Highlights
- The largest and oldest glazed dragon screen in China
- Built in 1392 for a Ming prince
- Over 400 glazed tiles forming nine dragons
- A 10-minute walk from Huayan Temple
A Ming prince’s screen, older than Beijing’s
The screen was built in 1392 as a spirit wall in front of the residence of Zhu Gui, the 13th son of the Hongwu Emperor, who was enfeoffed as Prince of Dai in Datong. It predates the famous Nine Dragon Screen in Beijing’s Beihai Park by roughly 350 years and is both larger and older.
The wall is faced with 426 glazed tiles arranged into nine writhing dragons, with a central dragon facing forward and four on each side in profile. The colours — yellow, blue, green, purple and white — were fired separately and assembled on site.
Why it is worth 30 minutes
It is small, and it is a single object rather than a complex, so treat it as a stop rather than a destination. What makes it worthwhile is the craft: the glazes are still vivid after six centuries, and the composition rewards a slow look rather than a quick photo.
It sits inside the old city and pairs naturally with Huayan Temple, which is a short walk away.
Practical information
- Tickets
- Included with the nearby temple ticket or sold separately (small fee)
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Best time
- Morning light on the screen face
- Location
- Old city, Datong
- Getting there
- Walking distance from Huayan Temple and the city wall.
Prices and opening hours change seasonally. Verify current details before you travel.
Plan the booking
Book your Datong trip
Hanging Temple climbing tickets are capped at 2,475 a day and reservations open only seven days ahead. Check the official channel and current rules before booking; partner tour links do not replace the temple ticket.
Day tours & tickets
Guided day trips that pair the Hanging Temple with Mount Heng — the day that is hardest to do without a car.
Hotels in Datong
Live rates for the old city and the area around the grottoes. Peak-season rooms go first.
Travel insurance
Cover for medical costs, cancellations and delays. Cheap next to the price of an evacuation.
Affiliate disclosure: bookings made through these links may earn us a commission. You pay the same price.
Travel tips
- Visit in the morning when the light falls directly on the dragons.
- Combine into a half-day old-city walk: Nine Dragon Screen → Huayan Temple → City Wall.