Datong

Datong is a prefecture-level city in northern Shanxi Province, China. It sits on the northern edge of the Loess Plateau, near Inner Mongolia, and serves as a regional industrial and cultural center. The city governs several districts and counties, with its urban core surrounding the historic center.

Datong is known for several historic sites. The Yungang Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating from the 5th and 6th centuries, are among China's most important Buddhist cave complexes. The Hanging Monastery (Xuankong Si) is set on a cliff at Mount Heng and draws visitors for its unusual architecture. The Fogong Temple’s Wooden Pagoda in Yingxian County, completed in 1056, is one of the oldest and most revered wooden structures in China. The Ming-era city walls remain a visible reminder of the area’s historic defenses.

Datong's economy has long depended on coal mining and related heavy industry. The Datong Coal Mining Group has been a major employer, and the sector has shaped regional growth and environmental challenges. In recent years the city has sought to diversify into tourism and manufacturing, leveraging its historic sites to develop cultural and service industries while implementing pollution-control measures.

Transportation links include national highways, rail connections to nearby major northern cities, and Datong Yungang Airport. The climate is temperate continental with cold winters, warm summers, and relatively low annual precipitation.