A city once known as China's unrelenting coal capital has been undergoing something of a diversification in recent years and is now drawing strength from technology, culture, and creativity, as it builds on its century-old reputation as a coal-producing powerhouse.
Datong City in north China's Shanxi Province has coal reserves which make up one-eighth of the nation's total and this single industry has shaped the destiny of the city while also fueling China's economic rise.
However, like many resource-dependent cities around the world, Datong has learned the hard truth that what builds you can also bind you. Decades of unchecked mining meant that by the early 2000s, Datong was one of China's most polluted cities, with its reliance on the industry threatening both the environment and its future.
To cope with these challenges, Datong has been making efforts to protect its pillar industry while also developing new sectors, all to benefit the people.
At a local coal research center, experts are exploring cleaner and smarter ways to use coal, making it flexible enough to work with renewable energy while improving efficiency across every stage - mining, production, transport and consumption.
"Our research focuses on three main areas. First, clean, efficient, and flexible coal combustion, enabling deep and flexible peak shaving in coal-fired power plants. Second, graded and quality-based conversion and utilization of coal. This technology makes full use of coal's properties as a raw material, converting it through chemical decomposition into everyday products such as activated carbon, paint, plastics, and medical supplies. Third, resources utilization technologies for carbon-based fuels. Through methods like heat treatment, we transform waste coal gangue into construction materials, ceramics, refractory materials and more, advancing both resource efficiency and environmental sustainability," said Tian Jilin, director of the research and development center at the Datong Research Institute for the Clean and Efficient Utilization of Coal.
The true objective extends far beyond delivering industrial upgrades, with the ultimate aim of ensuring bluer skies and a sustainable future to the people being the primary goal.
The numbers reflect the huge progress that has been made since the turn of the century. From a mere 49 days of good air in 2001, last year there were 314 days classed as having good air quality. In just over 20 years, the city has completed a remarkable turnaround, going from a national laggard in air quality to a provincial leader.
While an improved environment marks a new chapter for Datong, the city is evolving beyond its industrial roots, powered by a cultural soul honed over 1,000 years. It is now turning this time-honored heritage into a new engine for deep cultural-tourism integration, fueling broader socioeconomic progress.
The huge success of the Chinese video game "Black Myth: Wukong" last year has sparked renewed interest in Datong's cultural treasures. Beyond its captivating storyline, the game highlights ancient Chinese architecture and features 36 real-world locations, six of which are in Datong.
As a result, more visitors than ever are coming to the city to explore these historic wonders for themselves.
One of the most popular destinations is the ancient site of the Yungang Grottoes, which has made the most of this new wave of global fame by upgrading its services and adding fresh experiences to keep visitors engaged.
"Since last year, we've launched check-in activities themed around 'Black Myth: Wukong.' We offer exclusive Yungang Grottoes postcards featuring the game, available on-site. Visitors can also collect a special cultural seal at designated locations," said Wen Lili, head of tourist services at the Yungang Grottoes.
"We learned online that Datong has a rich cultural heritage, and we were drawn here by its stunning scenery. We wanted to experience what life was like during the Northern Wei Dynasty thousands of years ago," said one tourist.
But despite the sudden influx of visitors, efforts are being made to carefully protect the cave's important heritage with a modern approach.
Yan Hongbin, head of the Yungang Grottoes Academy Studio for Relics Preservation and Repair, said that a dense grid of sensors have been installed at the site to monitor temperature and humidity levels throughout the cave. This setup allows them to build an environmental model of the entire cave system, with the data helping develop an optimal conservation plan.
Yan said this key approach is not about protecting heritage by simply locking away it away, but rather preserving it by keeping it alive, with this advanced technology enabling an important historical site to remain open and accessible to the world.
The drive to boost the city's tourism sector has paid off. In the eight months of this year alone, Datong welcomed over 15 million visitors, an 18 percent increase, while the city's overall tourism revenue has more than quadrupled in recent years, soaring from 15 billion yuan in 2022 to over 61 billion last year.
Most importantly, this transformation is creating new pathways for ordinary people to reap the rewards.
A community craft team of more than 80 retired and unemployed women in the city's Yunzhou District has been busy making handcrafted cultural accessories inspired by Datong's famed heritage, with some carefully added modern twists.
"Starting last year, Buddha dolls became a huge hit among consumers. [So we thought,] why not make hoodies for the dolls? We never expected the orders to come in faster than we could keep up with," said Liu Chengfang, head of the Jixiangli Community who is leading the craft project.
The surge in demand for these dolls has provided the women with a decent income, close to the local average wage, while giving them a new purpose and confidence.
China's "coal capital" Datong diversifies into center of culture
