Datong is a prefecture-level city in northern Shanxi Province in the People's Republic of China. It is located in the Datong Basin at an elevation of 1,040 metres (3,410 ft) and borders Inner Mongolia to the north and west and Hebei to the east. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 3,105,591 of whom 1,790,452 lived in the built-up (or metro) area made of the 2 out 4 urban districts of Pingcheng and Yungang as Yunzhou and Xinrong are not conurbated yet.

Datong
大同市
Tatung
From top down, left to right: Datong panorama; Shanhua Temple; Huayan Temple; Yungang Grottoes; Tower at Lingyan Temple; Temple of Confucius (Wenmiao); Guandi Temple; Yinghui Gate of the City Wall
Location of Datong City jurisdiction in Shanxi
Location of Datong City jurisdiction in Shanxi
Datong is located in Shanxi
Datong
Datong
Location of the city center in Shanxi
Datong is located in China
Datong
Datong
Datong (China)
Coordinates (Datong municipal government): 40°05′49″N 113°22′01″E / 40.097°N 113.367°E / 40.097; 113.367
CountryPeople's Republic of China
ProvinceShanxi
Municipal seatPingcheng District
Government
 • TypePrefecture-level city
 • Party SecretaryZhang Jifu
Area
 • Prefecture-level city14,068 km2 (5,432 sq mi)
 • Urban3,563 km2 (1,376 sq mi)
 • Metro
976 km2 (377 sq mi)
Elevation
1,042 m (3,419 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[2]
 • Prefecture-level city3,105,591
 • Density220/km2 (570/sq mi)
 • Urban
2,030,203
 • Urban density570/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
 • Metro
1,790,452
 • Metro density1,800/km2 (4,800/sq mi)
GDP[3]
 • Prefecture-level cityCN¥ 137 billion
US$ 21.5 billion
 • Per capitaCN¥ 44,110
US$ 7,058
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard)
Postal code
037000
Area code0352
ISO 3166 codeCN-SX-02
License Plates晋B
Administrative division code140200
Websitedt.gov.cn
Datong
Chinese大同
Literal meaningGreat Unity
Great Togetherness
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinDàtóng
Wade–GilesTa-t‘ung
Former names
Pingcheng
Traditional Chinese平城
Simplified Chinese平城
Literal meaningPeaceful City County
Pacified City County
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinPíngchéngxiàn
Wade–GilesP‘ing-ch‘êng Hsien
Xijing
Chinese西京
Literal meaningWestern Capital
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinXījīng
Wade–GilesHsi-ching

History

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The Nine-Dragon Wall
 
The Drum Tower (鼓楼)

The area of present-day Datong was close to the state of Dai, which was conquered by the Zhao clan of Jin in 457 BC. It was a frontier land between the agricultural Chinese and the nomads of the Great Steppe. The area was well known for its trade in horses.

The area of present-day Datong eventually came under the control of the Qin dynasty, during which it was known as Pingcheng County (平城县) and formed part of the Qin commandery of Yanmen.[4] Pingcheng County continued under the Han dynasty, which founded a site within present-day Datong in 200 BC following its victory against the Xiongnu nomads at the Battle of Baideng. Located near a pass to Inner Mongolia along the Great Wall, Pingcheng blossomed under Han rule and became a stop-off point for camel caravans moving from China into Mongolia and beyond. It was sacked at the end of the Eastern Han. Pingcheng became the capital of the Xianbei-founded Northern Wei dynasty from AD 398–494. The Yungang Grottoes were constructed during the later part of this period (460–494). During the mid to late 520s, Pingcheng was the seat of Northern Wei's Dai Commandery.[5] During the Tang dynasty, Datong became the seat of the Tang prefecture of Yunzhou, and the original Guandi temple was built.[6][7]

The city was renamed Datong in 1048. It was the Xijing ("Western Capital") of the Jurchen Jin dynasty prior to being sacked by the Mongols. Datong later came under the control of the Ming dynasty, serving as an important Ming military stronghold against the Mongols to the north.[7] During the Ming period, many of Datong's notable historical structures such as the Drum Tower and the Nine-Dragon Wall were built.[8][9] Datong was sacked again at the end of the Ming in 1649, but promptly rebuilt in 1652.

By 1982 a portion of its city walls remained so it became one of the National Famous Historical and Cultural Cities that year. Prior to 2008, about 100,000 people lived in the old city. In 2008 mayor Geng Yanbo decided to redevelop much of the inner city, with over 3 square kilometres (1.2 sq mi) being redeveloped, and with Geng becoming known as the "Demolition Mayor". Geng and his group anticipated that 30,000 to 50,000 people would remain in the old city.

