Datong Educational Tour

After arriving in Datong, take a short rest. Then go to the Datong Ancient City Wall. Here, you can feel the strong historical atmosphere and learn about the ancient city's defense culture and the historical development of Datong.

Ancient City Wall

Your Journey’s Rewards:

Understand the history of the ancient city of Datong and its role in the ancient military defense system.

Educational Focus:

What unique designs does the Datong Ancient City Wall have in the ancient military defense system?

Takeaway:

The existing ancient city wall was built in 1372. There are 62 small buildings on the entire city wall, which is very magnificent. The design of the city wall fully considers the needs of military defense. There are observation towers and shooting holes to facilitate the defenders to observe and defend against enemy attacks.

Thought Challenge:

In the process of modern urban construction, how can we balance the protection of historical buildings such as the ancient city wall with the needs of urban development?

After having breakfast, go to the Yungang Grottoes. Admire the exquisitely beautiful Buddhist statue carvings and feel the glory of Buddhist art during the Northern Wei Dynasty. In the afternoon, come to the Datong Museum to have an in-depth understanding of the history and culture of Datong. Participate in the experience activity of rubbing steles in the Wei Dynasty style, make the rubbings with your own hands, and feel the charm of calligraphy art.

Yungang Grottoes

Your Journey’s Rewards:

Appreciate the art of the Yungang Grottoes and improve your artistic aesthetic. Make the rubbings of steles in the Wei Dynasty style with your own hands and experience the traditional craftsmanship.

Educational Focus:

What kind of musical features are reflected in the carvings of the Yungang Grottoes?

Takeaway:

According to statistics, more than 20 caves in the Yungang Grottoes are carved with images of over 500 musical instruments. Among them are traditional Han Chinese instruments such as the qin (Chinese zither), zheng (Chinese plucked zither), xiao (vertical bamboo flute), and ruanxian (a plucked string instrument), as well as the Kucha five-stringed instrument, the Persian vertical harp, and distinctive Xiliang instruments of that time like the qi drum and yizui flute. Among the identifiable musical instrument statues in the Yungang Grottoes, "Hu" musical instruments appear very frequently, accounting for about 80% of the total number of musical instrument statues in Yungang. "Hu" music gained favor during the Northern Wei Dynasty through wars, migrations, political diplomacy, commercial trade, and the eastward spread of Buddhism. It laid the foundation for the profound integration of "Hu" and Han music in the subsequent Sui and Tang dynasties.

Thought Challenge:

What are the advantages and disadvantages of digital protection and traditional protection methods respectively for precious cultural heritages like the Yungang Grottoes?

In the morning, go to the coal mine to explore underground, understand the process and culture of coal mining, and experience the working environment of miners. In the afternoon, head to the Datong Earth Forest, admire the unique geological landscape, and learn geological sketching techniques (for art students and those who are interested).

Datong Earth Forest

Your Journey’s Rewards:

Have an in-depth understanding of the coal mining culture, admire the amazing landscape of the Earth Forest, and improve your geological sketching skills.

Educational Focus:

How was the Datong Earth Forest formed?

Takeaway:

Locally, Datong Earth Forest is also known as "Slate Ditch". The so-called slate is a calcified layer formed in the soil. It is the superposition of slate that creates the geological wonder of Earth Forest. The tectonic movement in the Earth Forest area is active. In the cycle of surface water scouring, soil weathering, and salt-alkali precipitation, the thin earth ditches gradually widen. The widened earth ditches collapse and separate in the erosion, slowly evolving into earth walls or soil pillars, forming Earth Forest. However, not all soil erosion can form Earth Forest. Datong Earth Forest can only be formed under the interaction of multiple factors such as special geological structure, soil composition, hydroclimate, terrain and vegetation.

Thought Challenge:

In the face of landscapes like the Earth Forest that are vulnerable to natural factors, how can we effectively carry out ecological protection while developing tourism?

Bring the enjoyable educational trip in Datong to an end, pack your bags, and embark on the journey back home.