Datong held a tourism promotion in Xiamen on June 24, focusing on Yungang Grottoes, a World Cultural Heritage site.

According to Qi Yinghong, vice director of the tourism administration, Yungang Grottoes was designated a world cultural heritage site in 2001. In the grottoes, there are more than 51,000 statues and stone sculptures covering 18,000 square meters, which were constructed over 64 years.

Qi said Yungang Grottoes was a royal project initiated by the emperors and hosted by senior monks. An overview of the political, economic and cultural development of the Northern Wei dynasty (386-557) was visually and artistically carved on the cliff, which has lasted for more than 1,600 years.

Yungang Grottoes, inheriting the construction model from ancient India and the Western Regions and initiating grotto temple constructions across the country, started a new era in China's grotto history. It showed the rich imagination and advanced sculpture techniques of ancient Chinese artists.

Datong is located between the interior and exterior sides of the Great Wall, historically known as Pingcheng (city of peace), and was among the first 24 national historic and cultural cities. In BC 398, after establishing the Northern Wei regime (386-557), the Tuoba family of Xianbei ethnic group chose Pingcheng as the capital.

In addition, as a strategic border town in ancient times, Datong has been a connection point for the central plain culture and the northern minority culture.