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Best Things to Do
Top 50 Best Things to Do near Hohhot [2025]
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Yungang Grottoes
4.8
/5
31570 reviews
8.9
From US$14.14
Based on 996 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8603527992666
Address: No. 1, Yungang Town, Yungang District, Datong City, Shanxi Province
Recommended sightseeing time: 3–4 hours
Highlights:
Stroll through the grottoes and explore Forty Caves
59,000+ stone sculptures inside caves
Saved by 846 users24638 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Yungang Grottoes are not far from Datong, so the route is quite convenient! Currently, it's the off-season, so some grottoes are under renovation. If you don't have a particular passion for any one grotto, I actually think visiting during the off-season is more pleasant, as there are far fewer tourists, parking is easier, and the overall experience is more comfortable! As one of the four major grottoes in China, it is indeed a very impressive attraction, highly recommended!
It's breathtaking! A true recreation of the imperial grandeur of yesteryear. Winter is a great time to visit as it's not crowded. Please dress warmly! A visit will take about 3 hours! A glimpse into a thousand years, a vision of universal harmony!
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Yingxian Wooden Pagoda
4.8
/5
16360 reviews
8.4
From US$6.79
Based on 182 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8603495088889
Address: Northwest corner of Yingxian city, Shuozhou city
Recommended sightseeing time: 1–2 hours
Highlights:
11-foot Buddha statue inside
Panoramic views of nature & history
Saved by 151 users15090 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, one of the three great pagodas of the world alongside the Eiffel Tower and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, boasts a history of over 1500 years. However, its geographical location makes it relatively less visited by tourists. Frankly, when I arrived at Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, I didn't think it was particularly worthwhile because it was slowly tilting, so it wasn't open to the public. It wasn't until I visited the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda exhibition hall at the Shanxi Museum that I realized how absolutely stunning it would be if we could go inside! Therefore, I highly recommend that anyone planning a trip to Yingxian Wooden Pagoda also visit the exhibition hall at the Shanxi Museum. Combining the two visits will give you a more complete understanding of the pagoda!
The Wooden Pagoda is easily accessible by direct bus from downtown Datong. It's a traditional wooden structure built with mortise and tenon joints without nails. Despite its tilted shape, it has stood for a thousand years. The five-story, six-eaved structure, along with its colorful sculptures and murals, tells ancient stories and is truly breathtaking. Although only one floor is currently open to the public, it still evokes a powerful sense of awe and wonder at China's ancient culture.
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Xuankong Temple
4.7
/5
10020 reviews
8.4
From US$4.11
Based on 793 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8603528333081
Address: At the foot of Hengshan Mountain in the southeastern suburb of Wuyuan County, Datong City
Recommended sightseeing time: 1–2 hours
Highlights:
Admire Exquisite Wood Carved Murals Along the Plank Road
Cliffside's breathtaking architecture
Saved by 785 users7548 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Reliable platform to book. Everything goes as planned. Highly recommended.
The Hanging Temple, a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, is located on the cliff of Cuiping Peak on the west side of Jinlong Gorge in Hengshan Mountain, Hunyuan County, Shanxi Province. It is known by the local saying, "The Hanging Temple, halfway to heaven, suspended by three horse tails." Built 1400 years ago in the late Northern Wei Dynasty, it is a unique temple in China that integrates Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, and is the oldest existing wooden structure complex built on a cliff in the world. Originally called "Xuankong Pavilion," it was later renamed "Hanging Temple" because the entire temple appears to hang on the cliff; in Chinese, "hanging" and "mysterious" are homophones.
No.
4
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Whistling Dune Bay
4.3
/5
4809 reviews
8.2
From US$16.97
Based on 81 reviews
Xiangshawan | >100 km from downtown
Phone +864008785550
Address: Dalad, Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5–1 day
Highlights:
Breathtaking desert views & panorama
Camel rides in the desert
Saved by 340 users3093 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
This is my second time here, this time with my three-year-old. Since we've never seen such a large beach before, we had a lot of fun.
However, for adults, the other activities are all paid, so the value for money isn't quite right.
Today, Ordos is increasingly green, and it's rare to find such a small patch of desert left for tourists to experience. There are plenty of recreational activities, and the service is generally good. My summer trip was long ago, but the dark clouds and lightning over the desert during the thunderstorms remain vividly in my memory.
No.
5
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Huayan Monastery
4.8
/5
10693 reviews
8.1
From US$5.66
Based on 147 reviews
Ancient City Tourist Cultural Area | >100 km from downtown
Phone +8603522042025
Address: No. 459 Xia Sipo Street, Datong City
Recommended sightseeing time: 1–2 hours
Saved by 175 users8818 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Just for the sake of the Liao and Jin dynasty architecture, you have to go and see it! Because of the orientation of the ancient buildings, it's best to go in the morning. When the light shines through the doors and windows onto each Buddha statue, you will be amazed by its beauty!
