Datong · Visitor Guide
Nine-Dragon Wall (九龙壁, Jiǔlóngbì)
The Datong Nine-Dragon Wall is a 45.5-meter glazed-tile screen built in 1392 for Prince Zhu Gui's mansion — the oldest and largest of China's three Nine-Dragon Walls. The mansion burned down in 1644, but the wall survived and is now the headline Ming relic inside Datong's rebuilt old city.
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Quick Answer
Is Nine-Dragon Wall worth visiting?
China's oldest and largest Nine-Dragon Wall — 45.5 m of Ming glazed tile built in 1392 for a prince's mansion, viewable in about 30 minutes. Pair it with Huayan Monastery around the corner.
Quick facts
| Ticket | 10 RMB (verify, as of 2026) |
|---|---|
| Hours | 8:00-17:30 daily (verify, as of 2026) |
| Recommended duration | 30-40 minutes |
| Best time to visit | Morning, roughly 8:00–10:00, when low sun catches the glaze and crowds are thin. April–June and September–October have the most comfortable weather; avoid midday glare that flattens the tile colors. |
| How to get there | DiDi/taxi or city bus — Datong has no metro. About 10-15 RMB from Datong Railway Station by DiDi (15 min); walkable from the old-city Drum Tower and Huayan Monastery. |
| English signage | partial |
| Wheelchair accessible | partial |
| Built | 1392 (Ming Dynasty, 25th year of Hongwu) |
| Length | 45.5 m |
| Height | 8 m |
| Material | Colored glazed tile (琉璃) over a brick core |
| Builder | Prince Zhu Gui (代王), 13th son of the Hongwu Emperor |
| Status | Oldest and largest of China's three Nine-Dragon Walls |
What to expect
The wall is a single 45.5-meter-long, 8-meter-high screen of colored glazed tile, nine large dragons writhing through clouds and waves across its face. A rectangular reflecting pool sits in front, and a small paved plaza lets you step back far enough to take the whole thing in. There is no interior to explore — you walk the length, study the tile work close up, shoot a few photos, and you're done. That is the entire site.
Zhu Gui, the 13th son of the founding Hongwu Emperor, was made Prince of Dai with his seat at Datong in 1392, and the wall was the spirit screen (照壁) for his mansion. The mansion itself burned in the chaos of 1644 as the Ming fell, but the screen survived — which is why it outranks the two later copies in Beijing (Forbidden City, 1772; Beihai Park, 1756). The use of nine dragons, the imperial number, on a prince's residence is a small overstep that guides sometimes point out. Much of the glaze has been restored over the centuries, so what you see is partly original Ming tile and partly later refurbishment.
In practice the wall gets oversold. 'Oldest and largest' sounds grand, but the visit is genuinely short — budget 30 to 40 minutes, not a half-day. The adjacent Dai Prince Mansion is a 2010s concrete reconstruction, not a historic building, so don't pay extra expecting Ming architecture there. English signage is thin, the site has little shade, and in harsh midday light the glaze looks flat and washed out. Go in the morning, then walk ten minutes to Huayan Monastery for the real depth of Datong's old city.
How to get there
Datong has no metro system, so you arrive by bus, taxi, or DiDi. The wall sits on Heyi Street (和阳街) inside the old city, a short walk from Huayan Monastery and the Drum Tower. By DiDi or taxi: about 10-15 RMB and 15 minutes from Datong Railway Station (大同站), and roughly 5-8 RMB from anywhere inside the old-city walls. By bus: several city routes serve the old city center (verify current route numbers at your stop); ask for 九龙壁 (Jiǔlóngbì) or the 和阳街 stop. If you are already in the old city, it is a 10-15 minute walk from the Drum Tower (鼓楼) area and about 5 minutes from Huayan Monastery.
Best photo spots
- Straight-on full-length shot from the viewing plaza across the reflecting pool in front — the only angle that fits all nine dragons.
- Close-up of a single dragon's glazed-tile face and claws; the third dragon from the left is a favorite for detail work.
- The reflection of the wall in the rectangular pool in front, best in calm early-morning light.
