Pingcheng District of Datong City lies at the northern edge of the Datong Basin, bordering Yunzhou District to the east, adjoining Yungang District to the southwest, and neighbouring Xinrong District to the north. Its historical evolution has been relatively stable, as detailed below:
Primitive Society: The discovery of numerous chipped stone tools and a collection of mammal fossils at Qingciyao Village west of the city sufficiently demonstrates that human settlements existed in Datong during the Late Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods.
Xia, Shang, Zhou Dynasties and Spring and Autumn Period: Inhabited by the Northern Di tribes and the Loufan people.
Warring States Period: King Wuling of Zhao implemented Hu-style clothing and mounted archery reforms. In 300 BCE, he established the commanderies of Yunzhong, Yanmen, and Dai, appointing the renowned general Li Mu to defend them. This region became a crucial northern stronghold for the State of Zhao, marking the formal establishment of Datong City.
Qin Dynasty: Included within Yanmen Commandery. General Meng Tian led 300,000 troops north to combat the Xiongnu, conscripting local populace to construct fortifications within the valley ten li west of the city as a defence against nomadic incursions.
Western Han Dynasty: Pingcheng Commandery was established under Yanmen Commandery. In the sixth year of Emperor Gaozu's reign (201 BCE), it was enfeoffed as the Kingdom of Dai, successively garrisoned by his brothers and sons. During Wang Mang's reign, it was renamed Pingshun County under Bingzhou's Tiandi Commandery.
Eastern Han Dynasty: It was known as Pingcheng Commandery under Yanmen Commandery. Towards the end of Emperor Ling's reign, Xiongnu invasions occurred. In the 20th year of the Jian'an era (215 CE), Cao Cao pacified the Dai region, resettled the populace, and relocated Pingcheng County to its present site east of Dai County.
Jin Dynasty: The Xianbei chieftain Tuoba Yilu was enfeoffed as Duke of Dai. In the first year of the Jianxing era (313 CE), Pingcheng was fortified as the Southern Capital, and Pingcheng County reverted to its original seat under the Dai Kingdom.
Northern Wei Dynasty: In 398 CE, Tuoba Gui relocated the capital to Pingcheng, assumed the title of Emperor, established the Tianxing era, and established Sizhou with Pingcheng as its seat. For 97 years, the Northern Wei capital resided in Datong City, enduring six relocations across seven reigns, with Pingcheng serving as the northern political, economic, and cultural centre. Following the capital's transfer to Luoyang in the 18th year of the Taihe era (494), Hengzhou was established with Pingcheng as its seat.
Northern Qi Dynasty: In the seventh year of Tianbao (556), Hengzhou was renamed Heng'an Garrison, subordinate to Taiping County within Hengzhou.
Northern Zhou Dynasty: In 577, Taiping County was renamed Yunzhong County, with Heng'an Garrison falling under its jurisdiction.
Sui Dynasty: In the first year of the Kaihuang era (581), Yunzhong County was renamed Yunnei County, with Heng'an Town falling under its jurisdiction.
Tang Dynasty: In the tenth year of the Xiantong era (869), the Military Governor of Datong was established.
Five Dynasties Period: In the third year of the Qingtai era (936), Shi Jingtang ceded the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun to the Khitan, including Yunzhou.
Liao Dynasty: In the 13th year of Chongxi (1044), Yunzhou was renamed Xijing, establishing the Xijing Circuit and setting up Datong Prefecture, thus Datong first acquired its name. In the 17th year of Chongxi (1048), Datong County was established.
Song Dynasty: In the 5th year of Xuanhe (1123), the Yuncheng Prefecture Circuit was established, with its seat at Yuncheng Prefecture.
Jin Dynasty: In the second year of Baoda (1122), the Jin captured Datong, redesignating Xijing as Xijing Circuit while retaining the existing prefectural and county seats.
Yuan Dynasty: In the third year of Zhengyou (1215), the Yuan captured Datong, initially designating it as Xijing. In the twenty-fifth year of Zhiyuan (1288), Datong Prefecture was redesignated as Datong Circuit, subordinate to the Hedong-Shanxi Circuit of the Central Secretariat, marking Datong's first administration under Shanxi.
Ming Dynasty: In the second year of Hongwu (1369), the Ming captured Datong. In the fifth year of Hongwu (1372), the city walls of Datong were constructed. In the seventh year of Hongwu, Datong Circuit was renamed Datong Prefecture, establishing Datong as one of the Nine Frontier Garrisons. Its garrison reached a strength of 130,000 troops.
Qing Dynasty: Datong Prefecture was established, administered from Datong County, under the jurisdiction of Shanxi Province. In the sixth year of Shunzhi (1649), following the Jiang Yan incident, the seat of Datong Prefecture was relocated to Yanggao Garrison and renamed Yanghe Prefecture. It returned to its original seat in the ninth year of Shunzhi (1652).
Republican Era: In 1912, the prefecture was abolished and the county retained. In 1913, Yanmen Circuit was established with its seat at Datong. After the circuit was abolished in 1927, it came under the jurisdiction of Shanxi Province. On 13 September 1937, Japanese forces invaded Datong. On 15 October, the ‘North Shanxi Autonomous Government’ was established under the puppet Mongolian-China United Committee. In 1939, it was renamed the ‘North Shanxi Administrative Office’ under the puppet Mongolian United Autonomous Government, and in 1943 became the ‘Datong Provincial Office’.
The Communist-led anti-Japanese democratic government divided Datong County into eastern and western sections along the Tongpu and Pingsui railways, with Datong City falling under Wuding County's jurisdiction.
Following Japan's surrender, Datong City came under the administration of the Kuomintang government's Second War Zone Command Headquarters Datong Leadership Group. In 1947, it was managed by the Tenth Administrative Inspectorate Office.
People's Republic of China: Following the establishment of the new China on 1 May 1949, Datong was upgraded from county to city status under Chahar Province. The city was divided into five districts: District One (covering the present-day Beijie Subdistrict Office area, including Beiguan), District Two (present-day Xijie Subdistrict Office area), District Three (present-day Dongjie Subdistrict Office area, including Dongguan), and District Four (present-day Nanjie Subdistrict Office area, including Nanguan). District governments were established, later renamed District Offices. On 28 July of the same year, certain rural areas of Datong City were incorporated into Districts One and Two within the city proper (Baimacheng and Wotuwan were assigned to District One, while Songzhuang, Xiahuangzhuang, Wulidian, Xishuimo, Shilidian, Shilipu, Majunying, Fangzicun, and Wayaocun were assigned to District Two). On 19 August that year, Zhoujiadian was further incorporated into District Four.
In March 1950, the four urban districts were reorganised into three. District One administered the northeast corner and Beiguan area; District Two covered the northwest and southwest corners; District Three managed the southeast corner, Dongguan, and Nanguan areas.
In 1952, District Three was abolished, leaving only two urban districts: District One encompassing the northeast corner, Beiguan, and northwest corner; District Two covering the southeast corner, southwest corner, Dongguan,