The train station is the origin of Datong’s clutch of bus routes (RMB1). Annoyingly, no single bus travels the length of the city’s north-south axis, along which most places of interest to visitors are located. Bus #4 will get you fl’0m the station to the main crossroads, where it turns west, past the Huayan Si and Hongqi Square before terminating just outside the old city walls. To get from the crossroads to the southern hotels, take bus #17 from its terminus on the east side of Xiao Nan Jie. To get to these hotels direct from the train station, take bus #15, which travels south down Xinjian Nan Lu, then turns east on to Yinghin Xi Lu.

Long-distance buses terminate just south of the train station on Xinjian Bei Lu. The airport, south of town, was not operating commercial flights at the time of writing, although a service may be up and running soon.

Buses (around Datong) run to the small country town of HUNYUAN from the Dat0ng long-distance bus station and take about an hour, terminating just opposite the expensive Hengshan Binguan (0352/8322045; ), where you’ll find some moldy doubles. The town hasn’t much to recommend itself other than some appealing Ming street architecture. To get to Hengshan, you can catch a tourist bus from the town to the base of the mountain, front where a path leads up to the summit, passing a number of small temples on the way. Minibus touts at Datong’s train station who say they’re headed to the Hanging Temple win most likely drop you at Hunyuan, where there are also frequent minibuses 05) to the gravel road at the temple entrance; the ticket office is 100m away across the bridge. To return to Hunyuan fiona the Hanging Temple, be prepared to haggle with the vehicles floor hire car should be more than enough, though walking back the same way you came leads you through loudly villages where it’s easier to negotiate a ride. The last bus back to Datong leaves Hunyuan at 5pm, though note that it’s possible to stay the night in Hunyuan and get a ride on to Wntai Shun on the 9am bus from Datong.

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