More than a thousand years ago, Datong in Shanxi Province stood proudly on China’s northern frontier, serving as a vital link between the Central Plains and the grasslands, as well as an important hub along the ancient Silk Road across the steppe. Here, a rich variety of traditional performing arts—including music and dance, puppetry, animal performances, storytelling, wrestling, pole acts, and rope walking—came together, blending influences from both East and West and bringing together artistic traditions from across China.
Today, this “City of Hundreds of Performing Arts” continues to shine with renewed vitality. In early July, the Dongnanyi Traditional Performing Arts Festival opened in the Dongnanyi Historical and Cultural Block of Datong Ancient City. Under the theme “Bringing Hundreds of Performances to the Streets, Opening a World of Wonders,” the festival brought traditional folk performances back into public spaces.
“Look! It’s the acrobatic figurine! ” At the Silk Road Plaza, the Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe drew inspiration from a precious Northern Wei acrobat figurine from the Datong Museum collection and recreated the performance“Northern Wei Hu Performer Acrobatics.”As the performers struck their final pose, the show was met with waves of cheers and applause. Memories of ancient performing arts, once preserved only in artifacts, images, and historical records, seemed to come alive in that moment—with a heartbeat of their own.
Across the streets and alleys, artistic traditions from China and abroad blended together in harmony. The French companyCompagnie Les Passagersbrought its “Green Old Man” character to the streets, slowly parading on stilts while the melodies of the accordion and taragoto filled the air. An Argentine wordless string puppet performance delighted audiences of all ages, as tiny puppets moved gracefully under the control of strings, creating humorous and heartwarming scenes that made both children and adults stop and smile.
Local intangible cultural heritage and original works by young artists added depth and richness to the festival. The lively Shanxi yangge folk dance“Flowers Bloom in a Year of Happiness”captivated audiences with its energetic movements and festive atmosphere. The classic Peking Opera martial arts piece“Siping Mountain”showcased powerful traditional techniques, with dramatic hammer battles bringing the elegance of Chinese opera to the streets and alleyways. The experimental physical theater work“Without · Shadow”used light and movement as its language to explore identity and inner self.
Storytelling performances, street parades, and folk acts followed one another throughout the festival. Unique skills such as balancing performances, spinning tube acts, and unicycle routines could be seen everywhere. Every step revealed a new scene, and every corner was filled with excitement.
Beyond the performances, the cultural details throughout the neighborhood created a warm and relaxing atmosphere. The traveling exhibition“When the Wind Rises in Datong, Step Into the Show”was scattered throughout the streets, displaying old photographs, traditional performance props, and local cultural objects. Intangible cultural heritage windmills decorated the walls of ancient courtyards, turning gently in the breeze.
Modern shops and long-established local businesses stood side by side. After enjoying performances, visitors could sit down, taste local specialties, and experience the laid-back charm and warmth of the ancient city.
This week-long celebration of traditional performing arts reflects Datong’s new approach to cultural tourism development and its ongoing transformation. Today, Datong Ancient City has moved beyond a traditional sightseeing model centered only on historic sites, creating a complete cultural tourism and lifestyle experience.
After sunset, the ancient city remains vibrant. Along the stone-paved roads near the east and west streets of the Drum Tower, visitors can find cultural and creative shops, local food businesses, boutique guesthouses, and photography services, creating a lively atmosphere full of everyday charm. Characteristic districts such as Xianlou Street, Happy Street, and Dongnanyi naturally combine historic architecture with modern leisure experiences, offering visitors diverse cultural tourism activities throughout the year.
In addition to traditional events such as the Ancient City Lantern Festival and Spring Festival temple fairs, new experiences—including immersive performances such as“A Dreamlike Datong”and“Datong Under Heaven,”musical street tours by mobile buses, drone shows at the Daiwang Mansion, and 3D holographic projections at Zhuanjiao Tower—have been introduced one after another, continuously refreshing visitors’ travel experiences.
Datong has also significantly improved tourism infrastructure and public services to better meet visitors’ practical needs. TheGreat Wall No. 1 Tourist Highwaynow features comprehensive supporting facilities, with 22 service stations and 28 viewing platforms along the route, making self-driving tours and roadside breaks more convenient.
Standardized tourist service centers have been established across various districts and counties, integrating one-stop services including itinerary planning, attraction information, and travel guidance. These improvements help visitors avoid the difficulties of planning routes and organizing independent trips.
Basic public services have also continued to improve. Datong has upgraded tourism facilities over the years, including the construction and renovation of more than one hundred tourist restrooms, demonstrating the city’s commitment to providing thoughtful and standardized visitor services.
Through the official integrated cultural tourism service mini-program“Datong Under Heaven,”visitors can check performance schedules in the ancient city, parking availability, public facility locations, and other practical information in real time, allowing them to plan trips and make reservations efficiently.
Major attractions, including theYungang Grottoes, Huayan Temple, and Hanging Temple, now offer real-name reservation and ticketing services through their respective official mini-programs, reducing waiting times at entrances.
Tourist service centers known as “Visitor Homes” have also been established in key tourism areas across Datong, providing free services such as luggage storage, drinking water, emergency supplies, and travel consultation. Urban buses and dedicated tourism routes connect major attractions throughout the city.
Meanwhile, Datong has long implemented tourism benefit policies to make cultural experiences more accessible. Minors and students can enjoy reduced or free admission to major attractions. The ancient city walls remain open to visitors free of charge through advance reservations throughout the year. During peak travel seasons, special tourism routes connecting urban and suburban areas are added, while public parking spaces and some university parking facilities are opened during busy periods, improving visitors’ comfort and overall travel value.
Recently, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism released the“15th Five-Year Plan for Building China into a Tourism Powerhouse.”Datong was successfully included among the nation’s key tourism cities and became part of the country’s broader strategic framework for tourism development. This recognition provides strong policy support for the ancient capital as it continues to deepen the integration of culture and tourism and pursue innovation in tourism experiences.
