How to visit Datong Ancient City: Skip the tourist traps

I've brought over 50 groups to Datong Ancient City. And every single time, at least half of them are ready to collapse by 2pm.

The reason? They followed the wrong guide – starting at the imposing South Gate, queuing 40 minutes in the sun, then zigzagging through the temple district without a plan.

Here's the truth: if you how to visit Datong Ancient City the right way, you can finish the main loop in 3 relaxed hours, grab the best photos, and still have energy for dinner. Read on – I'll show you exactly how.

Why morning is the only time to start

The wall is about 7.2 km in perimeter. Walking the entire thing under the Datong sun (which burns from 11am to 3pm) is a recipe for heatstroke. I always tell my guests: start at 8am, right when the city opens.

More importantly, the light at 8am hits the watchtowers from the east – perfect for photos without harsh shadows. By 10am, the tour groups flood in. So yes, 8:00–10:00 is the golden window.

The ticket trap most tourists fall into

The official ticket seems cheap – ¥30 for the wall walk, ¥50 for the combined pass (wall + temples). But here is the catch: you cannot buy the ticket with a foreign credit card online. The WeChat mini‑program only accepts WeChat Pay or Alipay.

So what do I do? I take my group to the east gate ticket booth (not the south gate). At the east booth, the staff are used to foreigners and sometimes accept cash – yes, cash! Bring small bills, ¥10 and ¥20 notes. If they refuse, ask a local to help scan – 9 out of 10 will assist.

How to walk the wall and not miss the best views

Here is a mistake I see every week: starting at the South Gate, walking clockwise, and hitting the monotonous west side when you're already tired.

Do this instead – enter from East Gate, walk counterclockwise. The east to north stretch has the most interesting watchtowers and the best view of the old city skyline. The west side is mostly residential – you can skip half of it.

If you have only 1 hour, just walk from East Gate to the North Gate (about 2 km). That gives you 90% of the photo spots. Then descend at North Gate and take a 5‑min taxi back to the center.

Where to eat inside the old city – real local spots

Tourist restaurants near South Gate are overpriced. I take my guests to Laomao Noodle House on Gulou Street (鼓楼街). Address: 121 Gulou Street, near the Bell Tower. Google Maps rating: 4.3. They serve the best knife‑cut noodles with lamb – ¥18 a bowl, cash or WeChat. No English menu, but point at the photo on the wall.

Another hidden gem: Guihua Pastries on Huayan Street. Try the green bean cake (¥5 each). I always buy 5 for the road.

Should you combine with Yungang Grottoes?

If you have only one day, yes. But don't try to do both in the morning. Yungang Grottoes is 30 minutes west of Datong by taxi (expensive – about ¥60) or bus (¥3, route 3 from the train station).

My perfect schedule: 8am–11am at Yungang (it opens at 8:30, but you need time to walk to cave 20). Then lunch near the grottoes (there is a decent noodle shop outside). 1pm–4pm at Datong Ancient City. Save the wall walk for last – the sunset light after 4pm is stunning.

What if you only have 24 hours in Datong?

This is the most common question I get. Here is exactly what I would do:

• Arrive evening before – take a high‑speed train from Beijing (2h) or overnight train. Stay at Yitel Hotel (near West Gate, about ¥250/night, reliable wifi, staff speak basic English).
• 7:30am – grab a taxi to Yungang Grottoes (¥60, 30 min). Buy tickets online the night before via Trip.com if possible, otherwise cash at the gate (¥120).
• 10:30am – taxi back to Datong Ancient City (same route). Enter from East Gate, walk the wall until 12:30.
• 12:30pm – lunch at Laomao Noodle House.
• 1:30pm – visit Huayan Temple (included in combined ticket).
• 3:00pm – relax at a rooftop cafe near Bell Tower. I like Yi Shi Café (3rd floor, view of the old town).
• 4:00pm – walk the south part of the wall for sunset.
• 5:30pm – head to the train station for a 6:30pm train back to Beijing.

This is tight but doable. Skip the Shanhua Temple if you're short on time.

5 common mistakes first‑timers make

1. Using the South Gate entrance – the queue at 9am is 20+ minutes. East Gate is empty.
2. Not carrying cash – many stalls inside the city don't take international cards.
3. Walking the entire wall in summer – it's 7.2 km with no shade. Do 2/3 and descend.
4. Buying street food near South Gate – it's twice the price and cold. Walk 200m into the alley.
5. Ignoring the bathroom situation – the only clean public toilet is at the North Gate visitor center. Use it before you start the wall.

Verified and fact-checked by the editorial team.