As most of the important ancient cities in northern China, the ancient city of Datong still remains its traditional city layout dating back from the Tang and Song Dynasties and fully developed in the Ming Dynasty, conforming to a typical layout of residential wards which the plan of the city takes look as chessboard. The four main roads, namely Heyang Road in the east, Qingyuan Road in the west, Yongtai Road in the south and Wuding Road in the north, meet at Sipailou (Four-archway Building), taken as the landmark of the center of the ancient city. These four roads divide the ancient city into four wards with different function. The areas of northwest and northeast are official sites, the area of southwest is the religious area and the southeast is the cultural area. In the Ming Dynasty, there were four towers at the four main streets of the city, namely Taiping Tower (The Tower of Eternal Peace) on Heyang Street in the east, Beacon Tower on Qingyuan Street in the west, Drum Tower on Yongtai Street in the south and Kuixing Tower (The Tower of the God of Literature) on Wuding Street in the north. Unfortunately, only Drum Tower survived in many wars during these six hundred years. East and West Gulou Street (The Street of Drum Tower) are located in the most thriving area in the southeast and southwest of the ancient city and are connected by Drum Tower, the most best preserved historical and cultural landmark in Datong. It used to be the busiest downtown quarter in old times which traditional residential house and famous shops located along the two sides of the road. The traditional residential houses located along Gulou Street are mainly in the architecture style of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Most of the popular historical sites and scenic sports within Datong ancient city are either located on this street or within walking distances from this street such as Huayan Temple, Datong Mosque, Guandi Temple (Temple of God of Military), Chunyang Temple and Confucius Temple.

Datong City Walls

Photographed by Liu Yujun

Enjoying the reputation of a ‘great military city’ and as a ‘strategic gateway on the northern border’, Datong was a city with strategic and military importance in ancient China. The ancient city walls of Datong was build in the 5^th year of the Hongwu Period of the Ming Dynasty (1372) by Xu Da, senior general of the Ming Dynasty, when he was based in Datong as military governor. It utilized the old ramparts of previous Han (206BC-220AD),Northern Wei (386-534), Tang (618-907), Liao (916-1125) and Yuan (1279-1368) Dynasties. It is 14 meters in height, 18 meters wide at the base tapering to 12 meters at the top. The perimeter of Datong’s ancient city wall is 7.24 kilometers long. It covers an area of 3.28 square kilometers. Watch towers, corner towers, gate towers and archery towers that protruded from the wall were located at regular intervals along the wall. Datong city wall together with city moat, suspension bridges, barbicans, moon cities, and forts were a strong fortification built to withstand attack in war. However, after more than six hundred years of natural and human damage, the giant city walls became the remains of broken walls. In 2008, an overall project of preservation and rejuvenation of historical and cultural city undertaken by Datong local government started. Datong city wall was restored to its original magnificent scale and appearance as in the Ming Dynasty.

Huayan Temple

Photographed by Liu Yujun

Located on Xiasipo Street, in the southwest of Datong Ancient City, Huayan Temple was originally founded in the 7^th year of Chongxi Period (1038) of the Liao Dynasty (916-1125). It is one of the earliest and best preserved Buddhist temples of the Liao (907-1125) and Jin Dynasties (1115-1234). In 1961, Huayan Temple was proclaimed as one of the first batch of Key Cultural Relics under the protection of the Chinese State Council. The Great Buddha Hall of the temple is one of the two largest Buddha Halls in China. Bhagavan Hall is a typical masterpiece of Hall-Style architecture of the Liao Dynasty, in which there are 29 sculptures of the Liao Dynasty preserved intact. In 2008, an overall project of preservation and rejuvenation of the historical and cultural city was started by Datong local government. As part of this overall city construction project, Huayan Temple was restored to its original magnificent scale and appearance as in the Liao and Jin Dynasties with more than thirty buildings in all including the entrance gate, Universal Brightness Hall, Great Buddha Hall, Bhagavan Hall, Yuayan Pagoda etc. located on the two main axis from south to north.

Shanhua Temple

Photographed by Liu Yujun

Located on the South Inner Ring Road of Datong Ancient City, Shanhua Temple was originally founded in the 26th year of Kaiyuan Period (738) in the Tang Dynasty(713-741). In 1961, Shanhua Temple was proclaimed as one of the first batch of Key Cultural Relics under the protection of Chinese State Council. Facing to the south, Shanhua Temple covers an area of more than 30,000 Square Meters. The three principal buildings standing on the main axis are the Main Gate, the Hall of Three Saints and the Hall of Sakyamuni. In front of the Hall of Sakyamuni are the two pavilions flanked on its left and right, Pavilion of Samantabhadra and the Pavilion of Manjusri. Shanhua Temple is the most intact and largest preserved temple of the Liao and Jin Dynasties. It has retained much of its original layout dating back to the Tang Dynasty. The architecture and sculpture reflects high level skill available in the Liao and Jin, Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Nine-Dragon Wall

