One firm hobby we have at YPT is staying at old state communist hotels in China, such as the rather retro Datong Hotel in Shanxi Province, Peoples Republic of China.
Why do we enjoy this so much? Well party because it offers a window into how communist China was, but also because it is is very kitsch in a fun way. With this in mind we present the Datong Hotel.
What the Datong?
Datong might not be on everyone’s China bucket list, but that’s exactly what makes it interesting. Once one of the most polluted cities in the world, it’s now trying to reinvent itself with a weird blend of state-led tourism, empty replica “ancient” cities, and real-deal Buddhist cave art like the Yungang Grottoes. It’s rough around the edges, full of abandoned factories, Soviet-style architecture, and ghost nightlife scenes that promise everything and deliver almost nothing.
The food’s hit or miss, mostly street snacks with a lot of Shanxi flair and a suspicious amount of squid for a landlocked city. Getting in’s easy by high-speed rail from Beijing or Xi’an, and you’ll probably be the only foreigner in town.
And you have a penchant for weird Chinese backwaters, well Datong is pretty close to hitting the jackpot. I have also written a full guide to the city which you can read here
History of the Datong Hotel
There was a time in China when every city worth its salt had one grand hotel. State owned. State run. The pride of the local government. These were the hotels where cadres clinked baijiu glasses, where foreign delegations were shuffled in for banquets, and where everything from affairs to high level deals went on behind closed doors. Forget boutique or cool. These were the real deal. The furniture was heavy. The service was stiff. But this was power. These were the places to be.
The Datong Hotel was opened in 1959 and for decades it was the top hotel in the city. Not a rumour. A fact. Every foreigner who came to the city stayed here. Every official event passed through here. It was the hotel of record. The heyday was the 1980s and early 90s when coal money was pouring into the city and the Datong Hotel was still the go to for the rich and connected. Now it slumbers on as a solid but mid range joint. Still the best option in town. Still with a touch of faded glory. And unlike the rest of the city they did not tear it down and rebuild it in plastic.
Alas it is now very far from the best option in town, with places such as the Hampton By Hilton and the Holiday Inn probably taking this honour. It is though the best bet from our Dark Tourism/travel with some edge point of view.
Rooms and layout of the Datong Hotel
The rooms at the Datong Hotel are exactly what you’d hope for in a forgotten second-tier state property. Slightly faded, slightly yellowed, but massive and oddly charming. We scored a two bedroom suite for under 80 bucks, with a big living room, actual doors between the rooms, and sofas you could sink into or disappear inside depending on the hour.
The layout of the hotel is confusing in the best way — long corridors, odd turns, half-lit signs pointing to unused conference halls and ballrooms that haven’t seen a dance since the Hu Jintao era. Amenities include a creaking gym, an old-school massage place tucked away behind the lobby, and a shop that still sells cigarettes and knock-off baijiu. It feels Soviet. It feels like China ten years ago. Most of what you want is walkable, which makes it even better. That is what makes these tier 3 cities a bargain hunter’s dream.
There is also breakfast here and by breakfast I mean a Chinese breakfast buffet, not Jian Bing. Best avoided in my mind, but the restaurant here does get talked up, although we did not find the time to try it sadly.
But the best part? Well aside from what looks like a set from The Shining are the “communist rooms” which have propaganda on the walls and could honestly double as North Korea.
And the prices?
The Datong Hotel’s prices are a breath of fresh air, especially when you compare them to the inflated rates in larger cities. For a standard room, you’re looking at around 300 to 400 RMB ($40-$55) per night, which is fairly typical for a third-tier city.
The more basic rooms come in at the lower end of the scale, offering essential amenities like a bed, bathroom, and maybe a TV, nothing fancy. For those looking to splurge a little, deluxe rooms and suites go up to 600-800 RMB ($85-$115), which is still reasonable by most standards. The real steal here is that were you to stay in say the Hilton you would get a room 1/4 the size for twice the price. In the boonies, so its all about the suites!
We suggest booking through our affiliate link on trip.com
Datong Hotel Address
📍 Address
Datong Hotel
No. 37 West Yingbin Road, Datong, Shanxi Province, China
Postal Code: 037000
大同宾馆
山西省大同市迎宾西路37号
邮政编码: 037000
📞 Phone Number
+86 352 201 1111
（+86 352 201 1111）
🛣️ How to Get There
- By Train: The hotel is a 10-minute taxi ride from the Datong Railway Station (大同火车站), which is around 4 kilometers away.
- By Airport: Datong Yungang Airport (大同云冈机场) is approximately 16 kilometers from the hotel. A taxi will take you about 25 minutes to reach the hotel.
- By Car: If you are driving, the hotel is located on West Yingbin Road (迎宾西路), easily accessible from the city center.
So, is it worth it?
You do not go to Datong expecting to be blown away, so with this in mind, we feel that if you do come here, the Datong Hotel is really your only option. While YPT does not offer tours here (yet), we can include it as part of a bespoke China tour.
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