Why This 1,500-Year-Old UNESCO Site Is Seeing 7x More Foreign Visitors
While most foreign visitors to China still crowd the Great Wall, Forbidden City, and Terracotta Warriors, a growing number of savvy travelers are heading to Datong in Shanxi Province — specifically to see the Yungang Grottoes. And they're not going just because it's quiet.
Yungang Grottoes has 53 caves, more than 51,000 Buddhist statues, and a history stretching back to 450 AD — making it the oldest of China's three great cave temple complexes. In 2025, foreign tourist ticket sales surged seven times compared to the previous year, according to data from Ctrip's international platform.
The numbers are striking: Yungang Grottoes sold 7x more tickets to foreign visitors than the year before, while the nearby Yungang Museum added even more attractions. The surge has turned what was once a local pilgrimage site into one of China's most talked-about emerging destinations.
Built 450-495 AD, predating both Longmen (Luoyang) and Mogao (Dunhuang) by 100-300 years
Even on weekends, queues are manageable. No need to arrive at opening time to beat the crowds
Unique blend of Central Asian, Indian Buddhist, and Han Chinese artistic styles — visible in the cave carvings
Direct high-speed trains take under 2 hours from Beijing Qinghe Station. No flight needed
Yungang Grottoes earned UNESCO World Heritage status in 2001, but international recognition came slowly. For years, it remained in the shadow of the more famous Mogao Caves in Gansu and Longmen Grottoes in Henan.
That changed around 2023 when Chinese travel content on Xiaohongshu, Douyin, and Bilibili began featuring the site — and then international travel bloggers caught on. Foreign YouTubers started uploading "I visited Yungang Grottoes and couldn't believe how amazing it was" videos that racked up millions of views.
The tipping point came in 2025, when a combination of factors converged: the visa-free expansion brought more independent travelers who wanted to go beyond the "Beijing-Xi'an-Shanghai" triangle, the Black Myth: Wukong video game renewed global interest in Chinese mythology, and word spread that Yungang was far less crowded than comparable sites.
2025 foreign visitor growth at major Chinese attractions (Ctrip international platform data):
The grotto complex is divided into three main areas: the Early Caves (Caves 1-4), the Middle Caves (Caves 5-6), and the Late Caves (Caves 7-53). Each group reflects different artistic periods.
The standout caves for first-time visitors:
What surprises most visitors is the scale range. The tallest Buddha at Yungang is over 16 meters. The smallest carved figures are just 2 centimeters tall — requiring a magnifying glass to appreciate. This range of scale within one site is unique among China's cave temples.
Beijing Qinghe Station → Datong Railway Station
Yes, you can do Yungang Grottoes as a day trip from Beijing — though an overnight stay in Datong is recommended if you want to explore the old city as well.
Day trip version:
Datong has more to offer than just the grottoes. If you're staying overnight or using Datong as a base for 2-3 days:
Shanxi Province is famous for its noodles, and Datong is no exception:
Getting to Datong as a foreign visitor is straightforward for most travelers:
If you've already visited — or are deciding between — Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang and Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, here's why Yungang deserves priority:
| Factor | Yungang Grottoes | Longmen Grottoes | Mogao Caves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 450-495 AD (oldest) | 493 AD | 366 AD (oldest) |
| Crowd Level | Low-Medium | High | Very High (needs booking) |
| Access from Beijing | 2 hours by train | 4+ hours by train | Flight + 30 min drive |
| Cave Access | Most caves open | Limited | Very limited (only 8 of 735 caves) |
| 2025 Foreign Growth | 7x (highest) | Moderate | Moderate |
For gamers and pop culture enthusiasts, Yungang Grottoes has an unexpected connection to 2024's most-watched video game: Black Myth: Wukong. The game's developer, Game Science, is based in Shanxi — the same province as Yungang Grottoes and the ancient city of Pingyao.
While the game is set in multiple locations across China, Shanxi features prominently in the mythology the game draws from. Several Yungang Buddha statues bear a resemblance to the game's character designs — a detail that didn't escape Chinese social media users, who began posting comparison photos that went viral on Xiaohongshu and Douyin.
The connection has driven a noticeable uptick in young foreign gamers visiting Yungang, often as part of a Shanxi cultural route that includes Yungang, Pingyao Ancient City, and Mount Wutai.
Datong is one of the most rewarding off-the-beaten-path destinations in China right now — and at 7x foreign visitor growth, it's clearly the destination savvy travelers are discovering first. See it before the crowds catch up.
Read Our Shanxi Black Myth: Wukong Guide →Take a high-speed train (G-series) from Beijing Qinghe Station to Datong Railway Station. The journey takes about 1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours. From Datong, take Bus 3 or 603 directly to Yungang Grottoes (about 30 minutes, ¥3-5). A taxi costs approximately ¥40-60.
Most foreign passport holders from 86 countries can visit visa-free for up to 240 hours (10 days) when transiting through Beijing, Shanghai, or other major cities. Datong is within the eligible zone if you enter through Beijing. UK and Canadian passport holders can stay up to 30 days visa-free as of March 2026. Always verify your specific port of entry and permitted area before planning.
Foreign tourist ticket sales at Yungang Grottoes increased 7x in 2025, driven by social media exposure, growing interest in China's lesser-known UNESCO sites, the Black Myth: Wukong connection (the game developer is from Shanxi), and the contrast with overcrowded major attractions. The site's 1,500-year-old Buddhist caves offer a more intimate, uncrowded experience than destinations like Longmen or Mogao.
Plan at least 3-4 hours to fully explore the grottoes and museum. The site has 53 caves with over 51,000 Buddhist statues ranging from 16 meters tall to just 2 centimeters. Audio guides and human guides are available at the entrance.
Yes, absolutely. With a 2-hour high-speed train journey, you can leave Beijing at 7 AM and be back by 8 PM. However, an overnight stay in Datong is recommended if you want to also visit the Nine Dragon Wall and explore the old city.
May-June and September-October offer the best weather. Weekday mornings have the fewest crowds. Summer (July-August) is busy with domestic tourists. Winter is quiet but some caves may have reduced access due to cold weather.