Datong Classic City Day Tour: City Wall, Drum Tower, Liao Architecture

Datong's old city is one of the most ambitious city-wall reconstructions in China — 6.5km of Ming-style wall rebuilt 2008-2014 (controversial, but visually striking). Walk the wall at four corners, visit the Drum Tower (1370 AD, original survivor), Datong Civic Museum, and the Confucian Temple. Includes a stop at a traditional Datong knife-cut noodle (dao xiao mian) restaurant for lunch — Datong noodles are listed as one of China's top 10 noodle styles. Afternoon: Shanhua Temple (Tang-founded, currently a working Buddhist temple). Different from existing tours which leave town for Yungang etc. Stays entirely inside the rebuilt walled city.

Inside-the-walls Datong: the rebuilt Ming city wall, drum tower, traditional courtyards.