Yungang Grottoes

Transportation • Self-driving: From downtown Datong, drive west along G109 National Highway for about 17 km. Parking at the scenic area costs CNY 10 per time. • Public transport: Take Bus No. 3 from downtown Datong to the scenic area entrance. You can also take the express tourist Bus No. 603. From Datong South Railway Station, take Bus No. 31 to Beixinhuayuan Community Station, walk to Huiminli Station, take Bus No. 20 to Yungang Road Tongquan Road Intersection Station, walk to Wulidian Jidiancheng Station, and take the express tourist Bus No. 603 to Yungang Station. Tickets Adult tickets cost CNY 120 in peak season and CNY 100 in off season. Half-price tickets are available for minors aged 6–18, full-time undergraduate students and below, and family members of active military personnel. Children under 6 or under 1.2 m in height and seniors over 60 can enter for free. You can make a reservation in advance on the Yungang Grottoes mini program or official website. Opening hours Usually 8:30 am–5:30 pm or 9:00 am–5:00 pm. Please refer to the scenic area announcement for details. Tour routes • Half-day tour: Tanyao Square → Pilgrimage Avenue → Pilgrimage Relief Wall → Lingyan Temple → Grottoes → Shihuo Street. • Full-day tour: Tanyao Square → Pilgrimage Avenue → Film Hall → Yungang Art Museum → Yungang Institute History Museum → Pilgrimage Relief Wall → Lingyan Temple → Su Bai Memorial Hall → Shibing Art Museum → Grottoes → Yungang Museum → Yungang Northern Wei Shadow Puppetry and Puppet Museum → Premier Zhou Memorial Room → Shihuo Street → Yungang Library → Dongshan Bodhi Art Zone. Recommended attractions • Tanyao Five Grottoes (Grottoes 16–20): The first grottoes of Yungang Grottoes. The five Buddhas represent the five emperors of the Northern Wei Dynasty. • Grottoes 5 and 6: Twin grottoes with exquisite murals. One of the most representative grottoes of Yungang Grottoes. The main Buddha of Grotto 5 is 17 m tall, the tallest Buddha in Yungang. Grotto 6 is known as the "Shakyamuni Grotto" and contains many carvings of stories about the Buddha. • Grotto 12: The Music Grotto. The walls are covered with carvings of heavenly musicians playing various instruments. A spectacular sight. Guide services You can watch the documentary "Yungang: A Millennium of Grottoes" in advance, or learn about the history of the grottoes in the Film Hall to the left of the East Gate. You can also scan the QR code on the introduction of each grotto to listen to a guide. You can also find an official guide or rent a guide device at the East Gate entrance. Recommended food Try local specialties such as Datong knife-cut noodles, Hunyuan cold noodles, Datong lamb offal, and Datong assorted copper hot pot. Reminders Wear comfortable shoes. Dress appropriately for the weather and bring sunscreen and enough drinking water. Follow the scenic area rules and do not touch or damage the statues or murals.