







Datong Pingyao Xian Trip
Datong, Pingyao and Xian are three important tourist destinations in China. Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple in Datong, Pingyao Ancient City and Terracotta Warriors in Xian are big draws attracting numerous oversea tourists every year.
If you want to plan your Datong, Pingyao and Xian trip, you are often daunted by the travel time wasted on this itinerary due to the inconvenient 859km transportation – over 16 hours by train and 8 hours by road. Many time-strapped travelers have to skip Datong or Pingyao.
Your transportation headache has partially alleviated due to the fact that from July, 2014, Datong and Xian high speed trains has been partially opened to the public, exactly speaking, the finished section is from Taiyuan (passing by Pingyao) to Xian. The north part – Datong Taiyuan highspeed railway line will be completed in 2015.
So from July, 2014, you are able to visit Pingyao by high speed train directly from Beijing, Taiyuan and extended to Xian, putting Beijing, Pingyao and Xian on a high speed passenger dedicated railway line, fast and comfortable.
1. Beijing – Pingyao by bullet trains
At the time of my writing, there are two daily bullet trains available going between Beijing and Pingyao.
Beijing West Railway Station – Pingyao Ancient City Railway Station: D2001 ( 7:58 – 12:09)
Beijing West Railway Station – Pingyao Ancient City Railway Station: D2005 ( 15: 29 – 19:39)
Pingyao Ancient City Railway Station – Beijing West Railway Station : D2002 ( 8: 41 – 12:55)
Pingyao Ancient City Railway Station – Beijing West Railway Station : D2006 ( 16: 11 – 20:40
2. Pingyao – Xian by Bullet Trains
At the time of my writing, there are four daily bullet trains available going between Xian and Pingyao (less than 3 hours).
Xian North Railway Station – Pingyao Ancient City Railway Station: D2504 ( 10:13 – 13:06)
Xian North Railway Station – Pingyao Ancient City Railway Station: D2508 ( 12: 05 – 14:55)
Xian North Railway Station – Pingyao Ancient City Railway Station: D2532 ( 16:510 – 19:08)
Xian North Railway Station – Pingyao Ancient City Railway Station: D2516 ( 19: 08 – 22:07)
Pingyao Ancient City Railway Station – Xian North Railway Station : D2531( 8: 41 – 12:55)
Pingyao Ancient City Railway Station – Xian North Railway Station : D2507 ( 14: 10 – 16::57)
Pingyao Ancient City Railway Station – Xian North Railway Station : D2509 ( 15:33 – 18:21 )
Pingyao Ancient City Railway Station – Xian North Railway Station : D2515 ( 19:19 – 22:16)
Datong Xian Dedicated Highspeed Railway Line
This dedicated railway line is a dual-track, electrified, high-speed rail line. It runs 859 km through Shanxi and Shaanxi Province. The high speed trains will travel at speeds up to 250 km/hr (design speed is 350km/hr). The Travel time between Datong and Xian will be reduced from 16 hours to about 3 hours.
Its construction started in late 2009 with RMB96.3 billion investment. The highspeed line is planned to be finished by 2015. The the south part of the railway line ( from Taiyuan passing by Pingyao to Xian) will be opne June, 2014.
The Train Stations along Datong Xian High Speed Train Line
Datong Xian Highspeed Trains will run along the length of Shanxi Province starting from Datong in the north through Shuozhou, Xinzhou, Taiyuan, Jinzhong (Pingyao), Linfen and Yuncheng. The it will enter Shaanxi by crossing the Yellow River at Yongji and get to Xian, totalling the 859km length.
There are totally 29 train stations – 18 new stations and 11 renovated stations. Below is the list of the 29 railway stations along Datong Xian Highspeed trains from north to south.
■ Datong Railway Station (大同站)
A first class train station in China, an essential transportation hub linking Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi and Inner Mongolia.
■Huairen East Train Station (怀仁东站)
Two platforms, 6 tracks
■Yingxian Railway Station(应县站)
Two platforms with 4 tracks
■Shanyin East Train Station (山阴东站)
Two platforms, 6 tracks
■Daixian West Railwat Station (代县西站)
Two platforms with 4 tracks
■Yuanping West Railway Station (原平西站)
A new station with 2 platforms and 6 tracks
■Xinzhou West Station (忻州西站)
A new station, 2 platforms, 5 tracks
■Yangqu West Railway Station (阳曲西站)
A new station, 2 platforms, 4 tracks
■Taiyuan East Station (太原东站)
Also a Shitai railway line, a connected line
■Taiyuan Railway Station (太原站)
A starting and arriving station for Shitai Railway, 4 platforms with 10 tracks.
