Datong Travel Tips: First-Time Guide

Datong isn’t the kind of place you just “drop by.” It’s a city with more than 2,400 years of history, packed with dramatic Buddhist caves, atmospheric temples, and some of the most underrated cultural relics in northern China. Whether you’re here for the world-famous Yungang Grottoes or simply want a slower, more authentic slice of Chinese culture, this first-time guide to Datong will make your trip way easier. Below, you’ll find practical Datong travel tips that actually help.

Must-Visit Datong Attractions

Datong packs a lot into one city—UNESCO grottoes, cliffside temples, sacred mountains, and even volcanic landscapes. Here’s a simple, clear list of the top 10 attractions worth adding to your Datong travel guide.

Top Things to Do in Datong

When it comes to things to do in Datong, here are some handy Datong travel tips. Start with the cliff-hanging Hanging Temple and the thousand-year-old Buddha at Yungang Grottoes, one of China’s top Buddhist grottoes. Also, during your Datong tours, don’t miss the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, often compared to the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Eiffel Tower for its engineering. In the evening, the old city walls and Southeast Yi Historical & Cultural Block light up with colorful lanterns and projections—perfect for photos. 

Datong Weather Tips | Best Time to Visit Datong

The best time to visit Datong is from April to September, when the annual average temperature is 6.3 °C (43.34°F) despite the sharp temperature swings from day to night. Packing a warm layer is highly recommended. Summer is the rainy season in Datong, so keep an umbrella or a light rain jacket in your bag—you’ll be glad you did.

High season: April, May, September, and October

Shoulder season: June, July, and August

Lower season: November to March next year

Datong Itinerary Planning | How Many Days to Stay in Datong

Most travelers spend 2 to 4 days in Datong. In a two-day Datong travel, you can hit the highlights—visiting the must-see grottoes, temples, and wandering the old town. With three days, you’ll have extra time to explore Mount Heng, check out local museums, and stroll through historic streets. Four days lets you go at a more relaxed pace and discover some hidden gems around the city. 

Suggested Datong Itineraries

If you have five days or more, a trip to Pingyao Ancient City makes a perfect add-on to your itinerary.

>> Recommended 7 days Shanxi highlights tour with Datong and Pingyao

Datong Accommodation Tips

Trying to figure out where to stay in Datong? Go straight for the old town area. It just makes everything easier. You can walk to temples, try snacks anytime, and the streets feel super safe and chill at night. It’s the kind of place where you finish your day at Yungang, head back, and still have the energy to wander around and look for a late-night noodle bowl.

As for the best hotels in Datong, here are a few that travelers keep recommending—not only because they’re fancy, but also because they’re genuinely good places to crash after a long day out.

Datong Chateau Hotel – Big comfy rooms, friendly staff, and a location that saves your time.

Holiday Inn Datong City Center – Clean, modern, and reliable. It’s perfect if you like the “no surprises” type of hotel.

Yungang Meigao Hotel – Ideal if you want to be closer to the grottoes and avoid a long morning drive.

Local boutique guesthouses – Budget-friendly and full of personality. Besides, the owners usually have the best insider Datong travel tips.

Datong Food & Where to Eat in Datong

Datong’s cuisine is exactly what northern Chinese food should be—warm, filling, and designed for those crisp northern nights. Make sure to taste the knife-cut noodles, one of the most famous noodles to try in China. After that, you’ll be digging into warm lamb soup, picking up freshly made wheat pastries straight off the griddle, and ending with the local yellow rice cake—sweet, sticky, and surprisingly addictive.

Where to Eat

Datong Old Town Food Street – Great for wandering around and nibbling on different snacks. 

Around the Drum Tower – Packed with small eateries that serve big portions at very fair prices.

Family-run noodle shops – These are the real gems. Nothing fancy—just incredible noodles and the kind of hospitality only mom-and-pop shops give.

Datong Safety Tips

Before you explore all the temples, caves, and old-town streets, here are a few practical Datong travel tips to help you explore smoothly.

1. Stick to the official paths. Places like the Hanging Temple and Yungang Grottoes look amazing, but some spots are pretty steep or narrow. Just go with the marked trails and don’t poke around in closed-off corners.
2. Use the safety gear on cable cars and rides. If you’re taking a cable car, just buckle in properly and listen to the staff. Nothing complicated—just makes the whole ride feel a lot more chill.
3. Keep an eye on your stuff in busy areas. Datong gets lively in bus stations and markets. Keep your bag zipped, phone in hand, and when you’re snapping photos, make sure your camera or phone is secure so it doesn’t end up on the ground (or in someone else’s hand).
4. Check the weather before you go out. Datong’s weather changes fast. Bring sunscreen in summer, warm layers in winter, and a raincoat or umbrella just in case—storms show up fast here.
5. Carry a little cash. Some scenic areas have weak signals, so mobile payments may not work. Having cash on hand saves a lot of hassle.

Datong Travel Cost

Traveling in Datong won’t break the bank. How much you spend really depends on your style—how you get around, where you stay, and how many days you’re exploring. Food is cheap and filling, hotels have great value, and even the major sights are reasonably priced. A typical 3–4 day Datong trip, including transport, accommodation, tickets, and food, usually costs around 1,500–2,500 RMB (roughly 210–350 USD), which is enough to see the highlights without feeling rushed or overspending.

Datong Shopping Guide

For Datong souvenirs, you’ll find plenty of unique and handmade crafts around the old town. Dadong's local specialties include the art porcelain, copper wares, embroidered figurines, egg-engraving, paper-cutting, glazed objects, and dough figurines. These are great to bring home because they’re lightweight, artistic, and truly representative of Datong.

Datong Festivals

The Yungang & Mt. Hengshan Tourism Festival is held in July or August every year in Datong. During the festival, you can dive into Datong’s culture with local handicraft and product exhibitions, live opera and dance performances, and a lively food fair.

Datong Transportation Guide 

How to Get to Datong

By Air: Datong Yungang Airport (DAT), about 15 km from the city center. It connects to major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Xi’an. Once you land, the airport shuttle bus will get you to downtown for around 25 RMB.

By Train: If you’re coming from Beijing, Hohhot, or Taiyuan, Datong South Station is your high-speed train hub. The fastest ride from Beijing North takes just about 2 hours. Besides, Datong Railway Station sits in the city center and handles conventional trains—great if you’re coming from nearby Shanxi cities or smaller towns.

How to Travel around Datong

Bus: Datong’s bus network covers pretty much the whole city, and rides are super cheap—most attractions are just 2 RMB away. You can take the Tourist Bus 603 and go directly to the Yungang Grottoes.

Taxi: Taxis start at 8 CNY, and it’s easy to hop between attractions in Datong city. A ride to Yungang Grottoes usually costs 35–40 RMB.

Private car: Renting a car or hiring a private driver is your most flexible option for visiting far-flung spots like the Hanging Temple or Yingxian Wooden Pagoda.

Plan a Datong Tour with ETC

If you prefer a smooth trip without time spent figuring out transport or ticketing, consider traveling with Easy Tour China. We offer customized trips of Datong, from cultural walks to day trips to Mt. Hengshan. You can also browse our popular China tours with Datong and pick one that fits your style.

5-Day Shanghai Datong Tour

11-Day Nomadic China Tour with Datong

14-Day China History Tour on Bullet Train