Datong Ancient Town

Datong Ancient Town

Datong Ancient Town is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Datong is a renowned ancient town in the Jiangnan region with a history of over a thousand years. It is located southwest of Tongling City, Anhui Province, on the southern bank of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. To the northwest, it faces Zongyang across the river, while to the south, it borders Guichi and Qingyang along the Qingtong River. It is only 180 kilometers from Huangshan, known as the “World Park,” and 90 kilometers from Jiuhua Mountain, one of China’s four great Buddhist mountains. The Tongqing Highway, Tonggui Highway, Riverside Expressway, and Hefei–Tongling–Huangshan Expressway all run through the area, making it a hub and key passage into the southern Anhui tourism region. It serves as the northern gateway to Anhui’s “Two Mountains and One Lake” (Jiuhua Mountain, Huangshan, and Taihu Lake), and is also the site of the first gate of Jiuhua Mountain. Historically, Datong Ancient Town in Tongling, Anhui, was ranked among the four major commercial ports of Anhui, alongside Anqing, Wuhu, and Bengbu. To this day, a wealth of Huizhou-style architecture and ancient streets remain, providing valuable insights into the history of ancient Chinese water transport. In recent years, due to the needs of Yangtze River flood control, residents of the ancient town have gradually relocated, leaving many Huizhou-style buildings abandoned. In response, local authorities hope to strengthen cooperation with relevant departments to develop and preserve this over 1,000-year-old ancient town in a rational manner.