A Journey to Datong

Datong is pleasantly cool in summer, making it ideal for travel. Arriving at Datong Station, we rented a Volkswagen Lavida from Ctrip for 160 yuan per day. In the evening, we visited the Ancient City Wall. The Datong City Wall rivals the Xi'an Ancient City Wall. Located in the heart of Datong, it is a national 4A-level scenic area. In 2008, as part of Datong's efforts to preserve and revitalize its historical and cultural heritage, the eight-year restoration project of the ancient city wall was completed, achieving full enclosure. The wall is majestic and spectacular, especially at night when the lights come on, creating a mesmerizing night view. No ticket is required to climb the ancient city wall in the evening. Bicycles and electric sightseeing vehicles are available for rent, though the prices are a bit steep. We stayed overnight in Datong. The next day, we drove to the Hengshan Scenic Area, took the cable car up, and hiked down. Hengshan is famous for its long history and culture rather than outstanding natural scenery, making it suitable for hiking and exercise. After descending, we took a shuttle bus to the Hanging Temple. The admission ticket to enter the Hanging Temple costs 100 yuan and was sold out a day in advance. We could only purchase a 15-yuan entrance ticket to admire it from a distance. After spending an hour at the Hanging Temple, we drove to Ying County to visit the Millennium Wooden Pagoda. The Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, also known as the Sakyamuni Pagoda of Fogong Temple, is one of the tallest and oldest surviving all-wooden pagodas in the world. Alongside Italy's Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Eiffel Tower in Paris, it is hailed as one of the "Three Great Pagodas of the World." It also served as a filming location for *Black Myth: Wukong* and is well worth a visit. Nearby, the "Zhao Da Steamed Mutton" restaurant offers delicious mutton with strong local flavors—highly recommended. On the third morning, we visited the Yungang Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a national 5A-level scenic area. Carved during the Northern Wei Dynasty when the capital was Pingcheng, the Yungang Grottoes, along with the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, the Maijishan Grottoes in Tianshui, and the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, are celebrated as China's "Four Great Grottoes." The Yungang Grottoes are divided into eastern, central, and western sections, with the central area being the most exquisite. A suggested visit duration is 3-4 hours.