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Yungang Grottoes, Hanging Temple, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda...

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Datong Tour

As the second largest city in Shanxi Province, Datong is situated in the far north, near the border with Inner Mongolia, a 6-hour train ride or 5-hour drive from Beijing.

In the year of 398 AD, Datong was set up as the capital city of Bei Wei Dynasty (386AD-534AD). In 493 AD, Bei Wei Dynasty moved its capital city to Luoyang. The 97-year as a Bei Wei capital has left huge cultural heritage of that time to Datong.

In a valley at Yungang, some 16km west of Datong, there are more than 45 recesses dug into the hills and filled with Buddhist statues of various sizes and shapes, 51,000 altogether, later called Yungang Grottoes ( Cloud Ridge Caves ) listed UNESCO World Heritage in 2001.

At the foot of Mt.Hengshan, 65 kilometers from downtown Datong City is located Hanging Monastery with over 1500-year history, first built 491 AD. The temple hangs on the west cliff of a hill with over 50 meters above the ground, hence Hanging Monastery. The biggest attraction of Hanging Temple is the fact that the temple includes Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism.

Located in the Yingxian County 75 km south of Datong, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda was first built in 1056 during the Liao Dynasty ((916AD-1125AD). It is the oldest and largest wooden Buddhist pagoda in existence in the world. It was built without using any nails. It is admired as one of the Three Wonders of Pagoda in the world" together with Eiffel Tower in France and leaningTower of Pisa in Italy.

In the city center of Datong, there are many historic sites like Huayan Temple, Nine-dragon Wall and Shanhua Temple with over 1000-year history.





Best Selling Beijing Datong Weekend Rail Tour:

Datong 3 Day Rail Tour from Beijing: A 3-day Rail Tour from Beijing to Datong. Discover the wonders of this ancient city. Includes round trip Beijing-Datong train tickets. Visit Yungang Grottoes ( Cloud Ridge Caves ) listed UNESCO World Heritage in 2001. Explore Hanging Monastery with over 1500-year history, at the foot of Mt.Hengshan, 65 kilometers from downtown Datong City.

Datong Private Tours:

Datong One Day Highlight Private Tour	Tour Code: DTP-01
Attractions: Yungang Grottoes, Nine Dragon Screen, Shanhua Monastery, Huayan Temple Vehicle: Private Car, Van or coach Service: Lunch + entrance fees + private tour guide & driver + private car / van or coach from US$ 55 per person

Datong One Day Excursion Tour	Tour Code: DTP-02
Attractions: Hanging Temple, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda Vehicle: Private Car, Van or coach Service: lunch + entrance fees + private tour guide & driver + private car / van or coach from US$ 70 per person

Datong 2 Day Private Tour Packages	Tour Code: DTP-03
Attractions: Yungang Grottoes, Nine Dragon Screen, Huayan Temple, Hanging Temple, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda Vehicle: Private Car, Van or coach Service: hotel+ lunch + entrance fees + private tour guide & driver + private car / van or coach from US$ 175 per person

Beijing - Datong Private Tours:

Beijing Datong 2 Day Round Trip by private car or van	Tour Code: BDTP-01A
Attractions: Yungang Grottoes, Nine Dragon Screen, Hanging Temple, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda Vehicle: Private Car, Van or coach Service: hotel + meals + entrance fees + private tour guide & driver + private car / van or coach from US$ 320 per person

Beijing Datong 4 Day Round Trip by Daytime Train	Tour Code: BDTP-01
Attractions: Yungang Grottoes, Nine Dragon Screen, Huayan Temple, Hanging Temple, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda Vehicle: Private Car, Van or coach Service: Train + hotel+ meals + entrance fees + private tour guide & driver + private car / van or coach from US$ 405 per person

Beijing Datong 4 Day Round Trip by Overnight Train to and Daytime Train back	Tour Code: BDTP-02
Attractions: Yungang Grottoes, Nine Dragon Screen, Huayan Temple, Hanging Temple, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda Vehicle: Private Car, Van or coach Service: Train + hotel + meals + entrance fees + private tour guide & driver + private car / van or coach from US$ 360 per person

