on the top of the mountain is almost square in plan. It is a pavilion-style building in the Ming Dynasty. It was mostly repaired in the Qing Dynasty. It is the only remaining building in the ancient city of Datong with many pavilions. (Original) 三层出檐十字歇山顶的大同鼓楼，平面近似方形，是明代楼阁式建筑 ，清代多有修缮，是楼阁林立的大同古城硕果仅存的一座建筑。

(Translated by Google) Classic monument in the center of the old city, a road junction. (Original) Classico monumento al centro della città vecchia, punto di snodo stradale.

(Translated by Google) Datong Bell Tower and Drum Tower are not far apart and have similar shapes, so they are often mistaken. (Original) 大同钟楼、鼓楼距离不远，造型也相仿，经常搞错

(Translated by Google) Like all cities, its drum tower is worth admiring, especially at night as it is well illuminated. It is not necessary to enter. (Original) Como todas las ciudades, su torre del tambor es digna de admirar, sobre todo por la noche al estar bien iluminada. No es necesario entrar.

(Translated by Google) It looks better with lights on at night (Original) 晚上點燈比較好看

(Translated by Google) It looks quite stunning on the Antique Street side. (Original) 在仿古街那边看起来还是比较惊艳的。

A relatively new tourist attraction. Just a wall with nine elaborately carved dragons. Can visit if you happen to be in the area but nothing to scream about.

Is not free of charge but is a small fee of 10 RMB but you can see it from outside the fence. It is specially beautiful at sunset when they put the lights on.

9 dragon wall. China’s oldest and largest dragon wall. They were made to stop the evil spirits to enter the house and for privacy. Should visit this place if you visit Datong

Do not expect to see a nice and beautiful wall in a park. This is the original wall built at the start of the Ming Dynasty.It is not very big, but it is one of the three famous Nine Dragon Screen walls in China, and this is the oldest and most enduring one. It is partially restored so it may look a little tired.

A Nine-Dragon Wall or Nine-Dragon Screen (九龙壁; pinyin: Jiǔ Lóng Bì) is a type of screen wall with reliefs of nine different Chinese dragons. Such walls are typically found in imperial Chinese palaces and gardens. Early reference to the tradition of putting a screen wall at the gate is found in the Analects, 3:22: therein, it is mentioned as a trivial ritual norm ("The princes of States have a screen intercepting the view at their gates".

Stupendous and beautiful wall ceramic illustrating the nine Dragons🐉of power Superbly restored, very colorful

To me, its just a giant wall in a park

I think the map points wrong place. According to the map it looked located inside wall, but the place I visited was in the new district of the urban developing area. There is a university nearby. Museum itself is so wonderful, spent several hours. Where did I go on the map?

(Translated by Google) As a comprehensive geographical museum, the Datong City Museum has a rich collection of local historical relics. Its exhibition design is consistent with that of its branch, the Northern Dynasties Art Museum, and the content is partially repeated but each has its own emphasis. However, Xiaoxue still feels that the curation of the Datong City Museum is lacking. The exhibits have limited connection with the themes and text information descriptions. If visitors who know little about the relevant cultural background come here to visit, they will probably have seen it or not seen it. The exhibition hall of Datong City Museum mainly contains four basic exhibitions about the historical development of Datong, and two special exhibitions that are not sure why they are taken out separately. (Original) 大同市博物馆作为一座地志性综合博物馆，藏有丰富的当地历史文物，其展览设计与分馆北朝艺术博物馆具有一致性，内容部分重复但各有侧重。但小雪还是觉得大同市博物馆的策展有所欠缺，展品与主题、与文字信息描述关联有限，如果相关文化背景了解得少的访客来此参观的话大概就是看了跟没看一样。 大同市博物馆的展厅主要有四个关于大同这块土地上历史发展的基本陈列展，与两个不知道为何要单独拿出来的专题展。

Wrong location on google map. But it is a great place to visit, except that it is far away.

