China Travel FAQ

Datong Travel FAQ & Tips

Weather

When is the best time to travel Datong?

May to October is generally better time to travel Datong. May-June and September-October are more comfortable for travel compared with the hot July-August. In other times the city is cold and windy and sandy. Temperature difference between day and night is huge all the year round in Datong.

Tips: Datong is one of China main coal mine producer and undoubtedly suffers from heavy air pollution. Please go prepared.

Transportation

How can I get to Datong?

By Air

Datong airport, 15 km east of downtown, has several weekly flights connecting with Beijing, Shanghai and daily flights to Guangzhou. Free shuttle bus between airport and downtown (departs 2 hours ahead of flight departure time) runs as the following route: Datong Hotel (Chinese: 大同宾馆, starting stop)-Continental Hotel (Chinese: 五洲大酒店)-Aviation Ticket Service (Chinese: 民航售票处, add: Yingbin Dong Lu)-Datong Airport. The taxi transfer can be made at about RMB 30.

By Train

Direct trains of Beijing, Taiyuan, Xi'an, Baotou, Hohhot, Hangzhou, and Shenyang frequently go to Datong Railway Station.

By Bus

There are four bus stations in Datong:

  • South Long-distance Bus Station (Chinese: 长途客运南站) has connection with Beijing, Tangshan, Shijiazhuang, Luoyang, Baoding, Baotou, etc.
  • New South Bus Station (Chinese: 新南客运站) has connection with Beijing, Taiyuan and Wutaishan (only in summer), etc.
  • North Long-distance Bus Station (Chinese: 长途客运北站) has direct service with the other cities of Shanxi province like Taiyuan, Shuozhou.
  • New Pingwang Bus Station (Chinese: 新平旺客运站) has connection with counties and towns of Shanxi Province and Beijing.

How to get around Datong?

Datong public buses nearly reach every corner of the city with ticket from RMB 1 to 3. Like the travel bus 3-2 from train station goes to Yungang Grottoes. But public bus service always is closed early around 08:00 pm.

Taxi is easily available in this city with flag down fare of RMB 6.

Cuisine

Where can we hunt for foods?

Plenty of restaurants and foods stalls can be found in Gulou Xijie, Huayan Jiea nd Yungang .