Datong is the second largest city in Shanxi, and is known by the locals as the coal capital (Meidu).

Lying in the northern area of Shanxi Province, Datong was originally, over 2,200 years ago, founded as a military stronghold, holding out the hordes that frequently pushed south from Mongolia.

It was not until 1,600 years ago that the city's luck turned. A group of nomadic Turkish people, the Toba, setting up their Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534 AD), decided to establish their capital at Datong. The Toba were to become fanatic Buddhists, as is shown from the carvings in the Yungang Grottoes, and by their later work in the Longmen Caves when the capital was moved to Luoyang in 494 AD.

The Yungang Grottoes, although much removed from their former glory, are still one of the most impressive cave sights in China. All these Buddhas are more than 1500 years old...