(Translated by Google) Getting to know a city can start with its museums, so the first stop in Datong was the Datong Museum. The museum needs to make reservations online in advance🎟️, especially on holidays, to avoid being unable to visit on the same day. The appearance of the Datong Museum is very artistic. It is surrounded by Datong Art Museum🎨, Grand Theater🎭 and Library📖. The four buildings make the entire area a business card and highlight of Datong. The museum is divided into 4 floors, 3 floors above ground + 1 floor underground. The above-ground part has four historical exhibition halls: "Vicissitudes of the Land", "Pingcheng of the Northern Wei Dynasty", "Xijing of the Liao and Jin Dynasties", and "Important Towns of the Ming and Qing Dynasties", which introduces the history of Datong from ancient times. The development process to modern times, and many cultural relics are on display. The layout of the exhibition hall and the design of the exhibits are obviously thoughtful. There are many "big scene" booths, which have a sense of historical images and are especially suitable for punching in and taking photos📷. The overall exhibition hall has a dark atmosphere, which is set off by lighting💡. Each exhibit is more prominent, and at the same time it also guides visitors, as if leading them along the long river of history to understand Datong and pay attention to Datong's human history. Interestingly, the museum also has a dinosaur exhibition area on the first floor. I think this is the exhibit category of the Natural History Museum. The Datong Museum is brought together to become a diversified museum. The first basement floor was originally a children's 🧒👧entertainment area🛝 and a dining area🍴, but now the children's entertainment area is closed and only dining is allowed. The entire Datong Museum is quite large, and even a quick tour would take 2 hours. There is also a cultural and creative shop and a stamping area on the first floor. Many parents and children are stamping stamps, hoping to pass the interesting museum. The stamp collection activity guides children to understand history. 📍Location & Transportation: The museum is on Taihe Road, and there are ample parking spaces🅿️. As a tourist, it is most convenient to drive to the "Datong City Museum" by driving. When there are more tourists on holidays, you will see many foreign vehicles parking temporarily on both sides of Taihe Road. , the local traffic control department should also give the green light as appropriate to facilitate tourists to visit. (Original) 认识一座城市可以先从博物馆开始，因此来到大同第一站就选择了大同博物馆。博物馆需要在网上提前进行预约🎟️，尤其是节假日，以避免当天无法参观。 大同博物馆的外观就很有艺术性，它周边还有大同市的艺术馆🎨、大剧院🎭和图书馆📖，四个建筑让整个这一片区域成为了大同的的一个名片和亮点。 博物馆分为4层，地上3层+地下1层，地上部分有“代地沧桑”、“北魏平城”、“辽金西京”、“明清重镇”四个历史展馆，介绍了大同从古至近代的发展历程，并有很多文物的展出。展馆的布局和展品的设计显然是动了心思，有很多“大场面”的展台，很有历史画面感，特别适合打卡拍照📷传播；展馆整体是暗色氛围，通过灯光💡的衬托，让每个展品更加突出，同时也为游客指引方向，就好似引领游客沿着历史的长河去了解大同，关注大同的人文历史。 有意思的是，博物馆在1层还有一个恐龙🦕🦖的展区，印象中这是自然博物馆的展品范畴，大同博物馆汇集在一起，成为了一座集多元化为一体的博物馆。地下1层原本是儿童🧒👧娱乐区🛝和就餐区🍴，但是现在儿童娱乐区是关闭的，只可以就餐。 整个大同博物馆还是很大的，即使走马观花看，也需要2个小时，在1层还有文创店和盖章区，看很多家长带着小朋友在盖章，也是寄希望于通过有趣的集章活动引导小朋友们了解历史。 📍位置&交通： 博物馆在太和路上，有充足的停车位🅿️，作为游客来讲自驾🚗「大同市博物馆」前往还是最方便的，节假日游客比较多的时候，看到太和路两侧有很多外地车临时停靠，当地的交管部门应该也是酌情开了绿灯，方便游客参观。

(Translated by Google) This underestimated national first-level museum offers free tickets and online reservations via WeChat. It has more than 170,000 items and a variety of cultural relics. There are also several different venues nearby. Each venue has unique architectural design and is world-class. Super architectural style, worth a visit. (Original) 這座被低估的國家一級博物館，免費門票，微信線上預約，現有館物17萬餘件，文物產品多樣性，同時有幾座不同場館也在附近，每個場館建築設計別緻，世界級建築造型，值得一來。

(Translated by Google) Free admission, not many tourists, and rich exhibits. (Original) 免費入場，遊客不多，展品豐富。

