Datong
City in China
Datong is a city in China with a population of about 3.1 million. Located 266 kilometers from Beijing, it attracts visitors interested in its historic landmarks and mountain landscape.
What to see
The city is home to several significant historic sites. The Yungang Grottoes, a UNESCO site, represent the area's cultural history. Nearby, the Hanging Temple offers an architectural example built into a cliff face. For outdoor exploration, Mount Heng provides access to the local landscape.
When to go
Datong experiences distinct seasons. Winters are cold, with daily highs ranging from -3 °C to 1 °C and lows dropping as far as -17 °C. The warmer months arrive in June, July, and August, when daily highs reach between 26 °C and 28 °C. These summer months also bring the most precipitation, with July seeing rain on about 16 days. For milder weather with less rain, May and September are suitable times to visit, as temperatures remain comfortable with daily highs of 22 °C to 23 °C.
Getting there
Travelers can reach Datong via the Datong Yungang International Airport, which is located 16 kilometers from the city. The city is situated 266 kilometers from Beijing.
Top sights in Datong
Weather by month
The warmest month is July, with an average high of 28 °C. The wettest is July, with about 100 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | -3 | 1 | 8 | 16 | 23 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 22 | 15 | 6 | -1 |
| Average low, °C | -17 | -12 | -5 | 1 | 8 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 9 | 2 | -6 | -13 |
| Rainfall, mm | 2 | 3 | 11 | 21 | 30 | 51 | 100 | 80 | 55 | 18 | 6 | 2 |
| Rainy days | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 16 | 14 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Datong (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.