Beijing Datong 4 Day Round Trip by Overnight Train	Tour Code: BDTP-03
Attractions: Yungang Grottoes, Nine Dragon Screen, Huayan Temple, Hanging Temple, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda Vehicle: Private Car, Van or coach Service: Train + hotel+ meals + entrance fees + private tour guide & driver + private car / van or coach from US$ 335 per person

Beijing Datong Wutaishan 6 Day Round Trip by Daytime Train	Tour Code: BDTP-04
Attractions: Yungang Grottoes, Nine Dragon Screen, Huayan Temple, Hanging Temple, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda,Pusa Ding, Xiantong Temple and Ten Thousand Buddha Pavillion in Wutaishan Vehicle: Private Car, Van or coach Service: Train + hotel+ meals + entrance fees + private tour guide & driver + private car / van or coach from US$ 610 per person

Beijing Datong Pingyao Xian Luoyang Tour (various 5-8 day combo tours)

From Beijing Beijing Datong Xian 5 Day Tour from $ 430 Beijing Luoyang Xian 5 Day Tour from $ 470 Beijing Datong Pingyao Xian 6 Day Tour from $ 440 Beijing Datong Xian Luoyang 7 Day Tour from $ 640 Beijing Datong Pingyao Xian Luoyang 8 Day Tour from $ 680 From Xian Xian Datong Beijing 5 Day Tour from $ 412 Xian Pingyao Beijing 5 Day Tour from $ 310 Xian Pingyao Datong Beijing 7 Day Tour from $ 480 Xian Luoyang Beijing 4 Day Tour from $ 365

Datong Travel Information

Train travel to Datong
Travel to Datong by train is the most preferred way of transportation used by visitors who want to make a fast side trip to Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple in Datong from Beijing, Hohhot, Xian or from Taiyuan and Pingyao. Datong Railway Station is located in the north of the city center.

Over a dozen of trains ( daytime or night trains ) from Beijing to Datong, the train ride takes about 6 hours, 374km, soft berth RMB 159, no high-speed trains yet, mainly due to the numerous channels through the rugged mountains lying between Beijing and Datong. Beijing - Datong K23 (07:47 - 13:51), K43 (11:51 - 18:16), K278 (23:30 - Next morning 06:36; Xian - Datong 2672 (22:48 - 15:19), 16 1/2 hours, rmb 223 soft; Hohhot - Datong K44 (09:16 - 13:32), T284 (12:14 - 16:24), K598 (18:29 - 22:52), over 4 hours, rmb 142, soft; Taiyuan - Datong K7802 (08:56 - 14:39), K892 (16:45 - 22:35), around 6 hours, rmb 150 soft; Pingyao - Datong 2604 (13:15 - 21:21), 8 hours, rmb 187 soft.

The main trains starting from Datong to the major destinations including Beijing, Hohhot, Taiyuan, Pingyao and Xian. Datong - Beijing K24 or K4 (08:11 - 14:04), K44 (13:40 - 19:37), K1112 (22:20 - 04:35); Datong - Hohhot K278 (06:48 - 10:47), 1714 (08:42 - 13:04), T282 (17:44 - 21:45); Datong - Taiyuan K7807 (07:45 - 13:25), K7801 (15:21 - 20:56); Datong - Pingyao K7807 (07:45 - 15:06); Datong - Xian 2671 (16:40 - 08:43).

Flight travel to Datong
Datong airport is located about 15km east of the city of Datong. Daily flight between Beijing and Datong, RMB 400 + 130 Tax, Beijing - Datong CA1119 (07:20 - 08:25), Datong - Beijing CA1120 (09:15 - 10:20); Daily flight between Guangzhou and Datong, Guangzhou - Datong CZ3705 (08:35 - 12:40), Datong - Guangzhou CZ3706 (13:30 - 17:45); Daily flight between Shanghai and Datong, Shanghai Datong MU5247 (17:00 - 19:00), Datong - Shanghai Mu5248 (20:40 - 23:40).

