Datong (大同, Dàtóng) is increasingly appearing on independent China itineraries, particularly for travelers interested in the extraordinary Yungang Grottoes (云冈石窟, Yúngāng Shíkū) and Hanging Temple (悬空寺, Xuánkōng Sì).
But there is a practical problem: the two attractions aren’t next to each other, organized tours can be expensive, and some independent travelers simply don’t want to hire a private car.
A traveler recently asked whether local buses or group tourist buses could provide a cheaper alternative.
We put the question to the ChinaTravelBUG AI Travel Planner.
The Traveler’s Question
“Has anyone taken a tour in Datong to see the grottoes and hanging temples. I’m organizing my own but I was wondering if there are any local group tours by bus I could join. The major tour companies are very expensive. I have bought entry tickets. What’s the best mode of transport. I don’t want private transport by car.”
AI Travel Planner Answers
Yes — Datong can be done without an expensive private tour, and since the traveler has already bought the attraction tickets and specifically does not want a private car, I’d use public/tourist buses rather than pay for a major tour company.
For Yungang Grottoes (云冈石窟), public transport is quite straightforward. Datong’s official visitor information confirms a direct Yungang Grottoes tourist shuttle from the Datong South Station transport hub. Alternatively, bus 68 connects with bus 3 for Yungang. () The grottoes are only about 16 km west of the city. ()
The Hanging Temple (悬空寺) is the more awkward journey because it is down in Hunyuan County, roughly 60–70 km from Datong. The good news is that local tourist buses/direct services do exist. Datong’s official transport guide lists bus 901 from the Datong South Station transport hub toward Hunyuan, and current local travel information also reports tourist shuttle services between Datong and the Hanging Temple area. ()
I would not try to visit Yungang and the Hanging Temple by ordinary public buses on the same day. They lie in different directions from Datong, so what looks like a simple two-attraction day becomes a lot of connecting, waiting and worrying about the last bus. That’s precisely where private tours gain their time advantage—but you don’t need to pay that premium if you can give Datong two days.
I’d do:
- Day 1: Yungang Grottoes by the direct tourist bus, then return to Datong and enjoy the Ancient City.
- Day 2: Take a direct tourist/shuttle bus toward the Hanging Temple/Hunyuan. Ask your hotel to help confirm that day’s departure point and return time, as these services can change.
And Datong deserves that little bit of breathing room. Yungang isn’t simply a collection of Buddha statues: it was a major Northern Wei royal project, and its carvings reveal how Buddhist artistic influences arriving from India and Central Asia were being absorbed into China around 1,500 years ago. ()
So for this traveler: skip the expensive private tour. Two days + local tourist buses would be my choice.
For anyone planning something similar, I’d also verify the current bus departure times locally the day before rather than building the trip around an old timetable found online.
Further Reading
China High-Speed Rail for Foreign Tourists (2026 Guide)
Read the article: https://chinatravelbug.com/china-high-speed-rail-for-foreign-tourists-2026-guide/
Useful if Datong is being combined with Beijing, Xi’an or another stop by train.
ChinaTravelBUG Verification Note
Last verified: August 13, 2026
The AI Travel Planner’s original answer is reproduced unedited above.
Public and tourist bus routes, departure locations, frequencies and schedules can change. This is particularly important for the Hanging Temple/Hunyuan journey, where travelers should verify the current outbound and return services before traveling rather than relying on an older online timetable.
The broader planning principle remains useful: Yungang Grottoes and the Hanging Temple are in different directions from Datong, so independent travelers relying on public transportation should allow sufficient time rather than assuming both can easily be combined into one day.
About This Traveler Question
This question was adapted from a real traveler discussion shared online. Personal identifying details have been omitted.
The AI Travel Planner Answers series preserves authentic traveler questions because they often reveal practical problems that conventional destination guides overlook—such as whether you actually need an expensive private tour to reach attractions outside a Chinese city.
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