Before visiting Huayan Temple, I hadn't done any research and didn't know its history or appearance, so I had low expectations. The day I went, although it was raining, it was indescribably beautiful. The murals inside the temple were even more breathtaking. It's definitely worth a trip to Datong just for Huayan Temple.
No.
6
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Yanmenguan
4.7
/5
5994 reviews
8.0
From US$7.78
Based on 5 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8603506100519
Address: Daixian, Xinzhou, Shanxi, China
Recommended sightseeing time: 3–4 hours
Highlights:
Yang Family's legendary statue
Walk ancient Great Wall path
5041 positive reviewsRecently viewed by 1,000+ people
Verified user reviews
Police officers and seniors over 60 get in for free; we only bought children's tickets. After buying the tickets, we just needed to swipe our ID cards to enter, which was very convenient. It got cold, too windy, and too cold, so we didn't go far and went back.
Yanmen Pass is definitely worth a visit. I visited the Badaling Great Wall many years ago, and the experience was different. The day I went, the fog was quite thick, so visibility was limited. Also, I arrived rather late, so I didn't explore too far, but the early winter scenery was still beautiful. The difficulty of the climb further highlights the hardships endured by the ancient soldiers, and it makes one marvel at the wisdom of the ancients in building this magnificent pass.
No.
7
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Wutai Mountain
4.6
/5
8263 reviews
8.0
From US$6.65
Based on 440 reviews
Wuye Temple | >100 km from downtown
Phone +8618634384269
Address: 205 Provincial Rd, Wutai Xian, Xinzhou Shi, Shanxi Sheng, China, 035515
Recommended sightseeing time: 1–3 days
Highlights:
Pilgrimage to five unique peaks
Panoramic view of Mount Wutai
Saved by 134 users5483 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
The scenery is nice and the bus is very convenient, good reviews! But the consumption level in the scenic area is a bit high, especially in some farmhouse restaurants, where two people can eat more than 100 yuan, while other places in the mountains only cost dozens of yuan.
The tour is very nice and I visited many temple which is very peaceful. The guide is also polite and helpful.
No.
8
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Wulanhada Volcano Geopark
4.1
/5
799 reviews
7.7
Ulan Hada Volcano Geopark | >100 km from downtown
Phone +8604744811717
Address: Chahar Right Wing Hou Banner, Wulanchabu City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5–1 day
Highlights:
Safe volcano summit & entry
Explore 20+ new volcano relics
Saved by 167 users607 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
We arrived at the volcano on the afternoon of the first day of the National Day holiday. It wasn't crowded. No need to exchange tickets for self-drive vehicles; you can enter directly at the self-drive entrance. There are manual ticket checks and exchange. Each volcano has a parking lot, but the parking order is a bit chaotic. We drove a go-kart for 80 yuan per car (negotiable). It went around the volcano. There was a fireworks show at night, but it was too cold to watch.
My first visit to Ulahada Volcano was high, but upon entering the scenic area, I was somewhat disappointed. The volcano wasn't as majestic as I'd imagined. The most unpleasant experience was the traffic jams. During the National Day holiday, the area was packed with tourists, and the roads were one-way, resulting in frequent traffic jams. Self-driving tourists were constantly cutting in line, ignoring the one-way traffic rules. The management of the scenic area was also quite disorganized, truly no more than a AAA-rated scenic spot. To enhance its influence and service levels, much work needs to be done, such as improving scenic area management and implementing appropriate vehicle flow control measures. Furthermore, I personally feel that the sanitation management of the scenic area needs improvement, with a strong whiff of commercial development. I hope the scenic area management will address these issues and not wait until the tourists have stopped visiting before regretting it. By then, it's too late. Remember this!
No.
9
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Heng Shan Mountain
4.5
/5
4744 reviews
7.5
From US$4.11
Based on 41 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8603528333077
Address: At the foot of Hengshan Mountain in the southeastern suburb of Wuyuan County, Datong City
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5–1 day
Highlights:
360° views of nature
Hanging Temple: ancient wooden architecture
Saved by 137 users2978 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
It's pretty good. The scenery is so-so, maybe because it's winter. There weren't many people, so you can climb at your own pace. Remember to allow 2.5-3 hours if you take the cable car. If you're climbing on your own, you can take a shuttle bus to the halfway point, then climb to the summit and take the cable car down. That will also take 3-4 hours. There are temples to visit.
Having a cable car makes things easier, but climbing to the top is still quite challenging. I had to rest several times, but reaching the top was still very rewarding, and the scenery was beautiful. The only downside was that one side was under construction, so there was a lot of dust at times.
No.
