CN · Shanxi · 40.10°N 113.37°E

datong

Sandstone Buddhas, painted temple halls and broad city walls in northern Shanxi.

Best time
May–June and September–October are best. December–February is bitterly cold and dry; summer is warm but much less humid than southern China.
How long
2 days
Getting there
Fly direct from KL to Beijing (about 6.5 hours), then take the high-speed train from Beijing North or Qinghe to Datong South (about 2 hours). Malaysians can visit mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days.
Save postcard
CN · Shanxidatong40.10°N 113.37°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Sandstone Buddhas, painted temple halls and broad city walls in northern Shanxi.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingDatongCN, Shanxi
KLdatong
≈ 4,275 km from KL, as the crow flies
Datong, located in Shanxi Province, China, is a historic city renowned for its rich cultural heritage and industrial significance. Famous for the Yungang Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with ov

Photo: xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0

1 / 5

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

A coal-mining city near the Great Wall that was once capital of the Northern Wei dynasty, which carved the Yungang Grottoes outside town. The walls of the old centre were largely rebuilt in recent years, but the cave Buddhas, old temples and the nearby Hanging Temple are the real thing.

Makan

  1. Knife-cut noodlesThick noodles shaved straight from the dough into boiling water.Map ↗
  2. Hunyuan liangfenCold bean-starch jelly with vinegar, garlic and chilli.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Yungang GrottoesOver 250 caves of Buddhas carved into sandstone in the 5th century, the biggest about 17 metres tall.Map ↗
  2. Hanging TempleA 1,500-year-old temple clinging to a cliff on wooden stilts, about 1.5 hours away.Map ↗
  3. Huayan TempleLiao-dynasty timber halls with old Buddhist statues and painted ceilings.Map ↗
  4. Nine-Dragon WallA 600-year-old glazed-tile screen of nine dragons, the largest of its kind in China.Map ↗
  5. City wallsA rebuilt circuit of walls to walk or cycle round.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Yungang is west of town and the Hanging Temple southeast; a hired driver can do both in a day.
  • Lanzhou-style halal noodle shops (look for the qingzhen, 清真, signs) are the easy halal option.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.