The Datong Museum is incredibly popular. Appointments must be made at midnight, and entry is divided into time slots. Even then, there were lines stretching over a hundred meters.
After a twenty-minute wait for entry, we headed straight to the second-floor Northern Wei exhibition hall, the highlight of the event. Datong, formerly known as Pingcheng, served as the capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty for 97 years. Through the development and management of six emperors and seven generations, it became a metropolis with a population exceeding one million, bustling with merchants and envoys, and a vibrant mix of Han and Western cultures.
The exhibits naturally reflect this, with many artifacts incorporating Western influences. For example, the striking blue glass vase is a representative example of local production using blown glass techniques introduced along the Silk Road. The exquisiteness of the golden flying headdress is so stunning that it's hard to believe it reflects craftsmanship and aesthetics dating back seven hundred years.
It's truly unique and well worth the visit.