- Three-quarter angle from the eastern end to capture depth, the eave tiles, and the tile relief shadows.
Tips
- Go early (around 8:00-8:30) for soft light on the glazed tiles and thinner crowds; the glaze looks washed out under harsh midday sun.
- Bring a zoom or telephoto for dragon detail — the wall is wide, and a phone wide-angle makes the individual dragons tiny.
- Don't confuse the wall with the rebuilt Dai Prince Mansion next door; the mansion is a 2010s reconstruction, only the screen wall is the genuine Ming artifact.
- Pair it with Huayan Monastery and Shanhua Monastery, both within the old city and walkable as a half-day loop.
- There is little shade and the visit is short, so in summer carry water and a hat and budget 30-40 min, not more.
Scams to avoid
- Taxi or DiDi drivers in Datong sometimes claim the wall is 'closed today' and try to redirect you to a jade or tea shop, or to a different paid site where they earn a commission. Confirm hours yourself and insist on the destination.
- Self-styled 'guides' near the entrance offer tours of the adjacent (rebuilt) Dai Prince Mansion at inflated prices; the site is small enough to read on your own.
- Souvenir vendors selling 'Ming-era' glazed tile fragments — these are modern reproductions, not authentic.
Frequently asked questions
How much time do I need at the Nine-Dragon Wall?
About 30-40 minutes; it is a single 45.5 m screen wall in a small park, not a sprawling site.
How is the Datong Nine-Dragon Wall different from the ones in Beijing?
The Datong wall (1392, Ming) is the oldest and largest of China's three famous Nine-Dragon Walls; Beijing's Forbidden City (1772) and Beihai Park (1756) versions are later Qing copies.
Who built it and why?
Prince Zhu Gui, the 13th son of the Hongwu Emperor, had it built in 1392 as the spirit screen (照壁) for his Dai Prince Mansion.
What are its exact dimensions?
Roughly 45.5 meters long, 8 meters high, and about 2 meters thick, faced entirely in colored glazed tile over a brick core.
Is it a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
No — the wall itself is not listed, though the nearby Yungang Grottoes (about 30 min west) have been UNESCO since 2001.
What is the entrance fee?
Around 10 RMB (verify, as of 2026); some Datong old-city sites have moved to free entry, so check current pricing before you go.
How do I get there without a metro?
Datong has no metro; take a DiDi or taxi (about 10-15 RMB from Datong Railway Station, 5-8 RMB from inside the old-city walls) or a city bus to the Heyi Street / 和阳街 area.
When is the best time of day to visit?
Morning, roughly 8:00-10:00, when low sun catches the glaze and crowds are thin; midday glare flattens the colors.
Is the building next to it original?
No — the adjacent Dai Prince Mansion is a 2010s reconstruction; only the screen wall is the genuine Ming-era structure.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Mostly — the viewing area in front of the wall is flat and paved, but there are a few steps up to raised viewing platforms, so it is partial rather than full.
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Hanging Temple (Xuankong Temple)
A 1,500-year-old temple fused into a sheer cliff face 75 meters above the ground — the only temple in China combining Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian halls. ¥130. 1–1.5 hours.
Mount Wutai
Holiest Buddhist mountain — 53 temples, Manjusri bodhisattva's seat. UNESCO site. ¥135 entry. Cool summer retreat at 3,058 m. From Datong or Taiyuan.
Yungang Grottoes
A ~1-km sandstone cliff holding some 51,000 Buddhist carvings begun in 460 AD under the Northern Wei — allow 3–4 hours, and arrive before 10:00 to beat the tour-bus waves.
Yingxian Wooden Pagoda (Sakyamuni Pagoda of Fogong Temple)
A 67-meter all-timber pagoda built in 1056 without a single nail — the oldest and tallest surviving wooden pagoda in the world, 70 km south of Datong. ¥60. 60–90 minutes, but only the ground floor is climbable today.
Huayan Temple
A pair of Liao-dynasty (907–1125) wooden temples holding one of China's largest surviving ancient halls and a celebrated 1,000-year-old smiling bodhisattva. ¥65. 1.5–2 hours.