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Plan your Datong tour? This is my third-time visit to Datong, which has...
Plan your Datong tour? This is my third-time visit to Datong, which has completely changed my previous image of Datong as a polluted base for coal production. Now, roads are expanded or reconstructed, new residential apartments built, pretty bridges set up and even the ancient city wall in Datong has been totally restored ( except for a small part in the west wall that is still being constructed at the time of writing) !
In Ming Dynasty, the ancient Datong was designated as one of the nine military towns along the Great Wall of China defending against the steppe nomads from the north. Datong was strategically important since it was situated on the mid-section of the Great Wall of China with the essential task of confronting the galloping Mongols and safeguarding Beijing and China as a whole.
Datong City Wall is located in the downtown area, or the city centre of Datong, 70% of tourists choose to stay and dine here.
There are the famous Huayan Temple, Datong Museum, Nine Dragon Wall and other scenic spots to visit within the city wall. The bustling Drum Tower Street is also located here, where you can taste the specialty food of Datong. This area's catering, shopping, entertainment and other facilities are more developed.
Getting here is a breeze, walking from your hotel, or the other places you are visiting in the area. Public buses shuttle to the four gates to the city wall:
The entrance fee is free of charge
Spring and autumn: 6:00 am -- 12am
Summer season: 5:00am -2:00 a.m
Winter season: 7:00a m - 10:00pm
Open area: Datong ancient City wall (including moat and belt park around city wall).
My passion for sunrise photos wakes me up in the early morning and a 20-minute walk from my lodging hotel on Yingbin Avenue brings me to the south wall of Datong's restored ancient city wall.
Seeing the sun glow over the high city wall, I'm very much amazed by the ambitious Datong Ancient City Wall restoration plan.
Morning Sun Glow over the ancient city wall in Datong
The high city wall with watch towers on the top surrounded by a city moat 5 meters deep and 10 meters wide.
A two-storey watch tower atop the wall with a clear look at the battlements on the wall.
The main south gate is closed to the public transport, which is replaced by the two south side gates. This picture is taken of the west south side gate.
Two large pools connecting the city moat on the both sides of the main South Gate. With beautiful reflections on the water, the restored wall really injects much life into the ancient city of Datong.
The picture taken from the east angle of the main south gate which includes an inner city for defence purpose. Come here for a stroll, looking for the charm and local life.
The green belt along the city is a huge city park, giving the locals much spaces for morning exercises and other activities.
Walking up to the city wall allows you to have a stroll on the top of the wide city wall where you are able to have a panoramic view of Datong City.
Ascending the city wall
On the top of the wide city wall
The 14-meter high city wall is just magnificent.
The pavilions and towers on the city wall top
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