According to the Datong municipal bureau of tourism, 193,000 foreign tourists traveled to Datong, bringing $73.18 million in foreign exchange income, from January to August, a year-on-year increase of 12.3 percent and 14.6 percent, respectively.

During the same period, 14.96 million domestic tourists generated domestic tourism income totaling 12.57 billion yuan ($2.05 billion dollars), a year-on-year increase of 24.12 percent and 24.52 percent, respectively. The total tourism income during the period reached 13.03 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 24.02 percent.

The tourism boom was largely thanks to various activities held in Datong. The Beautiful Shanxi Leisure Tour in May attracted thousands of tourists to scenic spots including the Yungang Grottoes.

The 2013 China International Solar Decathlon enhanced the city's visibility abroad and domestically.

The 2013 China (Datong) International Automobile Festival, the first urban outdoor art collection and the first camp music festival also greatly boosted the city's tourism.

Edited by Michael Thai