In 2013 Geng left his position. Su Jiede of Sixth Tone wrote that much of the city was still under construction at the time and that Geng's efforts resulted in "a half-finished city center and a complicated legacy" and that "To critics, the city had spent enormous sums of money without much to show for it."[10] By 2020 the population of the old city was below 30,000 and there were fewer governmental facilities available for the residents. That year Su stated that the old city "still presents a headache for the local government."[10]

Demographics

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Su Jiede wrote that since Pingcheng District, which had most of its urbanized area, had 1,105,699 people as of 2020, "Datong is a small city by Chinese standards".[10]

Geography

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The Yungang Grottoes.

Datong is the northernmost city of Shanxi, and is located in the Datong Basin, with an administrative area spanning latitude 39° 03'–40° 44' N and longitude 112° 34'–114° 33' E. The urban area is surrounded on three sides by mountains, with passes only to the east and southwest. Within the prefecture-level city elevations generally increase from southeast to northwest. Datong borders Ulanqab (Inner Mongolia) to the northwest and Zhangjiakou (Hebei) to the east, Shuozhou (Shanxi) to the southwest, and Xinzhou (Shanxi) to the south.

The well-known Datong Volcanic Arc lies nearby in the Datong Basin.

It is 250 kilometres (160 mi) west of Beijing.[10]

Climate

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Datong has a continental, monsoon-influenced steppe climate (Köppen BSk), influenced by the 1,000 metres (3,300 ft)+ elevation, with rather long, cold, very dry winters, and very warm summers. Monthly mean temperatures range from −10.5 °C (13.1 °F) in January to 22.6 °C (72.7 °F) in July; the annual mean temperature is 7.33 °C (45.2 °F). Due to the aridity and elevation, diurnal temperature variation is often large, averaging 13.2 °C (23.8 °F) annually. There barely is any precipitation during winter, and more than 34 of the annual precipitation occurs from June to September. With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 54% in July to 66% in October, sunshine is abundant year-round, and the city receives 2,671 hours (about 60% of the possible total) of bright sunshine per year. Extremes since 1951 have ranged from −31.9 °C (−25 °F) on 16 December 2023 to 39.2 °C (103 °F) on 29 July 2010.

Climate data for Datong, elevation 1,053 m (3,455 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1951–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 11.2
(52.2)
19.2
(66.6)
25.3
(77.5)
35.4
(95.7)
36.1
(97.0)
39.0
(102.2)
39.2
(102.6)
35.9
(96.6)
34.7
(94.5)
27.5
(81.5)
21.9
(71.4)
15.8
(60.4)
39.2
(102.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −2.9
(26.8)
2.1
(35.8)
9.2
(48.6)
17.4
(63.3)
23.7
(74.7)
27.8
(82.0)
28.9
(84.0)
27.2
(81.0)
22.4
(72.3)
15.3
(59.5)
6.2
(43.2)
−1.3
(29.7)
14.7
(58.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) −10.5
(13.1)
−5.8
(21.6)
1.5
(34.7)
9.7
(49.5)
16.5
(61.7)
21.0
(69.8)
22.7
(72.9)
20.8
(69.4)
15.2
(59.4)
7.7
(45.9)
−1.0
(30.2)
−8.4
(16.9)
7.5
(45.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −16.6
(2.1)
−12.4
(9.7)
−5.4
(22.3)
2.1
(35.8)
8.7
(47.7)
14.0
(57.2)
16.7
(62.1)
14.9
(58.8)
8.8
(47.8)
1.4
(34.5)
−6.8
(19.8)
−14.1
(6.6)
0.9
(33.7)
Record low °C (°F) −31.1
(−24.0)
−27.6
(−17.7)
−20.9
(−5.6)
−16.1
(3.0)
−5.8
(21.6)
2.9
(37.2)
7.8
(46.0)
2.8
(37.0)
−3.7
(25.3)
−11.5
(11.3)
−24.0
(−11.2)
−31.9
(−25.4)
−31.9
(−25.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 2.1
(0.08)
3.6
(0.14)
8.9
(0.35)
21.0
(0.83)
32.8
(1.29)
53.1
(2.09)
96.9
(3.81)
76.1
(3.00)
60.2
(2.37)
23.3
(0.92)
8.3
(0.33)
1.8
(0.07)
388.1
(15.28)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 1.8 2.2 3.6 4.3 6.6 11.2 12.5 11.1 8.8 5.5 3.1 1.7 72.4
Average snowy days 3.3 3.9 3.8 1.7 0.2 0 0 0 0.1 0.6 3.4 3.2 20.2
Average relative humidity (%) 53 46 42 38 40 50 64 68 64 57 54 52 52
Mean monthly sunshine hours 192.0 200.7 236.7 255.0 278.4 256.6 249.6 243.8 225.1 225.9 189.0 182.2 2,735
Percent possible sunshine 64 66 64 64 62 57 55 58 61 66 64 63 62
Source: China Meteorological Administration[11][12][13] all-time extreme temperature[14]