Photographed by Liu Yujun

A dragon wall is usually used as a screen wall and built in front of the imperial palace, princely mansion or temples. It not only shielded the courtyard from an outsider’s view, but decorated the structure and made it even more solemn and splendid. Datong has a reputation as the Dragon Wall City. There are nine dragon walls in total which have been preserved within the city, including four one-dragon walls, one three-dragon wall, three five-dragon walls and one nine-dragon wall. Nine-dragon wall is the biggest and oldest of its kinds in Datong. It is located in Heyang Street of Datong Ancient City. It was included in the fifth batch of Key Cultural Relics under the protection of the Chinese State Council. Dating back more than 600 years, built between 1368 to 1398 of the Ming Dynasty, the Nine-Dragon Wall was built as a screen wall in front of the mansion of the 13rd son of Zhu Yuanzhang, the first Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. As 45.5 meters long, 8 meters high and 2.02 meters wide, the wall was constructed of glazed tiles and was engraved with nine dragons. Nine-dragon wall in Datong is 250 years older and three times larger than the Nine-dragon Wall in Beihai Park in Beijing. It is the biggest and oldest dragon wall which still in existence in China.

Fahua Temple

Photographed by LiuYujun

Fahua Temple is located in Heyang Street of Datong Ancient City. It covers an area of about 38,000 square meters. On the central axis there are entrance gate, Hall of Heavenly King, Three Sages Hall, Great Buddha Hall, Fahua Lamaist Stupa and Pavilion of Sutra Collection. Built at the end of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and the beginning of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Fahua Stupa is the only Lamaist stupa with bottle shape in Datong. Fahua Stupa gains its name due to an ancient Lotus Sutra found inside the stupa.

Chunyang Temple

Photographed by LiuYujun

Chunyang Temple is located in west Gulou Street of Datong Ancient City. It is also called Luzu Temple because it was built to enshrine and worship Lu Dongbin (born 796), also named Luzu, an ancient Taoist Monk in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The temple is the only existing Quanzhen School of Taoism in the city. First built at the end of Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) and beginning of Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), Chongyang Temple was restored in the 4^th Year of Hongwu Period (1371) in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Experiencing more than six hundred years and only a hall from the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912) is preserved. In 2008, as part of overall city construction project, Chongyang Temple was restored to its original magnificent scale and appearance from the Ming Dynasty with three halls located along the central axis.

Mosque

Photographed by LiuYujun

Located in Jiulouxiang Street, Datong Mosque was first built in the Yongle Period (1403-1424) of the Ming Dynasty. It was build in the early period shortly after the introduction of Islam to China in the middle of 7^th Century. The Mosque is a hall style architectural complex with combination of traditional Chinese architectural style and Islamic architectural style. Facing to the west, the mosque has three courtyards with main buildings located on the central axis, namely entrance gate, second gate of the Mosque, Pavilion for Introspection, Best Scholar Bridge, Praying Hall, stone carving screen etc.

Confucius Temple

Photographed by Liu Yujun

As an important venue for the worship of Confucian (great philosopher, politician and educator of the 6th–5th centuries B.C. in ancient China whose system of belief ,subsequently known as Confucianism, has exerted profound influence on Chinese culture), Confucius Temple is located in Fuxuemen Street in the southeast of the Datong Ancient City. It was firstly built in the 29^th year of Hongwu Period (1396) of the Ming Dynasty on the original site of the government school. In 2008, as part of the overall city construction project, Confucian Temple was restored on its original site covering an area of 40,000 square meters. The main buildings of the temple are Lingxing Gate (Heavenly Gate), Ceremony Gate, Dacheng Hall (Hall of Great Accomplishment), Zunjing Pavilion (Pavilion of Sutra Collection), stele pavilion, corner tower and exhibition halls on the two sides of the main axis.

Guandi Temple

Photographed by Liu Yujun

Guandi Temple (Temple of the God of Military) is located to the east of Gulou Street, southeast of Datong Ancient City (Guan Yu was a prominent general of the Shu Kingdom in the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280). He was commended by the following rulers of later dynasties and regarded as “the Saint of Force”. Gradually, Guan Yu was treated as a deity). The temple was firstly built in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), therefore it was probably among the first built of Guandi Temple in north China. The main hall dates back to the Yuan Dynasty and is still in existence. In 2008, as part of the overall city construction project, Guandi Temple was restored on its original site with main buildings located on the central axis from south to north, namely entrance gate, front hall, main hall, Spring and Autumn Pavilion.

Guanyin Temple

Photographed by Liu Yujun

Guanyin Temple (Temple of Bodhisattva of Mercy) is located along the Yungang Tourist Road, 7.5 kilometers to the west of downtown Datong. It was first build in 1037, the 6^th year of Chongxi Period of the Liao Dynasty (916-1125). The buildings preserved today were rebuild in 1651, the 8^th year in the reign of Emperor Shunzhi（1638-1661) of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Facing south, the temple covers an area of around 2,000 square meters. There is a double-sided three-dragon wall in front of the entrance gate which is remains from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). On the central axis, there is a theatrical stage, Guanyin Hall (the Hall of Bodhisattva of Mercy), Hall of Three Purities and ear halls and pavilions. In the middle of Guanyin Hall is a stone carved sculpture of Guanyin (Bodhisattva of Mercy) six meters high. Flanking both sides of the Guanyin are attendants, two meters high. On the east and west sides of the Guanyin Hall are two lines of sculptures of ten King Kong