Overland Travel to Datong
Datong is well connected by expressways to Beijing, Hohhot, Taiyuan, Pingyao, Xian...
Datong holds 4 long-distance bus stations, that is South Station, North Station, Xinpinwang Station and New South Station.
The South Station is situated in No.20, Yantong West Road mainly being bound for Beijing, Tangshan, Shijiazhuang, Chongqing, Jinan, Luoyang, Baoding, Baochang, Huhehaote, Baotou,etc. Consulting Tel: 0352-6036784
The North Station is about 100-meter west of the railway station, mostly driving up to Taiyuan, Shuozhou and so on. Consulting Tel: 0352-2814880
Xinpingwang Station is mainly bound for Beijing or within the range of the city.
Consulting Tel: 0352-4042099
The New South Station holds the buses driving up to Beijing, Taiyuan, as well as interprovince. Take Bus 11, 15, 28, 30, 201 and you will get there. Consulting Tel: 0352-5025555
Hourly long-distance bues running between Beijing (Liuliqao Long-distance station) and Datong, around 5 hours, approx. rmb 200; Half hourly buses between Datong ( The New South Station ) and Taiyuan.

When to Visit in Datong
Datong has a warm continental monsoon climate with four distinct seasons. There is difference in temperature during day and night in Datong. April to October is regarded as the best time to visit Datong. Coming from different places, people have their own favorite time or seasons to plan Datong Tours.

High season: April, May, Sept and October
Shoulder season: June, July and August
Lower season: November to March next year

Datong City Layout
Datong is a walkable city. It is quite easy to memorize the main streets of the downtown area in Datong. It has four main streests, namely Dabeijie ( Big North Street ), Dadongjie ( Big East Street ), Dananjie ( Big South Street ) and Daxijie ( Big West Street ). Its layout is similar to that of Xian or Pingyao, but the sad thing is that its ancient walls are non-exitent!.

Red Flag Square, the largest square in Datong is the center of Datong with many activities going on among the local people.

The city major attractions ( Nine-dragon Wall,Huayan Temple and Shanhua Temple) are easily accessible on foot within the downtown area.

The site of Yungang Caves is 16 KM in the west suburb with a public Bus No.3-2 - a tourist bus starting from Datong Train Station or Red Flag Square to Yungang Grottoes. There are 25 stops on the line taking about 40 minutes to get there.

Hanging Temple is located 65km in Hunyuan County, southeast of Datong while Yingxian Wooden Pagoda 70km, south of Datong. Hanging Temple and Yingxian Wooden Pagoda are only 55km apart.

Datong Railway Station lies just north of the downtown Datong and its airport is located about 15km east of Datong.

Get around in Datong
The best way to get around in Datong is walking. If you feel tired, Datong taxis are very cheap, going to anywhere within the city costing you within rmb 10.

The bus lines are a little complicated and avoid to use them. But if you are going to Yungang Grottoes, it is convenient to take the public bus 3-2 starting from Datong Railway Station or Red Flag Square directly taking you from the city center to Yungang Caves 16km west of Datong.

To visit either Hanging Temple and Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, you are advised to rent a private car or van since there is no direct bus line connectng them, or you may join the local organized day tour including Hanging Temple and Yungang Grottoes.

Where to Stay in Datong
With years'fast development, though small and a bit remote, Datong has an increasing number of hotel options basically meeting different budget travelers from budget to luxury hotels.