Administrative divisions

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Map including Datong (labeled as 大同 TA-T'UNG (walled)) (AMS, 1963)
Map
Name Simplified Chinese[15][16] Pinyin Population
(2003 est.)[citation needed][17]
Area (km²)[18] Density
(/km²)
Pingcheng District 平城区 Píngchéng Qū 580,000 246 2,358
Yungang District 云冈区 Yúngāng Qū 280,000 684 409
Xinrong District 新荣区 Xīnróng Qū 110,000 1,102 109
Yunzhou District 云州区 Yúnzhōu Qū 170,000 1,501 113
Yanggao County 阳高县 Yánggāo Xiàn 290,000 1,678 173
Tianzhen County 天镇县 Tiānzhèn Xiàn 210,000 1,635 128
Guangling County 广灵县 Guǎnglíng Xiàn 180,000 1,283 140
Lingqiu County 灵丘县 Língqiū Xiàn 230,000 2,720 85
Hunyuan County 浑源县 Húnyuán Xiàn 350,000 1,965 178
Zuoyun County 左云县 Zuǒyún Xiàn 140,000 1,314 107

Tourism

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The Yungang Grottoes are a collection of shallow caves located 16 km (9.9 mi) west of Datong. There are over 50,000 carved images and statues of Buddhas and bodhisattvas within these grottoes, ranging from 4 centimeters to 7 meters tall. Most of these icons are around 1500 years old.

Within the city itself, there are a few surviving sites of historical interest such as the Nine-Dragon Wall, the Huayan Monastery (华严寺; Huáyán Sì), and the Shanhua Temple. Further afield is the Hanging Temple built into a cliff face near Mount Heng. Most of the historical sites in this region date to the Liao, Jin and Ming dynasties, but the Hanging Temple dates to the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534).

The railway locomotive works (see below) began to attract increasing numbers of railway enthusiasts from the 1970s. When the construction of steam locomotives was phased out, the authorities did not want to lose this valuable tourism market, and pondered the possibility of developing a steam railway operating center as an attraction. A number of study visits were undertaken to the East Lancashire Railway at Bury, and a twinning arrangement was concluded with that town.

In 2010, work began on reconstructing the city's 14th century Ming dynasty defensive wall. The controversial reconstruction project was in its final phase at the end of 2014.[19] The documentary The Chinese Mayor[20] documents two years of vigorous and highly controversial (due to summary demolition of about 200,000 homes) effort by Mayor Geng Yanbo to push the reconstruction project forward.

Culture

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Datong is known for its knife-cut noodles.[21]

Economy

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The GDP per capita was ¥17,852 (US$2,570) per annum in 2008, ranked no. 242 among 659 Chinese cities. Coal mining is the dominant industry of Datong. Its history and development are very much linked to this commodity.

Development zones Datong Economic and Technological Development Zone

Due to its strategic position, it is also an important distribution and warehousing center for Shanxi, Hebei and Inner Mongolia.[22]

Datong is an old fashioned coal mining city, and still sits on significant reserves of this commodity. Consequently, it has developed a reputation as one of China's most polluted cities. The Datong Coal Mining Group is based here and is China's third largest such enterprise. Datong is indeed however an emerging economy, as the city seeks to loosen its dependence on coal, introduce more environmentally friendly and efficient methods of extraction and move into other areas of business services. The local government has continued to upgrade its pillar coal sector (and related industries like coal chemicals, power and metallurgy), while also developing "substitute industries" such as machinery manufacturing, tourism and distribution, warehousing and logistics services. This has had some impact. Datong's GDP grew by 5.1 percent in 2008 to RMB56.6 billion.[23]

While coal will continue to dominate, Datong has been identified as one of the key cities requiring redevelopment, with part of this being in environmental cleanup, rehabilitation and industrial refocusing. Datong is a pilot city for rehabilitation studies following years of pollution. To this end it has already struck up strong relationships with other cities worldwide with similar backgrounds, and has begun plans, for example, to develop a tourism base focused on steam engine technology with antique locomotives to be used along designated tracks.[24]

Datong has a large railway locomotive works 'Datong locomotive factory', where the 'Aiming Higher' (Chinese: 前进; pinyin: Qiánjìn) class of steam locomotive was built as late as the 1970s. Steam locomotive production ended in the late 1980s and the plant's main products (as of 2010) is mainline electric locomotives.

