On July 30, Datong began to restore the northern city wall. Since 2008, Datong city began to reconstruct the old city wall with an investment of more than 10 billion yuan ($156.8 million).

The city wall in Datong has a history of 650 years, but has suffered extensive damage. The towers on the wall were in disrepair and the surroundings were messy before reconstruction began. To date, the eastern city wall has been finished, utilizing gray bricks to renovate the towers. The whole wall is expected to be finished by the end of 2012.

Datong is not only restoring the old city wall, but is also constructing a city moat park. The park will stretch around the 2,000-meter-long and 210-meter-wide eastern wall and will cover 400,000 square meters. It will reach south from Fukangli and north to Yuhexi Street. The Xiaohuayan Temple and the museum of Liang Sicheng (1901-1972, a famous Chinese architect) also displays the unique culture and history of Datong.

The total area of Yue town and Weng town, at the Heyang Gate of the eastern city wall, is 23,000 sq m. This area serves as a gallery. In 2011, the gallery held some popular exhibitions. The China Sculpture Museum will be constructed at the northern city wall and will be opened in 2013. Guan town, at the southern city wall, is a culture square with a total area of 11,200 square meters. Datong often holds important cultural events at the square.

By Tana