Datong is the second largest city in Shanxi Province and it is one of the influential cities in north China, known as the "Sculpture Capital", "Phoenix City" and "Coal Capital in China". Covering an area of 14,176 square kilometers, with a population of 2.99 million, it has four districts and seven counties under its prefecture.

Due to its ever prosperous history of over 2400 years, Datong is one of the 24 famous historical and cultural cities in China. In ancient China, Datong was a place of strategic importance and a place where the Han people frequently exchanged with the ethnic minority peoples in north China. Datong gained a significant position in Chinese history of the ancient capital, the arts area, Buddha Park, the military capital, the integration of all reforms. Yungang Grottoes, Hanging Temple, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, Nine Dragon Wall and Huayan Monastery are the symbols and the most popular tourist destinations of the old city.

Vast sky and light cloud, continuous peaks rising ups and downs, majestic old temples with the history of thousands of years, all the scenery in Datong differs markedly from the delicate cities in south China. A visit to Datong is a culture tour in China.