'''Datong''' is a city in Shanxi Province in China.
Get in
By train
Beijing - an six-hour journey.
Daily overnight trains run from Beijing to Datong and from Datong to Beijing. A hardsleeper ticket costs around \250. 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 a daily morning train, starting at 8:50, costing \45 for a hardseater.
Pingyao - overnight train
Get around
By Bus
'''Bus 3-1''' - runs from the bus station to the Yungang Caves.
'''Bus 3-2''' - runs from the train staton into town and then to the Yungang Caves.
'''Bus 4''' - runs from the train station into town.
See
'''Drum Tower''' -Like many cities in China, Datong has its own Drum Tower. This is in the centre of town, but not open to the public.
'''The Hanging Monastery'''
'''Nine Dragon Screen''' - 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
'''Yungang Grottoes''' -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. Take bus #3-1 or #3-2.
'''Red Flag Square''' - Evenings around the Red Flag Square are quite entertaining and full of locals.
Do
Buy
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Budget
Feitian Binguan. Chezhan Qian Jie. 0352)2815117.
Mid-range
Hongqi Dafandian. ouchezhan BeiLu. 0352)2816813. 0352)2816671.
Yanbei Binguan. Yuhe Beilu. 0352)6024116. 0352)6027287.
Splurge
Datong Binguan. 7 Yingbin Xilu. 0352)2032476. 0352)2035174.
Get out