Although Datong is a very old city and was a dynastic capital of China two different times, it is now dominated by coal mining and power production. It is not a charming city as a whole, but it is interesting as an example of an “ordinary” Chinese city. There is a transformation happening that is common across the country where cities are tearing out their old city fabric and replacing it with more modern buildings. The new architecture is not good, but it is providing much needed decent housing and work places.
