Datong Ancient City Wall

Datong Ancient City Wall

The Datong Ancient City Wall is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural relics protection unit of Shanxi Province.

The Datong City Wall is situated in the central area of Datong. The ancient city spans 3.45 square kilometers and features a square layout. The current wall was constructed on the basis of older walls from the Han, Wei, Tang, Liao, Jin, and Yuan dynasties, expanded in the fifth year of the Hongwu reign during the Ming Dynasty (1372 AD). It rises 14 meters high, is 12 meters wide at the top, and 18 meters wide at the base, stretching 7.2 kilometers in circumference. It includes four main gates: the Héyáng Gate to the east, the Yǒngtài Gate to the south, the Qīngyuǎn Gate to the west, and the Wǔdìng Gate to the north. Additionally, it features a series of military structures such as a moat, drawbridge, gate towers, arrow towers, moon towers, watchtowers, corner towers, and gunnery platforms. It stands as one of China’s more completely preserved ancient city wall complexes. The ancient wall, along with its surrounding moat and ring park, now forms a stunning highlight of Datong, a historic city with a legacy spanning a thousand years.

According to the 1515 (10th year of the Zhengde reign) "Datong Prefecture Records," in 1372 (5th year of the Hongwu reign), General Xu Da expanded the city on the basis of the old earthen walls from the Tang, Liao, and Jin dynasties. The new city had a roughly square layout, stretching 1.8 li from east to west and 1.82 li from north to south, with a perimeter of 7.24 li and an area of 3.28 square li. The original city had four gates: Héyáng to the east, Yǒngtài to the south, Qīngyuǎn to the west, and Wǔdìng to the north. Outside each gate was a barbican. The overall layout formed a slightly elongated rectangular city, longer from east to west. In 2008, protective restoration work began on the Datong City Wall, and an important heritage preservation and exhibition system was established.

Northern Small City: The existing wall of the Northern Small City is 2,286 meters long, with 1,222 meters destroyed. The original wall was 3,508 meters in total length—934 meters both north and south, 810 meters on the eastern side, and 830 meters on the western side—forming an irregular rectangular outer city. Currently, preservation work on the eastern wall is nearly complete.

Southern Small City: The Southern Small City is a conical-shaped outer city that has suffered severe damage, with the original perimeter measuring 3,684 meters. The surviving wall is approximately 900 meters long. The maximum north–south distance is 1,230 meters, while the widest point from east to west is 795 meters and the narrowest is 214 meters.

Datong is one of China’s first group of National Historical and Cultural Cities. As the foremost of the Nine Strategic Military Towns of the Ming Dynasty, it held a significant historical position. The Ming Dynasty regarded Datong as “the gateway to the capital, the shield of Shanxi, and the guardian of the Central Plains,” earning it the title “Lock of the North.” Consequently, the construction of Datong’s city fortifications was unparalleled, achieving unprecedented standards in height, thickness, foundation, building materials, layout, facilities, and defense systems. It stands as a masterpiece of ancient Chinese city wall architecture and is of immense value. Through scientific preservation, systematic research, and comprehensive display of the Datong City Wall, we gain insight into the historical development of the Datong region and the evolution of its ancient walls, as well as recognition of their unique historical and social significance. In 2008, Datong launched a comprehensive project for historical and cultural revitalization and ancient city preservation. The city wall has since been restored in accordance with the Ming Dynasty layout—except for 185 meters of the western wall—and is now open to visitors. This project involved rigorous historical research, evidence-based restoration, and the establishment of a complete exhibition system for the historical remains of the ancient wall.

In 2016, the Datong Ancient City Wall was included in the fifth batch of cultural relics protection units of Shanxi Province.

Full Price: 30 RMB per person per visit; Half Price: 15 RMB per person per visit

Transportation

Take bus No. 17 within the city and get off at the Hualin Commercial Building stop

Opening Hours

All day

Location

Datong urban district, Shanxi Province (opposite the ancient southern gate is Shanhua Temple)

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Cultural Relics Protection Units of Shanxi Province