In May, Datong enjoys clear skies and refreshing air, with breathtaking scenery everywhere drawing a steady stream of visitors. According to the Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism yesterday, during the "May Day" holiday, eight key monitored scenic spots in the city received a cumulative total of 1.1062 million tourist arrivals. The city's tourism market remained prosperous and orderly, offering a diverse array of products and achieving high-level growth in reception numbers.
The popularity of key scenic spots continued to climb. As May began, the charm of ancient architecture harmonized with lush mountains and lucid waters, allowing visitors from all directions to fully enjoy Datong's unique appeal. The Yungang Grottoes attracted a large number of tourists with its distinct charm and profound cultural heritage. Meanwhile, "cultural feasts" launched by the scenic area, such as robot flash mobs, string performances, and intangible cultural heritage shows, enriched the visitor experience. Huayan Temple launched a public welfare activity titled "Tribute to City Ferrymen – A Warm May Day Together," inviting bus company employees and their families to participate in study tours. This allowed participants to deeply experience Liao and Jin dynasty culture and feel the unique charm of the ancient capital. Mount Heng and the Hanging Temple saw a surge in popularity. On May 3, CCTV-13 reported on these sites under the title "Datong, Shanxi: Ancient Heritage Tours Continue to Heat Up During the Holiday," showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship of the millennium-old structures at the majestic Mount Heng. The streets and alleys of Datong Ancient City were bustling with crowds, and various cultural activities were brilliant and colorful. Several heritage sites within the ancient city extended their opening hours to enhance the tourist experience.
Immersive performances were a major highlight. During the holiday, immersive performances—as innovative products of the city’s culture and tourism integration—became the most eye-catching feature of the market, effectively meeting tourists' needs for deep participation and interactive experiences. The performance "Dreaming of Datong" at Hubujiao in the Ancient City provided a visual feast of full-body immersion, serving as a window for tourists to understand local culture. At Mount Heng, the live-action play "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer City" allowed visitors to immerse themselves in the martial arts charm of the Hengshan Sect. Activities such as the "Chengyun Tianxia" performance at the Prince Dai's Mansion led tourists to exclaim that they had "touched the grand history of the ancient capital and appreciated the magnificent spirit of Datong." Richie Jen’s "Qi Ji" 2026 Concert at the Municipal Sports Center delivered a series of soul-stirring audiovisual feasts. The "Ancient City is also Trendy" spot performances filled the ancient city with an artistic atmosphere, satisfying cultural needs and stimulating the potential of the culture and tourism market.
Rural tourism gained significant traction. Rural scenic areas were filled with shade and gurgling streams, forming a beautiful pastoral scroll. Many citizens and tourists headed to the countryside, where folk customs, flower viewing, spring outings, and parent-child experiences became the "main themes" of rural travel. Wulong Gorge and Yujiazhai in Yunzhou District, Shougoupu in Yanggao, and Lierkou in Tianzhen saw large crowds. Many self-driving travelers also toured the border Great Wall along the Great Wall No. 1 Tourism Highway, admiring the geological wonders of volcanoes and earth forests while enjoying the uniqueness and leisure of rural life.
Additionally, major cultural venues across the city planned a variety of experiential activities, welcoming a continuous flow of visitors and enriching the holiday cultural life of both citizens and tourists.
