City guide · Beijing & the North

Datong

Datong is a base for visiting Yungang, a Buddhist cave heritage site west of the city.

Start planning Read our Datong guides

Photo: Snowscat on Unsplash

Region

Beijing & the North

Best time

September to October is usually the most comfortable walking season.

How long

Give Datong three or four days for the main cluster.

Our guides

2 articles

Why Datong

The short version.

Drawn from our own Datong guides. Each point links the article it comes from.

Why go

Visit Yungang Grottoes, a World Heritage site with Northern Wei Buddhist caves and statues.
From our guide: Yungang Grottoes 2026: How to Visit the Datong Caves
Use Datong to connect Yungang with Hanging Temple and Yingxian Wooden Pagoda by car.
From our guide: Black Myth: Wukong in Real Life: The Shanxi Temples Behind the Game

Getting there

Reach Datong by high-speed rail from Beijing after arriving in China.
From our guide: Black Myth: Wukong in Real Life: The Shanxi Temples Behind the Game
Use a private car with driver for Hanging Temple, Yingxian, and other rural stops.
From our guide: Black Myth: Wukong in Real Life: The Shanxi Temples Behind the Game

Where to stay

Datong. Base yourself in Datong for Yungang and the nearby Hanging Temple and Yingxian loop.
From our guide: Black Myth: Wukong in Real Life: The Shanxi Temples Behind the Game

Pairs well with

Mount Wutai. Pair Datong with Mount Wutai as a separate detour day.
From our guide: Black Myth: Wukong in Real Life: The Shanxi Temples Behind the Game
Pingyao. Pair Datong with Pingyao for a separate Shanxi heritage stop including Shuanglin Temple.
From our guide: Black Myth: Wukong in Real Life: The Shanxi Temples Behind the Game

How we arrange your trip in Datong

Independent →Private Guided →

Your consultant for Datong

Momo

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Send your dates and what you want to see. Your trip brief notes that you asked to plan with Momo.

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China Guide

Our Datong guides.

Sights

Places, heritage and where to point a camera.

Region

Beijing & the North

More city guides in this region: Beijing, Pingyao, Qingdao, Taiyuan, Tianjin.

All of Beijing & the North

Plan your trip

Travel Datong your way.

Two ways to travel with LocalKey. Tell us your dates and who is coming, and a specialist replies with a route that fits Datong in.

Both are private and designed around you. The difference is support on the ground.
Topic	Independent	Private Guided
Hotels	Well-located hotels at sensible prices, simple ones included if you prefer.	Higher-category hotels, chosen for position and service.
Getting around	High-speed rail and public transport. We book the tickets and write step-by-step directions.	Private car and driver, door to door.
On the ground	You travel independently, with our team on WeChat or WhatsApp 7×24.	A local host in each city and private guides for the days that need them.
Tickets and entry	Attraction tickets and timed entries booked for you.	The same, plus appointments for special requests, confirmed in writing before you travel.

Both are private and designed around you. The difference is support on the ground.
Topic	Independent	Private Guided
Hotels	Well-located hotels at sensible prices, simple ones included if you prefer.	Higher-category hotels, chosen for position and service.
Getting around	High-speed rail and public transport. We book the tickets and write step-by-step directions.	Private car and driver, door to door.
On the ground	You travel independently, with our team on WeChat or WhatsApp 7×24.	A local host in each city and private guides for the days that need them.
Tickets and entry	Attraction tickets and timed entries booked for you.	The same, plus appointments for special requests, confirmed in writing before you travel.

Datong

The short version.

Why go

Getting there

Where to stay

Pairs well with

How we arrange your trip in Datong

Momo

Our Datong guides.

Sights

Beijing & the North

Travel Datong your way.

Where would you like to begin in China?