(Translated by Google) This is a city museum that requires advance reservations and is wheelchair-friendly🌟🔥I think it’s worth a visit, but there’s still room for improvement. 1. The exhibition layout lacks clarity, and the interpretive information feels rather superficial. 2. Some galleries are dimly lit, making it difficult to view the artifacts clearly. 3. The most regrettable thing is that as a museum where the main tourist group is Chinese, the Chinese version of the introduction here is even more obscure than the English version⁉️I hope there will be revisions and corrections in the future, so that history will not become something high and difficult to understand. ☺️ (Original) This is a city museum that requires advance reservations and is wheelchair-friendly🌟🔥I think it’s worth a visit, but there’s still room for improvement. 1. The exhibition layout lacks clarity, and the interpretive information feels rather superficial. 2. Some galleries are dimly lit, making it difficult to view the artifacts clearly. 3.最可惜的是，身为一座主要游客群体是中国人的博物馆，这里的中文版介绍竟比英文版更加晦涩难懂⁉️希望后续有修订改正，不要让历史变成高高在上很难理解的东西。☺️

This extraordinary temple is located on the west side of Cuiping Peak in the Ciyao Gorge of Hengshan Mountain. Also known as the Hanging Temple. the temple appears to hanging from the side of the mountain, 60 metres above ground. Besides being architecturally stunning, the temple is also unusual as it integrated Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. There is a quota of 1000 visitors daily and tickets are by ballot in the morning. I was not fortunate enough to enter the temple as I did not manage to secure a ticket :(

**IMPORTANT FOR FOREIGNERS Do not directly go to the hanging temple. Go to the hengshan visitor centre to buy tickets (1x entrance ticket and 1x shuttle bus ticket) to visit the hanging temple. Foreigners cannot buy tickets in advance (unless you book a tour which is very expensive imo) The shuttle bus ticket can also be used to go to two other hiking trail areas, though i did not try going there From datong, it took about 2 hours to arrive by taxi. We arrived at the visitor centre at 8am and arrived at the temple at 8:30am and the queue was already 30min long to enter. By 9am, the queue was 1h long The temple was quite cool, but it's always very crowded and is quite small, so please take note of that before visiting. Imo yungang grottoes > hanging temple, so if you only have one day in Datong, I would recommend visitingyungang grottoes instead

Another impressive ancient architecture and engineering by the mountain... it houses many Buddha and Taoism statues 🙏 RECOMMENDED TO VISIT at the end of October... low season, less crowded

This place is incredible and magnificent. A place not to be missed if you are in Datong. The architecture from thousand years ago is able to withstand the test of natural elements and time. Reach here at 8.30am with no crowds.

Built and hang on the mountains with the height 75m from ground. The temple is up to 1,500 years old, built during the Northern Wei period and underwent many renovations during the Later Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. The last time the temple was restored was in 1990.

In the visitor centre you buy a ticket( is actually two tickets one to the temple and another to the scenic area. If you dont want to enter inside you just need one ticket. No tickets. An be bought in advance as there is daily limit. You also need yo buy a ticket for the bus from the visitor centre to the temple in another counter just few meters away. I have a bit of vertigo so i left in the middle. The problem is that is quite narrow and there were too many people so I ended up stuck long time in the corridors.

Too crowded. The wait can be long. Foreign visitors could buy passes at the spot while Chinese will have to reserve in advance.

This pagoda was constructed under the rule of Emperor Daozong of Liao dynasty in 1056 in Ying County, Shanxi province. It is a beautiful and magnificent architecture standing at 67 metres, the oldest fully wooden pagoda still standing in China. The 9 stories tall pagoda housing the Buddhist temple is legendary as it survived seven earthquakes as well as the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Breathtaking piece of art work. The oldest structure in the world that’s completely held together by wood only. I could sit here and watch the pagoda for hours

The oldest and tallest wooden pagoda. It was built in 1056 in the Liao dynasty. On the ground floor of the pagoda stands a statue of Sakaymuni Buddha of 11 meters high. Apparently you cannot go up the pagoda, beyond the ground floor as during a renovation they removed part of the structure making it more unstable.

