Geographic coordinates: E112°15′- E114°15′   N39°00′- 40°30′

Population: 3.21 m (2009)  

Area: 5,473 sq mi

Average altitude: 3,445 ft

Average temperature: 41.9℉ 

Annual rainfall: 15.7 in

IDD: 86 – 0352

Datong is located at the northern part of Shanxi Province and famous for its history and culture. It is an important traffic junction with great strategic importance. There are also abundant mineral resources of which the coal mine is the most famous which gives Datong the title Capital of Coal.

Datong is a city with a long history. As early as Paleolithic age, there were ancient people living in this area. During the Warring States Period (476 BC-221 BC), Datong region belonged to the Yanmen County of Zhao Kingdom. After Qin (221BC-206 BC) unified the whole of China, the Great Wall was built west of Datong City. Datong got the name Pingcheng County that means peaceful city in Chinese because of years of harsh battle with the Hun. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-589), Pingcheng was settled as the capital of Northern Wei Kingdom for 96 years and became ruinds at the year 526. After a long term of recovering, it became an important strategic county during Sui (581-618), Tang (618-907) and Five Dynasties (907-979). Liao Dynasty (916-1125) made Datong the auxiliary capital in 1044 and Jin (Kin) (1115-1234) retained it as a big city comprised of seven counties and three towns. During the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), Datong belonged to Zhongshu Province and had become a ’grandiose and beautiful city’ according to the description of the Italian traveler Marco Polo. In Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Datong belonged to Shanxi Province and became Datong County during the domination of Republic of China. Datong was invaded by Japanese army in 1937 and became the capital of the so-called Northern Shanxi Self-Government. Finally in 1949, Datong was peacefully liberated.  

Attractions

Yungang Grottoes   Suspending Temple   Huayan Temple   Shanhua Temple