10
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Datong Ancient City
4.7
/5
263 reviews
7.3
From US$1.42
Ancient City Tourist Cultural Area | >100 km from downtown
Phone +8603527699269
Address: 山西省大同市平城区御河西路
Recommended sightseeing time: 1 day
Highlights:
Unique blend of ancient & modern
Ancient & modern city vibe
Saved by 180 users240 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
During my recent trip to Shanxi, I visited several ancient cities. Although many of the ancient cities we see today are rebuilt later, Datong Ancient City does have many historical sites worth visiting! Huayan Temple, Prince Dai's Mansion, Shanhua Temple, the Nine Dragon Wall, and many others are all historical relics well worth seeing. Therefore, I suggest that you allocate more time to Datong, a city full of cultural heritage!
Under Mayor Geng's leadership, Datong, the coal capital, enjoyed clear blue skies and white clouds, rendering all the prepared protective gear unnecessary. The ancient city and various scenic spots were vibrant, with tourist buses connecting different attractions and guided tours available for payment via QR code.
This trip to Datong lasted 4 days and 3 nights. The first night was spent within the scenic area at Tangfang Courtyard, a charming guesthouse converted from an old courtyard house. Airport pick-up was included, making it very convenient for exploring Southeast Yi. Breakfast included mutton offal noodles and knife-cut noodles; the mutton offal noodles used potato noodles, very authentic. The following two nights were spent at Huazhu Luxury No. 7 Mansion, inside Wuding Gate, offering views of Kuixing Pavilion and access to the North City Wall, which features a double barbican. Transportation was convenient.
Datong boasts numerous temples. When purchasing Huayan Temple tickets online, I happened to catch a China Mobile discount, getting a 10 yuan ticket! 👍 Huayan Temple Square is a popular photo spot. The temple grounds are spacious, with plenty of people posing, including with bows and arrows. There are many props available. One particularly famous feature inside the temple is the Chiwen (a mythical creature), which is also excellent for photos against the backdrop of blue skies, red walls, and glazed tiles. Shanhua Temple is smaller. The attractions within the ancient city are concentrated, and there's a tourist shuttle bus. I recommend taking it first, spending about 20 minutes getting a feel for all the sights: the Nine Dragon Wall, the Prince Dai's Mansion, Fahua Temple, Kuixing Pavilion, and a short walk around the Drum Tower. The Prince Dai's Mansion, in particular, is stunning; the glazed tiles shimmer in the sunlight, with vibrant colors – a true test of photography skills!
For a shared day trip, it's best to book a taxi directly with the driver when you pick them up from the airport; it's cheaper than through Ctrip. The Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, Hanging Temple, and Yungang Grottoes form a triangular route. Generally, start with the Wooden Pagoda because there are no shops nearby, and in this cold, windy weather, there's nowhere to sit and drink coffee or tea around it. Feeling awkward having to use the heating in a souvenir shop while waiting for your travel companions is quite embarrassing. The Hanging Temple was great! The visitor center had food and drinks, and you could also enjoy the scenery. After eating and drinking, we took a shuttle bus to the temple. Of course, it was still very cold, and the wind was extremely strong. I didn't dare to take photos near the edge of the Xia Ke Pavilion, nor did I dare to take photos for long. I admired a few tourists with southern accents who weren't even wearing down jackets and were still complaining about the cold. The QR code explanation at the Yungang Grottoes was a bit verbose, and there were many tour groups on site, so I recommend listening to a guided tour instead. Each attraction had its own cultural significance, but the Hanging Temple was the most beautiful. Visiting the three attractions took a long time and was tiring on the legs. On such a cold day, it got colder and colder as we walked. Luckily, we had a chartered car, which was very warm. We drove along the national highway, seeing distant mountains, vast cornfields, loess plateaus, and poplar trees.
Datong noodles are very famous, and the portions are huge; we always end up with leftovers. Longjuxiang's shumai came in a basket of nine, plus a plate of daylily buds and a serving of braised pork. The price was reasonable, and they even gave us a bottle of vinegar. Aside from the shumai, the other two dishes were barely noticeable after eating them. Kaige is still the best; they offer half portions, and this time a fellow car enthusiast recommended them. They also have the fried chicken, fish and fried dough twists in a pancake, and yogurt. Kaige's Fenjiu and Xinghuacun liquors are reasonably priced. I bought a bottle for someone, which drew some attention from the staff; I guess not many women in Datong drink alcohol.
Everyone knows about Jewish concentration camps, and only recently have they learned about the mass graves of the Nanjing Massacre. I never imagined Datong had one too. The Japanese army illegally mined coal in Datong, throwing injured and sick miners into the pits. No wonder an 80s-born car enthusiast said he wouldn't go to Japan. What we've seen is only a small part of the story.
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