Datong city wall is one of the most well-preserved city walls in China. It's bigger and taller than the ones in Pingyao and Xian. Though it was rebuilt, that process was based on a very accurate blueprint from nearly a century ago. [Photo by Zhang Xingjian/chinadaily.com.cn]

At present, the cultural hub has one national 5A and five national 4A scenic spots, the top two designations by the National Tourism Administration, along with more than 30 historical and cultural sites under national government protection and 300 sites under provincial and municipal government protection.

The Yungang Grottoes, an imposing collection of Buddhist sculptures chiseled on a mountain slope that extends about 1 kilometer from east to west, is one of the four famous treasure houses of Chinese grotto art and has been on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list since December 2001.

Thanks to great support from the Datong Municipal Commission of Tourism Development and LY.com, a Suzhou-based online travel agency, I visited the city from June 23 to 26 to offer you a 96-hour travel guide to Datong, covering many of its must-see scenic spots and must-eat local food.

Even if you only have four days to take a look at the city, the combination of the natural scenery and urban landscapes would make your trip worthwhile.