The oldest and tallest wooden pagoda. Nothing much accept for the pagoda. There are some local delights not to be missed. 二女凉粉， recommended by our local guide

The wooden pagoda may be known to every visitor as one of the oldest wooden pagodas if not the oldest in the world. However, it’s only when one stands right beneath it that one starts to appreciate the ingenuity of the pagoda’s designers. Each of its levels may look similar yet so different - feeding the eyes of the visitor with varying proportions and intricate craftsmanship. On different levels are horizontal placards on which are written words of wisdom or blessing. The big tall wooden pillars surrounding the tower also caught my eyes. Its coat of paint has blistered and flaked; the wood on every square inch of the pillar has cracked. The closer I looked (see photos), the more I wondered how much longer these pillars could do the job of supporting such a huge structure. But then they have been for hundreds of years and are likely to continue for many more. They are after all the integral part of a holy place and are protected by a mighty force which in turn is protected by the tower. The tower is primarily built to protect a gigantic Buddha right beneath its roof. Standing at the feet of the Buddha and looking upwards, I quickly felt the majestic and imposing aura radiating from its torso all the way to its head. One marvels at this pagoda more when it is made known that the structure has remained intact through several earthquakes and after being hit by cannon balls during war time.

An impressive ancient architecture and engineering... a holistic place too 😊 RECOMMENDED TO VISIT in the end of October... low season, less crowded

Amazing wooden structure tower with long and rich history

Definitely worth visiting when you are in Datong.

I Think This is a wrong location of Huayan Temple Huayan Temple is inside the datong city wall

This is temple with the same name but not the famous one. The famous Huayan Temple is inside ancient city wall on opposite direction.

(Translated by Google) The only paid attraction in Datong Ancient City is also the most famous and oldest royal temple in the Liao and Jin Dynasties. The temple is dominated by Buddha statues and murals in the Great Hall and Lower Huayan Temple. Although the Huayan Pagoda is a newly rebuilt pagoda, it has the relics of Yuan Dynasty monks in the underground palace. It is a must-visit for tourists to Datong Ancient City. (Original) 在大同古城內唯一的收費景點也是古城內名氣最大歷史最久的的遼金時代的皇家寺廟、寺廟中以大雄寶殿和下華嚴寺的佛像和壁畫為主、華嚴寶塔雖然是重建的新寶塔但是在地宮內有著元代高僧的舍利子、來大同古城旅遊則必遊此處

(Translated by Google) If you live in Datong, you can buy a ticket to visit Huayan Temple first and then Yungang Grottoes. If you have already visited Yungang Grottoes and then visit Huayan Temple, there will be a big gap. (Original) 如果住大同可以買票參觀，先看華嚴寺再去看雲崗石窟。如果已經看了雲崗石窟再看華嚴寺就落差很大。

(Translated by Google) It's large in scale, there are a lot of people, and it's not as hot as other areas even if you travel in the summer, so it's good. After visiting, there's shopping and street food nearby. (Original) 규모가 큽니다 사람도 많고 여름에 여행하여도 다른지역에 비해 덥지 않아 좋습니다 관람 후 주위에 쇼핑 및 길거리 음식도 있습니다

(Translated by Google) Huayan Temple in Datong, Shanxi Province is located in the northeast corner of Datong City. It is one of the famous Buddhist temples in China. It was built in the Liao Dynasty and has a profound historical and cultural heritage. The temple is surrounded by beautiful environment and convenient transportation. There are many bus routes nearby. There are also many historical sites and tourist attractions around Huayan Temple, such as Datong City Wall, Nine Dragon Wall, Shanhua Temple, etc., which attract a large number of tourists. There are traditional Chinese buildings and streets next to the temple. There are shops on both sides, selling various local snacks and handicrafts, providing tourists with a rich shopping and food experience. Whether it is a religious believer or a history lover, this is an ideal place to visit. (Original) 山西大同華嚴寺位於大同市城內東北隅，是中國著名的佛教寺院之一，始建於遼代，具有深厚的歷史和文化底蘊。寺廟周邊環境優美，交通便利，附近有多條公交線路通達。華嚴寺周圍還有多處歷史遺跡和旅遊景點，如大同城牆、九龍壁、善化寺等，吸引了大量遊客。寺廟旁有傳統的中式建築和街道，兩側商鋪林立，售賣著各種當地特色的小吃和手工藝品，為遊客提供豐富的購物和美食體驗。無論是宗教信仰者還是歷史愛好者，這裡都是一個理想的遊覽之地。