Plan at a glance
Location and scope
Datong Ancient City is in Pingcheng District. The usual entry points are Yongtai Gate on the south side and Qingyuan Gate on the west. It works well for walking, historic buildings, street wandering and an evening visit; the old city itself is free to enter and does not require a reservation.
How much time to allow
For a first visit, allow 3–4 hours for walking through the old city and choose 1–2 of Huayan Temple, Shanhua Temple, the Nine-Dragon Screen and Dai Prince's Palace for an interior visit. If you plan to enter several paid attractions, allow at least half a day.
A practical pace
Separate paid attraction visits from street walking: visit a temple first, then continue to Drum Tower West Street or dinner. Most movement in the old city is outdoors, so shorten the stay according to the actual feel of winter temperatures or strong winds.
Tickets and visit details
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Main sights inside the old city
Huayan Temple is the place for Liao–Jin architecture, the Mahavira Hall and the Bojia Jiaocang Hall. Shanhua Temple has a compact central axis, Liao–Jin halls and painted sculptures. The Nine-Dragon Screen is a short visit focused on a glazed screen, while Dai Prince's Palace centres on the southern glazed Lingxing Gate and its sequence of courtyards. All four have separate tickets and on-site management.
Who this suits
Visitors interested in historic buildings and history can make the two temples the daytime focus. Architectural photographers can look for different elevations around Qingyuan Gate, Dai Prince's Palace Lingxing Gate, the White Pagoda at Fahua Temple and Drum Tower. The old city also suits first-time visitors who want one continuous walk to get a feel for the city; night markets, restaurants and street activities vary by day.
For a dedicated route on the restored wall, see Datong Ancient City Wall.
Build your day
A classic daytime route
Enter through Yongtai Gate (South Gate), walk first to Shanhua Temple, then pass the Confucian Temple and Drum Tower before continuing to Huayan Temple, the Nine-Dragon Screen and finally the Lingxing Gate of Dai Prince's Palace. This 3–4-hour route is mainly a walking connection, with entry into no more than 1–2 paid attractions; schedule at least half a day if you plan to enter several. Temple interiors follow their own ticketing and opening arrangements, and the Nine-Dragon Screen and Dai Prince's Palace still require separate admission even though they are next to each other.
A short walk and evening route
With only 1–2 hours, go straight to Huayan Temple Square, walk to the outside of the Nine-Dragon Screen, and finish with a stretch of local street life along Drum Tower West Street. For an evening walk, enter from around Qingyuan Gate after 19:00 and pass Drum Tower, Sipaifang and Taiping Tower in sequence. If you also plan to go up the city wall that day, treat it as a separate stop and count the 7.2-kilometre circuit separately from the old-city walk.
Keep paid attractions separate
Interior visits to the temples and the palace take a set amount of time, while the Nine-Dragon Screen works well as a short stop between them. Each attraction has its own closing time, and restaurant queues or ticketing should be planned separately from interior visits.
Get there
Bus and taxi
Take buses 38 or 61 and get off at Huayan Temple or Qingyuan Street, then walk into the old city's central area. A taxi can go directly to Yongtai Gate, Qingyuan Gate or a named attraction; the old city is large, so agreeing on the drop-off point helps avoid unnecessary driving inside it.
Driving and getting around inside the city
There are pedestrian streets between the core attractions, and some roads are one-way. Outside vehicles and shared bicycles cannot enter every central section. Drivers can consider the parking lot west of Dai Prince's Palace, which costs about CNY 5 per day; the underground parking at Huayan Temple is about CNY 4 per hour, while parking near the south gate requires checking the charging method first. Shared bicycles work better outside the core area; walking is the usual way to move between temples and pedestrian streets.
Know before you go
Tickets, queues and evening plans
Entry to the old city is free, while Huayan Temple, Shanhua Temple, the Nine-Dragon Screen and Dai Prince's Palace sell tickets or manage entry separately. Free entry to the old city does not cover these independent attractions. Popular restaurants such as Fenglin Pavilion and Xijindao (喜晋道) may have queues; Fenglin Pavilion accepts advance queue numbers through its official mini-program. Lighting, live shows, molten-iron flower displays, night markets and restaurant hours can all change on the day.
Weather and energy
Walking distances in the old city are long, so comfortable shoes are more useful than trying to fit in more attractions in one day. Temperatures can fall sharply in the morning and evening; take an extra layer when setting out late in the day. Strong winds or heavy rain may affect outdoor shows and lighting, and photos, group stops and vehicle movements must stay within open areas and permitted routes.