Datong Budget Hotels
Jinjiang Inn (Datong Zhenhua Street) Add: 90, Zhenhua South Road, Datong Tel: 0352-2128666 2128333
Home Inn (Datong Yingbin Road) Add: Yingbin Road, Datong Tel: 400 820 3333
Hongqi Hotel (Huangcheng) Add: Datong Railway Station Front Street, Datong Tel: 0352--5366666 0352--5366111

Datong Midrange & Luxury Hotels:
Garden Hotel Add: Nan Dajie 59, Datong Tel: 0352 5865888
Holiday Inn Datong City Centre Add: 37 Yingbin Road, Datong Tel: 0352-2118888
Yungang Jianguo Hotel Add: No.21 East Road, Datong Yingbin Tel: 0352 5066666
Yungang International Hotel ADD: No.38 Da Xi Street, Datong Tel: 0352-5869999
Howard Johnson Jindi Plaza Datong Add: No. 88 Pingcheng Street, Datong Tel: 0352 603 9999
Datong Hotel Add: No1 Yuhe North Road, Datong Tel: 0352-6082999

What to See in Datong
Located in the north of Shanxi Province, Datong is one of the famous historical and cultural cities in China, and it was the capital of Beiwei State more than 1,500 years ago. Now it is an energy resources and heavy chemical base and abundant in coal especially, so it is also called “coal city”.

The main sights in Datong are Yungang Grotto, Hanging Temple, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, Nine-dragon Wall, Huayan Temple, Shanhua Temple, etc. Because it is very cold in winter and rather cool in summer, Datong it a good place in summer. Spring and summer are the best seasons for traveling.

Where to Dine in Datong
Rabbit head
The locals in Datong has a long history to eat rabbit head. Its meat is plump, tender and smooth. Red oil Rabbit and Hot Rabbit head is suitable for enthusiast of hot taste.

Guangling Toufu Curd
Toufu Curd is common in most of the places, however, Guangling Toufu Curd has a distinctive flavor. With a history of 100 years, Guangling Toufu Curd is made of the certain well water and superior soybean with unique seasonings such as salt, fennel, pepper, as well as ginger.

Yellow Cake
A homely deli in Datong. With glutinous millet flour as material, knead the flour into shiver then steam. After steam, knead it again smearing with gingili oil to prevent the scarfskin from drying and cracking. Divided it into pieces, taking with the puree. It is chewy, soft, fragrant and appetitive...

What to Buy in Datong
As the important material distributing center of Shanxi, Hebei and Monglia, the market in Datong makes you reluctant to return just as its view. Its featured specialities tell the ancient story of Datong and witness its development of long history.

Its commercial area mainly gathers in Da Xi Jie, Si Pai Lou and Xiao Nan Jie. There you can find the largest Department Store, Shopping Marketplace, special stores for women and children. The Commodities are high quality and cheap.

How to Enjoy Nightlife in Datong
Comparing to big cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, the nightlife in Datong is a little fade, but you could find your own position here. Most of the entertainment places such as KTV, Bars gather along the Sipailou area, where is the place of young men.

Dancing and singing here could take away the fatigue. The performances in these bars are less exquisiter, but more native. It is easy, simple played by the local music enthusiasts to release the peeve, oppression of the daylight.

Datong Travel Guide
History: During its long history, China has had many capitals. More than 1,500 years ago, Datong was the honored city. Its border location in the northern part of Shanxi Province, a notch south of Inner Mongolia, made it a convenient meeting place for many nationalities to exchange goods and ideas.

In the first century, Buddhism made its way from India to China, where it flourished. It became the state religion during the Northern Wei Dynasty, and in 460 A.D. work began on a temple/monastery complex to sanctify the Buddha, The Enlightened One. For the next three decades, monks and slaves labored alongside each other with simple hand tools. Together they honeycombed the sandstone mountain and filled countless niches with carvings that illustrate the philosophical concept of the "thousand Buddhas", symbolizing the Buddha"s omnipresence through time and space.

Climate: Situated at the northeastern edge of the Loess Plateau (Huangtu gaoyuan), Datong has a continental monsoon climate with four distinctive four seasons. The average annual temperature is about 6.8 degrees Celsius, with sharp temperature difference between day and night. The temperatures considerably throughout the year, with a high of 38 degrees Celsius in the summer months of July and August, and a low of around -25 in January and February.

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