Pingcheng District Travel
Pingcheng District, Datong, Shanxi — the Northern Wei capital and Liao and Jin auxiliary capital, integrating Huayan Temple, Datong Ancient City Wall, and Nine-Dragon Screen, blending frontier fortress scenery with religious culture. A 3-day 2-night in-depth tour decoding Northern Wei civilization, experiencing the unique charm of ancient city and ancient monastery fusion.
Explore Districts and Counties of Datong City
Pingcheng District Three Days Two Nights Northern Wei Culture Tour
Visit the marvel of Liao and Jin ancient temples, climb the ancient city wall for a panoramic view, admire the glaze art of the Nine-Dragon Screen, taste northern frontier cuisine, unlocking the beauty of Datong's humanity and history
Morning: Explore Huayan Temple to experience Liao and Jin Buddhist art, view the "Bodhisattva with Hands Clasped and Exposed Teeth." Afternoon: Visit the Nine-Dragon Screen to admire glaze art, walk through Four Archways to feel the ancient city layout. Evening: Head to Ancient City West Street to taste specialty foods.
- Characteristic guesthouses inside the ancient city wall
- Hotels near Four Archways
- Inns near Huayan Temple
- Datong Knife-cut Noodles
- Yellow Millet Cold Cake
- Lamb Offal Noodle Soup
- Fried Glutinous Rice Cake
- Huayan Temple recommends hiring a guide (50 RMB/time)
- Nine-Dragon Screen is close to Huayan Temple, reachable on foot
- Dinner rush at Ancient City West Street is 18:00-20:00, suggest arriving early
Morning: Cycle along Datong Ancient City Wall for a panoramic view of the ancient city, explore Shanhua Temple to experience Tang Dynasty architectural style. Afternoon: Visit Fahua Temple to admire Liao Dynasty pagoda. Evening: Stroll through Ancient City South Street to experience folk customs.
- The ancient city wall can be entered from several gates, suggest entering from the South Wall (main entrance)
- Shanhua Temple is about 10 minutes walk from the South Wall
- Fahua Temple is located inside the East Wall, reachable on foot or by bike
- Huayan Temple: 65 RMB
- Datong Ancient City Wall: 30 RMB (wall entry fee)
- Shanhua Temple: Free
- Fahua Temple: 20 RMB
- Nine-Dragon Screen: 10 RMB
- Ancient city wall bike rental: single bike 30 RMB/3h, tandem 50 RMB/3h
- Shanhua Temple's Mahavira Hall houses the largest clay gold Buddha statue in China
- Ancient City South Street has intangible heritage performances in the evening, check the schedule
Morning: Visit Prince Dai Mansion to experience the grandeur of a Ming Dynasty princely mansion and admire its architectural layout. Afternoon: Stroll through Ancient City East Street to shop for specialties, experience paper-cutting, copperware making and other intangible heritage projects. Evening: Return journey.
- Immersive performance "Prince Dai Mansion Chronicles" at Prince Dai Mansion
- Copperware making experience at Intangible Heritage Experience Hall
- Traditional costume rental photography on Ancient City East Street
- Handmade mooncake making experience
- Datong Copper Hotpot
- Guangling Paper-cutting
- Datong Daylily
- Hunyuan Cold Noodles (instant pack)
- Pingcheng District is about 5 km from Datong Station, 15 min by taxi
- Datong South Station (high-speed rail) has trains to Beijing, Taiyuan and other cities
- Specialties can be purchased at the comprehensive market on Ancient City East Street
Must-Try Foods in Pingcheng District
Datong Knife-cut Noodles
Traditional Shanxi pasta, named for being made with a knife-cutting technique. The noodles are thick in the middle and thin at the edges, shaped like willow leaves, with a chewy texture. Served with different gravies, the standard features "one clear, two white, three red, four green," making it the most representative food of Datong.
Lamb Offal Noodle Soup
Datong specialty snack, made with lamb offal and vermicelli as main ingredients, boiled with chili oil, coriander and other seasonings. Rich and flavorful soup, spicy and appetizing, a local winter warming delicacy deeply loved by the masses.
Yellow Millet Cold Cake
Datong traditional dessert, made from yellow millet with red bean paste filling between layers, topped with white sugar and toasted sesame seeds. Soft, sticky, sweet and refreshing, an excellent summer refreshment and a common banquet dessert.
Fried Glutinous Rice Cake
Datong traditional snack, made from yellow millet flour as wrapper, filled with red bean or date paste, deep-fried until done. Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, sweet and delicious, a must-have food for local festivals and wedding banquets, symbolizing "rising step by step."
- Spring (Apr-May): Pleasant climate, flowers blooming in the ancient city
- Autumn (Sep-Oct): Clear skies, suitable for outdoor activities
- Summer (Jun-Aug): Enjoy ancient city wall night views, participate in nighttime activities
- Datong Knife-cut Noodles (recommended "Oriental Noodles" "Old Firewood Noodles")
- Lamb Offal Noodle Soup
- Yellow Millet Cold Cake
- Fried Glutinous Rice Cake
- Datong Hotpot
- Tickets: approx. 150 RMB
- Accommodation: 120-260 RMB/night
- Meals: 50-100 RMB/day
- Transportation: approx. 20 RMB
- Total: 600-1000 RMB
- What is the best time to eat Datong knife-cut noodles? → Breakfast and lunch are best for experiencing authentic flavor
- How long does it take to cycle around the ancient city wall? → About 1.5-2 hours, can rest at the city gates midway
- Do I need a separate ticket for the Prince Dai Mansion performance? → Yes, performance tickets can be purchased on-site or reserved in advance
- Where can I buy authentic Datong copperware? → "Datong Copperware Intangible Heritage Store" on Ancient City East Street