Datong attraction

Shanhua Temple

善化寺

A quieter Liao- and Jin-era temple ensemble on the south side of the old city.

Sources reviewed 2026-09-15 Source-linkedRecently reviewed

Cave openings and carved stone facades at Yungang Grottoes near Datong — Photo:

What it is and why visit

A quieter Liao- and Jin-era temple ensemble on the south side of the old city. Plan roughly 1.5 hours and aim for late morning.

Ticket: Free public access
Duration: 1.5 hours
Booking: Usually same-day
Setting: mixed

Opening pattern

Daytime with seasonal closing times.

General admission is commonly free; verify before visiting.

How to get there

Walk south through the old city or use a short taxi ride.

Map position

40.0833, 113.2971

Coordinates use WGS84. Open the interactive map to see this place with nearby city and trip-route context.

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Nearby and related places

Datong City Wall · 大同古城墙2 hours · A broad old-city circuit that gives useful scale and sunset views after temple visits.Huayan Temple · 华严寺2.5 hours · A major Liao- and Jin-period temple complex inside the old city, easy to combine with the city wall.

Continue planning

Datong city guideArrive at the exact station on your ticket. Datong South is a high-speed gateway, while the old city, Yungang and Hunyuan/Yingxian require separate road legs. Use the current 大同景区直通车 booking channel or a licensed arranged vehicle; the PDF’s bus numbers, flight list and fares are historical.Build a private itineraryFit this place into a realistic day and account for transfer time.