大同 Datong

For nearly a century Datong was Pingcheng, capital of the Northern Wei — the dynasty that built the Yungang Grottoes and fused steppe and Central Plains cultures.

大同做了近百年北魏都城「平城」——开凿云冈石窟、融合草原与中原的王朝，就定都于此。

The grottoes alone justify the trip: 45 major caves, 50,000-plus statues carved into a sandstone cliff, UNESCO-listed since 2001.

单是石窟就值回票价：45个主要洞窟、五万余尊造像刻进砂岩崖壁，2001年列入世界遗产。

Add a temple hanging off a cliff for 1,500 years, Liao-dynasty wooden halls, and a fully restored Ming wall you can walk at night.

再加一座悬崖千年的古寺、辽金木构大殿，以及可以夜游的完整明代城墙。

In 398 AD Emperor Daowu of Northern Wei fixed his capital at Pingcheng — six emperors ruled here for 97 years.

公元398年，北魏道武帝定都平城——此后97年六帝经营，这里是北中国的中心。

Monk Tanyao began the Yungang carvings in 460; the five earliest caves were cut for five emperors, each Buddha an emperor's portrait.

460年高僧昙曜主持开凿云冈——最早的五个洞窟为五位皇帝而凿，「皇帝即当今如来」。

Under the Ming, Datong stood as one of the Nine Frontier Garrisons — 「大同士马甲天下」.

明代大同为九边重镇之一——「大同士马甲天下」。