Datong History

Historians have claimed that the region was inhabited as early as 100,000 years ago by the Xujiayao man, said to be a descendant of Peking man. Since the 1970's, microlithes and ceramics from the Neolithic Age have been discovered from time to time in the city.

In the Spring and Autumn Period (770 B.C.-476 B.C.), this region was served as a base for several nomadic tribes. Administrative agencies were set up in Datong by the Zhao States during the Warring States Period (476 B.C.-221 B.C.) and Datong also became an important military fort. In the late Qin Dynasty (221 B.C.-206 B.C.), a total of 300,000 imperial troops were permanently stationed in Datong to fight with invading armies. In the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-220), the Emperor renamed the region Pingcheng County (Peaceful County) in hopes of peace and stability in this area.

In the year of 398, Pingcheng County was appointed the imperial capital by the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534) and was to remain the political, economic and cultural centre of northern China for the next 96 years.In the latter Sui and Tang Dynasties, Datong remained the focus on battles against the Hun. Datong City was partly destroyed when conquered by the first emperor of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and was also renamed Xijing. During the period of dynastic change and the transfer of power from the Ming to the Qing (1644-1911), Datong again suffered serious damages. Consequently, a series of reconstruction works were undertaken to restore the city to its former glory, and Datong once again became a renowned center for Buddhist and other spiritual activity.

On May 1st 1949, Datong City was peacefully librated by the Communist army. Now it is the second largest city in Shanxi province.