Inside the old walled city of Datong, the Nine Dragon Screen (Jiulong Bi) is a free-standing glazed tile wall 45.5 metres long, 8 metres tall, and nearly 2 metres thick. Built in 1392 during the early Ming dynasty, it is the largest and oldest such screen surviving anywhere in China, predating the better-known dragon screens in Beijing by decades. The nine dragons depicted in vivid yellow, green, and blue glazed tiles writhe across the wall in high relief, their claws raised and their bodies twisting through waves and clouds.
The surrounding area has been heavily reconstructed as part of Datong's controversial old city restoration project, giving the screen a somewhat artificial backdrop. The screen itself, however, is entirely original and commands attention on its own terms. Entry is included in the combined ticket for the old city attractions, or can be purchased separately for a nominal fee.