Datong's current role as a leading coal-production center won't inspire you to visit this growing metropolis, but its proximity to the awe-inspiring Yungang Grottoes, a cluster of caves brimming with over 51,000 Buddhist sculptures, should.

Datong is a city surrounded by natural beauty, and visitors to this former seat of the Wei Dynasty have ample terrain to explore. You might start with Mt. Hengshan, one of China's five most sacred mountains, to view the 1,400-year-old, gravity-defying Hanging Monastery before going to hike in the shadow of the Great Wall on Yanmenguan pass -- one of the nine passes reputed to fall directly under heaven according to Chinese folklore.

In the city, new boutiques aspire to the modern, whilst old markets offer relics from the past. Browse the Zhongxing Market for wool carpets -- a historic Datong specialty -- or hit the more contemporary Daxi Street and Xiaonan Street shopping districts to haggle over brand-name articles. Take a break in one of Datong's many traditional teahouses, or try one of Datong's unique traditional snacks, such as Ya Jiu Qiezi (pickled eggplant) or Zha Yougao (fried yellow rice pie). If you run out of things to do, just ask the friendly concierge staff at the HaoHai International Hotel, they might know of a few lesser known points of interest for you to visit.
 

Datong was originally founded as Pingcheng during the Han Dynasty in 200 BC, and was a stop-off point for camel caravans moving from China into Mongolia. Strategically located near the Great Wall Pass to Inner Mongolia, Pingcheng was the site of many military contests. Pillaged by the Xianpei, who established the Northern Wei Dynasty, Pingcheng remained the Wei capital for 108 years. The famous Yungang Grottoes were built during this period, establishing Pingcheng as an important focal point for Buddhist religious and cultural activity. In 494, Emperor Xiao Wen, pursuing a policy of systematic Sinicization, moved his capital south to Luoyang in the hopes of assimilating all ethnic groups into the Han culture. 

One thing Datong doesn't have going for it is its reputation as one of the most polluted cities in China. Despite this, Datong's weather isn't all that bad. The best time to visit Datong is from April to September, during which time it is cool and humid. Temperatures can vary quite dramatically over the day so it would be a good idea to pack a variety of clothes. Winter here is cold and windy, and temperatures average between -12 C and 6 C, while spring and fall are cool and crisp.