Datong Region

We've been in Datong, China for three days now and are truly enjoying our stay here. Yes, it's a total industrial city; being surrounded by some of the largest coal deposits in the world (72 billion tons?), the area is now popular for power generation AND servicing the coal trucks which bring the black diamonds out of the surrounding mountains. Still, the people are as friendly as ever. They look with confusion and inquisitiveness at us Western tourists, usually shouting out a "Hallo" and occassionally asking to have their picture taken with us and their child. I'm starting to think that some of them suspect we're Olympic athletes touring the area before our competition.

Archaelogically, Datong was the seat of several dynasties and has a recorded history dating back thousands of years. Two of the most impressive sites nearby are the Hanging Temple to the south and the Yungang Grottoes to the west. We managed a good deal for a small-group tour which allowed us to visit both sites the same day. Visit the photo album (top right) for more pictures--plus some from the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.

To complete an excellent day, cue the excellent meal. In the streets near our hotel, we followed a delicious smell to a small shop which smartly vents its cooking fumes out the front door. There was a crowd of locals pressed together, craning their necks, and vying for a spot in line. Their pursuit, and ours as well now, was a chicken (deep-fried whole) for 16 yuan ($2.50). Assisted by the trusty leatherman and augmented with bread and bananas, it was the best chicken we had ever eaten--and not very greasy. We look forward to all the surprises that undoubtedly lay ahead.