Datong Shadow Art is the excellent art of Qinghai folk culture, with a long history, which has been brought to Datong in Chongzhen 17th of Ming Dynasty over 300 years before. In 2006 Datong Shadow was listed in the non-material cultural heritage of Qinghai Province.

　　A saying, one sentence to tell a story, two hands to compete against a million soldiers, is a true portrayal of shadow play, whose main props are shadow dolls (commonly known as paper dolls), liangzi (the video screen), and lamps (light). The yellow cattle leather is the main raw material for shadow production. In order to make a doll, we should draw pictures, carve it, dye it, iron it, and sew in it. Shadow carving artists have inherited the traditional production process in long-term creation of for faces, costumes and props, and have learned from Qinghai folk paper cutting art in the shapes, patterns, and colors, which has gradually formed a strong but simple artistic style and local flavor in Qinghai plateau, refined carved and richly colored. There are all kinds of major historical traditional figures, mythological figures, palace pavilions, boats and chariots, flowers and trees, animals, and etc.

　　Datong Shadow Art has always been renowned, and has joined the Folk Arts and Crafts Show in Austrian and Chinese Shadow Art Fair in Vienna with its works in 1987. It has participated in various exhibitions and got awards in China. Datong Shadow has enjoyed high value of art appreciation and collection, praised by domestic and foreign experts, scholars, and tourists.

　　In 2008, Datong Shadow as an important part of Hehuang Shadow, has been listed into the non-material cultural heritage.