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Datong is a city in Shanxi Province in China.

The Hanging Monastery outside of Datong

[edit] Get in

[edit] By train

Trains from Beijing - an eight-hour journey.

Daily overnight trains run from Beijing to Datong and from Datong to Beijing. A hardsleeper ticket costs around 250,- Yuan. Booking tickets at the Datong train station can be difficult as for popular directions a large part of the tickets are hatched by black market sellers when they become available four days before the train runs. So book your tickets from Datong as early as possible. The night trains arrive and start from Beijing West Station (Beijing Xi Zhan).

The quickest way southwards (Shanghai, Hongkong, etc.) is over Beijing, and beside the night train there is is daily morning train, starting at 8:50, costing 45,- Yuan for a hardseater.

[edit] Get around

[edit] See

Huayan Monastery

• Like many cities in China, Datong has its own Drum Tower.
• The Hanging Monastery
• A 600-year-old screen made of glazed tiles and depicting nine dragons.
• The Huayan Monastery, which has the largest wooden shrine hall in China
• By far the greatest attraction of the area are the 1,500-year-old Yungang Grottoes. These mountain-side caves and recesses number more than 50 in all and are filled with 51,000 Buddhist statues - the largest being a 56-foot Seated Buddha while the smallest is only a few centimeters tall. In addition to the carvings of the Buddha, there are also scenes depicting Buddhist teachings and famous monks. The Yungang Grottoes are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Buses and taxis ply the ten mile route from Datong City to the Yungang.
• Evenings around the Red Flag Square are quite entertaining and full of locals.

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[edit] Sleep

[edit] Budget

[edit] Mid-range

[edit] Splurge

[edit] Get out