4. DATONG

Datong is a small city located in mountainous Shanxi province. The people in this city have very little experience of dealing with foreigners. When I visited Datong in spring 2013, there was much construction all around the city. Many streets were being torn up while buildings were being torn down - and there was rubble and debris all over the city. Other than the city walls, there is not much to see in the city itself. The main attractions in Datong are not inside the city – but outside. The Hanging Temple is a pretty impressive architectural wonder, and the Yungang Grottoes are the second biggest in China, even bigger and better than Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, Henan province.

Visit:

Hanging Temple

Yungang Grottoes