Main enterprises

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  • Datong Coal Mine Group (The third biggest coal-mining enterprise in China)[25]
  • Datong Electric Locomotive Co., Ltd, (DELC) (The second biggest Elec-Locomotive enterprise in China)[26]
  • Shanxi Diesel Engine Industries Corporation, Ltd, CNGC[27]
  • Shanxi Synthetic Rubber Group Co., Ltd, CNCC[28]
  • GD Power Datong No.2 Power Plant
  • GD Power Datong Power Generation Co., Ltd[29]
  • Shanxi Datang International Yungang Co-generation Co., Ltd.[30]
  • China National Heavy Duty Truck Group Datong Gear CO., LTD[31]

Transportation

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Education

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Colleges and universities

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Major schools

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See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b c Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, ed. (2019). China Urban Construction Statistical Yearbook 2017. Beijing: China Statistics Press. p. 46. Archived from the original on 18 June 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  2. ^ "China: Shānxī (Prefectures, Cities, Districts and Counties) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map".
  3. ^ 山西省统计局、国家统计局山西调查总队 (December 2021). 《山西统计年鉴-2021》. 中国统计出版社. ISBN 978-7-5037-7824-7.
  4. ^ Hou Xiaorong (2009), 《秦代政区地理》 [An Atlas of Qin-Era Administrative Divisions], Beijing: Social Science Academic Press. (in Chinese)
  5. ^ Xiong (2009), s.v. "Daijun".
  6. ^ "Guandi Temple, Datong". www.art-and-archaeology.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Datong | China | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  8. ^ "Drum Tower, Datong". www.art-and-archaeology.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  9. ^ "Nine-Dragon Wall, Datong". www.art-and-archaeology.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  10. ^ a b c d Su, Jiede (10 October 2020). "In Datong, a Crumbling Legacy of China's Most Extreme Urban Makeover". Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  11. ^ 中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Experience Template" 中国气象数据网 (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  13. ^ 中国地面国际交换站气候标准值月值数据集(1971-2000年). China Meteorological Administration. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  14. ^ "Extreme Temperatures Around the World". Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  15. ^ 2016年统计用区划代码. National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China.
  16. ^ "历史沿革". Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  17. ^ 大同市历史沿革_行政区划网(区划地名网) www.xzqh.org. XZQH.org.
  18. ^ 山西省大同市地名介绍. www.tcmap.com.cn.
  19. ^ "Fake it to make it". South China Morning Post Magazine. Hong Kong. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  20. ^ "The Chinese Mayor". IMDb.
  21. ^ https://inf.news/en/travel/988217c5317dd8bf472d38fff1883c87.html [bare URL]
  22. ^ China Briefing Business Guide Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. China-briefing.com. Retrieved on 25 February 2014.
  23. ^ "2008 Datong Economy Report". [permanent dead link]
  24. ^ China Briefing Business Guide: Datong Economy Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. China-briefing.com. Retrieved on 25 February 2014.
  25. ^ 大同煤矿集团公司. Datong Coal Mine Group. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  26. ^ Datong Electric Locomotive Co., Ltd Of Cnr Archived 30 July 2012 at archive.today. Dtloco.com. Retrieved on 25 February 2014.
  27. ^ http://www.shanxi-engine.com.cn Archived 10 February 2005 at the Wayback Machine
  28. ^ "ChinaBlueStar". www.china-bluestar.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2009.
  29. ^ "English-guodan". www.cgdc.com.cn. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011.
  30. ^ Www.China-Cdt.Com Archived 12 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Www.China-Cdt.Com (29 December 2002). Retrieved on 25 February 2014.
  31. ^ china national heavy duty truck group datong gear co ltd. Dcgroup.com.cn. Retrieved on 25 February 2014.

Bibliography

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Further reading

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  • Cotterell, Arthur (2008). The Imperial Capitals of China: An Inside View of the Celestial Empire. Pimlico, London. ISBN 978-1-84595-010-1.
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