//
Photo: xiquinhosilva, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
By far the greatest attraction of the area is the 1,500-year-old Yungang Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These mountain-side caves and recesses are filled with 51,000 Buddhist statues - the largest being a 17-metre Seated Buddha while the smallest is only a few centimetres tall. In addition to the carvings of the Buddha, there are also scenes depicting Buddhist teachings and famous monks.
The Yungang Grottoes, formerly the Wuzhoushan Grottoes, are ancient Chinese Buddhist temple grottoes built during the Northern Wei dynasty near the city of Datong, then called Pingcheng, in the province of Shanxi. They are excellent examples of rock-cut architecture and one of the three most famous ancient Buddhist sculptural sites of China, along with Longmen and Mogao.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
儿童公园
A large park with many family attractions.
圆通寺
The first temple was built here in the Ming Dynasty but was destroyed during the Qing army's massacre at Datong. In 1664, Emperor Kangxi ordered its reconstruction to pray for the souls of those killed in the massacre. This temple is the only one in the ancient city of Datong that faces north. The buildings along the central axis are Qing Dynasty structures.
大同基督教西堂
The West Church was renovated in 2006, and its spire with a cross is a key feature of the ancient city's skyline.
华严寺
Huayan Temple was built during the Liao Dynasty and was repaired in subsequent dynasties. It is the largest existing Liao-Jin Dynasty temple in China, containing the Liao Dynasty's Bojiajiaozang Hall and the Jin Dynasty's Daxiong Hall, as well as numerous painted sculptures. Huayan Temple is divided into upper and lower sections. The main hall of the upper temple is the Mahavira Hall, built in the third year of the Tianjuan era of the Jin Dynasty (1140). It is the largest existing Buddhist hall in China and the largest existing single-eaved wooden structure ancient building. The main hall of the Lower Temple is the Bojia Teaching Hall, built in the seventh year of the Chongxi reign of the Liao Dynasty (1038), and is one of the "Eight Great Liao Structures". The caisson ceiling, wall hangings, and 31 statues inside the hall are original Liao Dynasty artifacts.
钟楼
The tower was built in the early Ming Dynasty but demolished in 1951. It was rebuilt in 2015 based on survey data and historical images, although with slight changes. The bell tower is a single-eaved hip-roofed pavilion with three tiers, four stories high (two of which are hidden levels). It houses an iron bell cast in the mid-Ming Dynasty, and the tower hosts frequent bell-ringing ceremonies for blessings.
清真大寺
First built in the second year of the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty, and rebuilt during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The current structure dates from the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China period. The Great Mosque is an example of the fusion of Chinese and Islamic architectural styles. For instance, the main prayer hall is largely in the style of Qing Dynasty architecture, but its domed roof, niches within the hall, a platform on the northwest wall, and three domed doorways in the center are typical of Arabic architecture.