Plan at a glance
Location and ticket types
Dai Prince's Palace · Ming Dynasty Entertainment Garden is at 18 Huangcheng Street in Datong's old city. The entrance is on the south side, and the grounds extend north along a central axis. A daytime-only ticket is about CNY 50 and normally covers morning entry. Performance packages are about CNY 90–128 and usually include daytime and night programmes with multiple entries over 3 days, but they do not include the indoor show *承运天下 (Chengyun Tianxia)*, which requires a separate ticket. Check the actual ticket inclusions on the day.
Hours and weekly closure
Typical daytime entry is 09:00–12:00, followed by site clearance at 13:00. Typical night-session entry is 14:00–21:15, with closing at 22:00. Tuesdays are performance-free and the grounds close earlier at 18:00, so avoid Tuesday if you want to see a show and check the day's programme again.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
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Daytime courtyards and night performances
The grounds consist of a sequence of courtyards. During the day, walk the central axis to see the palace layout and daytime performances; at night, the focus is *千灯夜游 (Qiandeng Yeyou)*, the outdoor molten-iron flower show and the processional *天下大同 (Tianxia Datong)*. The Chengyun Hall Square (承运殿广场) in the fourth courtyard is the main performance area, but content, order and whether a show runs depend on the day's programme.
Who this suits
Visitors who enjoy immersive shows, night walks and Hanfu photography can make this a separate half-day or evening experience. Those looking for a strictly original Ming architectural site should put the emphasis on the performance atmosphere and courtyard route. Visitors who prefer an indoor theatre show can ask about *承运天下 (Chengyun Tianxia)* separately; it has its own ticket and is not automatically included in a daytime ticket or a standard performance package.
Planning the indoor show
*承运天下 (Chengyun Tianxia)* is staged inside Chengyun Hall (承运殿), with a separate ticket costing about CNY 38. It takes place in a different venue and uses a different ticket from the outdoor molten-iron flower show and lantern programme. If you want to see it, ask about remaining tickets and showtimes after entering, then adjust the evening route around the schedule.
For a shorter nearby glazed-screen stop, see Nine-Dragon Screen.
Build your day
A 6–7-hour afternoon-to-night route
Enter after 14:00 and begin along the central axis through the sequence of courtyards. Follow the day's programme for daytime shows such as *大明科举 (Daming Keju)* and *丝路驼铃 (Silu Tuoling)*. Have dinner at Daming Shidai (大明食代) or one of the snack stalls inside the grounds. Around 19:00, join *千灯夜游 (Qiandeng Yeyou)*, then wait for the molten-iron flower show at Chengyun Hall Square (承运殿广场) in the fourth courtyard. The full experience takes about 6–7 hours; stay in the designated viewing area while waiting.
A short route of about 1.5 hours
If you only want one representative outdoor show, buy a night performance ticket, enter after 19:30 and follow the signs directly to Chengyun Hall Square (承运殿广场) in the fourth courtyard. The molten-iron flower show is expected around 20:00. Arriving 30–60 minutes early helps with finding a viewing position, but do not stand in passages, beside railings or in other restricted areas.
Get there
Bus and walking through the old city
Take buses 38 or 59 and get off at the Nine-Dragon Screen stop, then walk to the south entrance of Dai Prince's Palace. The palace is in the old city's central area and connects easily on foot with the Nine-Dragon Screen, Drum Tower and Huayan Temple. The Nine-Dragon Screen and the palace still require separate ticket checks.
Driving and entry
If driving, leave the car in a permitted parking area inside or around the old city, then walk to 18 Huangcheng Street. Movement inside the grounds is on foot, and the site is large enough that flat shoes are more comfortable for a continuous courtyard walk. After entering, find the day's programme board and venue locations before choosing a daytime, night or separate indoor-show combination.
Food and rest inside the grounds
Between the afternoon and night sessions, eat at Daming Shidai (大明食代) or a snack stall inside the grounds. This avoids leaving and having to coordinate another entry. The whole visit involves walking, so return to the designated venue according to the show time and keep waiting areas clear of the main passage.
Know before you go
Programme and weather
The programme shown online or in the official account may not be the latest version. After entering, photograph the day's performance timetable on the site board. Strong winds or heavy rain may cancel the molten-iron flower show or drone performance. You may not receive a partial refund if an outdoor show is cancelled. If an outdoor programme is cancelled, switch to indoor viewing or leave earlier.
Tuesday, queues and ticket inclusions
The site has no performances on Tuesdays and closes earlier. Popular night programmes draw large crowds, so follow staff directions during crowd diversion and keep fire passages and congested areas clear while taking photos. Daytime tickets, performance packages and the separate *承运天下 (Chengyun Tianxia)* ticket cover different entry and performance rights; check each included session when buying.