After meticulously planning for quite some time, I had envisioned a leisurely drive from Beijing to Datong for the Lunar New Year holiday. However, upon arrival in Datong, Shanxi, I was completely overwhelmed. Finding accommodation was a nightmare; hotels were fully booked, and prices were inflated. Securing a reservation was a challenge in itself, as I constantly refreshed various apps in hopes of catching a cancellation.
Dining options were equally challenging. The highly rated restaurant, Zini 369, was already packed with a long waitlist. We arrived at the opening hour, yet there were already 42 tables ahead of us. It seemed like everyone from Beijing, Shandong, and Inner Mongolia had converged on Datong for the holidays, with cars filling the streets and parking spaces.
The Yungang Grottoes parking lot was full by 9:30 am, and when we arrived at around 1:30 pm, there were thousands of cars parked haphazardly along the roadside. Leaving the area was equally frustrating, with long queues and traffic jams. Inside the ancient city, the evening lantern festival at the Drum Tower attracted a crowd with a queue that stretched over 200 meters before 7 pm.
The overall experience was disappointing. While the grottoes were indeed magnificent and the ancient city had its own charm, the crowds were overwhelming. Navigating through the throngs of people was extremely inconvenient, and it felt like everywhere we went, we were just looking at other people. I had never seen so many people from Beijing in one place, let alone so many cars.
The prices of hotels and homestays, which were usually quite affordable, had skyrocketed during the holiday season, increasing by a factor of 2.5. It was advisable to visit during the low season instead. Reflecting on my experience, I believe that Datong was not adequately prepared to handle the influx of tourists during the Lunar New Year. If they had better planned for transportation, tourism, dining, and accommodation, they could have capitalized on this opportunity and garnered excellent reviews. With such stunning scenic spots and convenient proximity to Beijing, Inner Mongolia, and Shandong, Datong possesses both favorable geographical conditions and timely opportunities. However, it seems that they lacked in terms of human resources and preparation. I would recommend visiting during the low season for a more enjoyable experience.
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