Datong Shadow as an important part of Hehuang Shadow has been listed into non-material cultural heritage, specifically protected.

　

Datong Shadow is one of the earliest Chinese operas. There's light show equipment, rich and beautiful singing, and exciting and moving performances. For thousands of years, its unique charm has been loved by the general public. Gu Jiegang is the scientist in the modern history, according whose A Brief History of Chinese shadow play and Its Status that Shanxi is the birthplace of Chinese shadow play with the heat in Qin, Han, Sui and Tang dynasties. Thus, shadow art is enjoying a long history.

According to Datong County, it is written that Shadow has been passed into Datong, Qinghai around Chongzhen seventeen years in Ming Dynasty(1644) .