Datong

This add-on is a 4-day tour of Datong that can be booked in conjunction with any of our Signature China group tours, private tours or tailor-made tours.

An ancient cultural city dating back more than 2,000 years, Datong is located in Northern Shanxi Province. The Datong region’s biggest attraction is the UNESCO-listed Yungang Caves. Built more than 1,500 years ago, the 53 caves are a treasure trove of ancient Buddhist art comprising of a fine collection of carved-sandstone Buddhist figures. In its heyday some 51'000 statues in 1000 grottoes were present.

Day 1 – Overnight train to Datong
From Beijing you take an overnight sleeper train to Datong. Overnight – Sleeper Train

Day 2 – Datong
You arrive into Datong early giving you a whole day to explore the area. Take a guided sightseeing walk around the Yungang Grottoes (some of the first and grandest of Buddhist grottoes containing intricately carved buddhas of all shapes and sizes), Huayan Temple, Nine Dragon Wall and Shanua Temple. The Nine Dragon Wall is a 600-year-old Nine-Dragon Screen made up of glazed tiles, the 50-m ceramic wall depicts a fire breathing dragon. Overnight – Datong (B, L, D)

Day 3 – Datong
Today you head over to the Hanging Temple and the Wood Pagoda for more sightseeing. The Hanging Temple is a sight to behold and is a structure that seriously defies gravity. Constructed on an impossibly precipitous rockface, it literally hugs the cliff. Overnight – DatongB, L, D)

Day 4 – Train to Beijing
This morning you take the day train back to Beijing (B)