■Taiyuan South Railway Station (太原南站)
Still under construction, 10 platforms, 22 tracks, the convergency of Datong Xian High speed line.
■Jinzhou Railway Station (晋中站)
A new station, 2 platforms, 4 tracks
■Taigu West Train Station (太谷西站)
A new station, 2 platforms with 4 tracks
■Qixian East Railway Station (祁县东站)
A new station, 2 platforms, 4 tracks
■Pingyao East Railway Station(平遥古城站)
Located Houji Village in Pingyao County, 2 platforms, 4 tracks
■Jiexu East Railway Station (介休东站)
Located in Sanjia Township of Jiexu City, a new station, 2 platforms, 4 tracks
■Lingshi East Railway Station (灵石东站)
Located in Zhanghao Village of Mahe Township at Lingshi County, a new station, 2 platforms, 4 tracks
■Huozhou East Railway Station (霍州东站)
Located at Lizaozhen Village, Huozhou, a new station, 2 platforms, 4tracks
■Hongtong West Railway Station (洪洞西站)
A new station, 2 platforms, 4 tracks
■Linfen West Train Station (临汾西站)
Located in Zhoujiazhuang, Liucun Township, Raodu District of Linfen, a new station, 2 platforms, 5 tracks
■Xiangfen West Railway Station (襄汾西站)
Located at Liu Village, Nanjia Township,Xuangfen County, a new station, 2 platforms, 4 tracks
■Houma West Railway Station 侯马西站
A new station, 2 platforms,4 tracks
■Wenxi West Railway Station (闻喜西站)
A new station, 2 platforms, 4 tracks
■Yuncheng North Railway Station (运城北站)
A new departing and arriving station, 4 platforms, 8 tracks
■Yongji North Railway Station (永济北站)
A new station, 2 platforms, 4 tracks including 2 formal tracks
■Dali Railway Station (大荔站)
A new railway station, 2 platforms, 4 tracks
■Weinan North Railway Station(渭南北站)
Also a train station for Xian – Zhengzhou Highspeed trains, 2 platforms, 4 tracks郑西客专车站,中间站,既有规模为2站台4股道,其
■New Lintong Railway Station (新临潼站)
Also a station for Xian – Zhengzhou trains
■Xian North Railway Station (西安北站)
Also a railway station for Xian Zhengzhou Highspeed Railway, 18 platforms, 34 tracks
Datong Xian High Speed Train Timetable
Datong Xian High Speed Trains will be partially open to the public from June ,2014. The opening section will start from Taiyuan to Xian. A for the northern part of Datong Xian High Speed Railway will be completed in the year 2015.
The timetable for the high speed trains from Taiyuan to Xian is still unkown. We will closely follow up the latest development regarding the new high speed railway line.
Attractions along Datong Xian High Speed Railway Line
Datong Xian High Speed Dedicated Passenger Railway Links Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces which are teemed with historical sites and scenic areas.
■ Datong:
Yungang Grottoes, Hanging Temple
■ Yingxian:
Yingxiang Wooden Pagoda
■ Taiyuan:
Jinci Temple, Shuangta Temple
■ Jinzhong:
Chang Family Mansion
■ Qixian:
Qiao Family Courtyard
■ Pingyao:
Pingyao Ancient City
■ Jiexu:
Zhangbi Underground Castle
■ Lingshi:
Wang Family Courtyard
■ Yuncheng:
Guangdi Temple
■ Xian:
Terracotta Warriors
Tip: Hassle-free Datong Guided Tours
If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for Datong guided tours:
Datong Great Wall Hike Day Tour from US$105 p/p
Datong Great Wall Hike 2 Day Tour from US$195 p/p
Datong Great Wall Hike 3 Day Tour from US$290 p/p
Datong City Highlight Day Tour from US$ 90 p/p
Datong One Day Excursion Tour from US$ 90 p/p
Datong 2 Day Private Tour Packages from US$ 205 p/p
Beijing Datong 2 Day Round Trip by private car or van from US$ 260 p/p
Beijing Datong 4 Day Round Trip by Daytime Train from US$ 370 p/p
Beijing Datong Day Trip by Flight from US$ 290 p/p
Beijing Datong 2 Day Tour by flight from US$ 400 p/p
Further Readings
Best Time to Visiit Datong
Top 10 Attractions in Datong
How to Get to Datong from Beijing
Datong Xian High Speed Train