16 km west of Datong are the Yungang Shiku, or Cloud Ridge Caves. Most of these manmade caves were dug between 460~494 AD. Over 50,000 Buddha carvings cover the inner and outer cave walls. It is said that rulers of the Northern Wei dynasty came to these caves to pray to the gods for rain.

Sporadic restoration of the caves has been ongoing since the 11th century. Today, some of the interiors are vivid with colored sculpture while others are fragments of crumbled stone. The best preserved caves are blockaded with a perimeter fence. Fortunately, most of the carvings are visible from the barrier.

Admission to Yuangang Shiku is ¥50 (¥25 with student card).

GETTING THERE
Datong is 5 hour by train from Beijing Station West and 16 hours by train from Xi'an. From Datong Station, city bus 4 goes across town and terminates at Xinkaili (¥1). From Xinkaili, city bus 3 stops directly in front of Yungang Shiku (¥1.5).

Alternatively, you can pay DTCITS (Datong China Int'l Travel Service) ¥100 for transport to both Yungang Shiku and Xuankong Si, the hanging monastery 65 km southeast of Datong.