Datong is a city in northern Shanxi, near the borders with Hebei and Inner Mongolia, and it was the capital of the Northern Wei dynasty from 398 until 494. That history left it the Yungang Grottoes, and the region around it holds two more landmarks, the Hanging Temple and the Wooden Pagoda of Yingxian. Travelers usually come on the way between Beijing and Pingyao or Xi’an.
| Yungang Grottoes | carved mainly 453 to 495; 51 main caves, over 1,100 niches and over 51,000 statues; UNESCO World Heritage since 2001 |
|---|---|
| Largest figure and cave | tallest Buddha 17 m; Cave 6, the largest, is about 20 m high |
| Hanging Temple | in Hunyuan County; 40 rooms propped by 27 wooden beams, about 90 m above the valley floor; national protected site since 1982 |
| Wooden Pagoda of Yingxian | begun 1056; 67.31 m, the oldest surviving wooden pagoda in China |
| Northern Wei capital | 398 to 494, when the court moved to Luoyang |
Yungang Grottoes
The grottoes lie at the foot of Wuzhou Mountain, about a kilometer of cliff on the north bank of the Wuzhou River. Work began in 453, and Chinese Wikipedia describes them as the first large grotto complex in China organized by the imperial court. The monk Tanyao asked in 460 to carve five caves, now numbered 16 to 20 and known as the Tanyao Five Caves, which are the earliest and grandest of the group. The caves split into east, middle and west sections. Early figures show Gandharan and Gupta influence, with fuller faces and high topknots. Under Emperor Xiaowen the style became more Chinese, with clothing closer to that of southern court officials. Carving slowed after the capital moved to Luoyang in 494. The site became a national protected site in 1961 and a World Heritage Site in 2001.
Hanging Temple
The Hanging Temple is built into a recess in a cliff in Hunyuan County, with its highest point about 90 meters above the valley floor. Twenty-seven wooden beams, about 50 centimeters thick and soaked in tung oil, are set into the rock and carry much of the structure, and a channel cut in the rock above diverts falling stones. It has 40 rooms linked by corridors and walkways, and shrines to Confucius, Laozi and the Buddha sit together at the highest point. Accounts of its founding differ, and one dates it to 491, but the buildings you see are from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Narrow walkways limit how many visitors enter at once, so expect queues at busy times.
Wooden Pagoda of Yingxian
Fogong Temple’s Sakyamuni Pagoda in Ying County, Shuozhou, is the oldest surviving wooden pagoda in China and was recognized by Guinness in 2016 as the world’s tallest wooden pagoda. It dates from 1056, stands 67.31 meters tall, and has five visible floors plus four hidden ones. It survived several earthquakes and shelling in 1926 and 1948. Repair plans were disputed from the 1970s until 2013. Check access before you go, since visits to the interior can be restricted.
Getting there and how long to stay
Datong sits on the rail line between Beijing and Taiyuan, and many travelers use it as a stop between Beijing and Pingyao or Xi’an. Give it one full day for the grottoes and the city, and a second for the Hanging Temple and the Wooden Pagoda, which lie to the south and east of the city. For the rest of the route, see our guides to Pingyao, Beijing and our China tours.
Planning Datong with Absolute Asia Tours
Absolute Asia Tours has planned private trips in Asia since 1989. For Datong that means a driver for the long hops between sites, a guide who can read the grotto art, and a hotel inside the walled city. We’re rated 4.8 out of 5 across about 900 traveler reviews. See our China tours or tell us your dates.
Sources (read in Chinese, Chinese Wikipedia): 云冈石窟, 悬空寺, 应县木塔, 大同市. Last checked November 2026.
Datong: FAQ
What is Datong famous for?
The Yungang Grottoes, a World Heritage Site, plus the Hanging Temple and the Wooden Pagoda of Yingxian in the surrounding region.
How many statues are at the Yungang Grottoes?
More than 51,000 statues in over 1,100 niches, across 51 main caves, carved mainly between 453 and 495.
How old is the Hanging Temple?
One account dates its founding to 491 under the Northern Wei, but the buildings you see were rebuilt in the Ming and Qing dynasties.
How tall is the Wooden Pagoda of Yingxian?
67.31 meters. It was begun in 1056 and is the oldest surviving wooden pagoda in China.
How many days do you need in Datong?
One full day for the grottoes and the city, and a second day for the Hanging Temple and the pagoda.
Photo: Dudva, Wikimedia Commons, CC0. Cave 20 at the Yungang Grottoes.
