Datong Nine-Dragon Wall

Datong Nine-Dragon Wall

The Datong Nine-Dragon Wall is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Datong Nine-Dragon Wall

Datong Nine-Dragon Wall (Fifth Batch National Heritage Site)

Era: Ming Dynasty

Address: Southern side of East Street in Datong City

According to the Datong Prefecture Records, it was built in the 25th year of the Hongwu reign during the Ming Dynasty (1392 AD) as a single-sided colorful glazed screen wall in front of the prince’s palace of Zhu Gui, the 13th son of Emperor Taizu of Ming, Zhu Yuanzhang.

The Nine-Dragon Wall faces south and is 45.50 meters long, 8 meters high, and 2.02 meters thick. It is entirely constructed from glazed components in yellow, green, blue, purple, black, and white. The wall consists of three parts: the base is a Sumeru pedestal, the middle section is the main body of the wall, and the top is the wall roof. The Sumeru pedestal’s waist is inlaid with two layers of glazed mythical beasts: the first layer includes qilin, lions, tigers, deer, and flying horses; the second layer features coiling dragons in various dynamic poses, vividly rendered. Above the pedestal rests the massive nine-dragon glazed wall body, solid and majestic. The upper part of the wall body features imitation wooden-structured glazed brackets and rafters, highlighting architectural detail. The second tier showcases smaller decorative motifs. The third tier includes intricate patterns.

The lower part of the wall body depicts surging blue-green ocean waves, while the upper part uses flowing clouds in blue and yellow as a backdrop. The nine giant dragons are interspersed and connected by clouds, waves, foams, and cliffs. All nine dragons are carved in high relief, twisting and leaping off the wall, greatly enhancing the three-dimensional effect.

In front of the wall lies a reflecting pool 34 meters long and 0.8 meters deep, surrounded by stone railings. The pool’s clear water acts like a mirror, reflecting the nine dragons. When a light breeze stirs the surface, their reflections appear to move gently, bringing them to life.

Guide

Zhu Gui was the 13th son of Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang, born in the 7th year of the Hongwu reign (1374 AD), and was granted the title of Prince of Dai. He and Prince of Shu Zhu Chun were both sons of Empress Guo Huifei. Zhu Gui’s consort was the daughter of Xu Da, the Prince of Zhongshan, and the younger sister of Empress Renxiaowen (the wife of Emperor Zhu Di). Although the Ming Dynasty prohibited feudal princes from interfering in local politics, due to these special relationships and his substantial power, Zhu Gui effectively functioned as a local emperor in the Datong region. The Zhu Gui family maintained a prominent and enduring status throughout the Ming Dynasty, despite several upheavals. According to the History of Ming: Biography of Zhu Gui, starting from Zhu Gui, through five generations and four princes, “a total of twenty-three commandery princes were enfeoffed.” In 1649, after the Qing army’s brutal sacking of Datong, during which the once-powerful and influential Prince of Dai’s palace was burned to the ground, the Nine-Dragon Screen Wall in front of the palace miraculously survived, becoming the precious historical relic we see today.

Special Tips

To the northeast of the Nine-Dragon Wall, on Tasi Street, there stands the Fahua Pagoda, built during the Qing Dynasty. Below the pagoda is a 3-meter-high hexagonal platform, with a Sumeru pedestal as the base and two tiers of inverted alms-bowl-shaped "Vajra rings." The body of the pagoda is inlaid with yellow, green, and purple circular glazed...

Address: Inside the Nine-Dragon Wall Scenic Area, No. 18 Dadong Street, Datong Urban District

Type: Historical Monument / Historic Architecture

Recommended Visit Duration: About 1 hour

Tel: 0352-2837988; 0352-2054788

Opening Hours:

Spring, Summer, Autumn: 8:00–18:00; Winter: 8:30–18:00

Ticket Information:

Door Price: 10.0 RMB; students 5 RMB; children under 1.3m free; active-duty military, seniors over 70, disabled persons, and others with valid IDs are admitted free

Transportation

Take bus No. 17 and get off at the Jiulongbi (Nine-Dragon Wall) stop

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit