How to Get to Datong

The short answer

Datong sits about 300 km west of Beijing. High-speed trains make it an easy add-on to a Beijing trip: the fastest services take under two hours, and trains run throughout the day from Beijing North and Beijing Qinghe stations to Datong South.

If you are already in Shanxi, Datong is also connected by high-speed rail to Taiyuan, so a Beijing → Datong → Taiyuan → Pingyao route is straightforward.

By high-speed train from Beijing

Trains depart from Beijing North (北京北) and Beijing Qinghe (清河) and arrive at Datong South (大同南). The fastest journeys are around 1 hour 45 minutes; slower services take up to about 2 hours 30 minutes.

Second-class tickets are roughly ¥150–180 depending on the service. Book on the official 12306 app or website (available in English) or through a booking platform; bring your passport, which is your ticket.

• Beijing North / Qinghe → Datong South
• Fastest: ≈ 1h 45m | Slower: up to ≈ 2h 30m
• Second class: roughly ¥150–180
• Book on 12306 (official) — passport required to board

By train from elsewhere in Shanxi

Datong South is on the high-speed line to Taiyuan, which makes it easy to combine with Pingyao (a further high-speed hop from Taiyuan) and the rest of Shanxi. This is one of the most efficient multi-city routes in northern China.

By air

Datong Yungang Airport (DAT) has domestic connections to a number of Chinese cities. It is small and convenient, but for most international visitors arriving in Beijing, the high-speed train is faster door-to-door once you account for airport transfers.

Getting around Datong

The old city is compact and walkable: the city wall, Huayan Temple and the Nine Dragon Screen are all inside the walls and within walking distance of each other.

The Datong government lists bus 603 from Datong Railway Station to the Yungang Grottoes; an older government guide also lists bus 4 and then bus 3 as an alternative. Because that route guidance dates from 2023, confirm the current line and last return bus in a map app before you leave. The grottoes are about 16 km west of the centre.

The Hanging Temple and Mount Heng are about 60 km southeast near Hunyuan County. Datong government notices have listed direct tourist-shuttle connections between Datong South Station, the old city and the Hengshan visitor centre, but say schedules change with demand. Check both outbound and return services in the official JinYouBao Scenic Shuttle mini program on the day; do not rely on an old fixed timetable. A pre-booked day tour or car is the fallback if no suitable return service is available.

Ride-hailing (DiDi) works in Datong, and taxis are inexpensive. Have your destination written in Chinese — English is not widely spoken by drivers.

• Old city: walk
• Yungang Grottoes: bus 603 from the railway station, taxi (≈¥40)
• Hanging Temple / Mount Heng: check the JinYouBao Scenic Shuttle mini program for current routes and return times
• DiDi and taxis work well; show destinations in Chinese
• Confirm the last return service before travelling outside the city

Practical notes

Datong is within Shanxi’s permitted 240-hour transit-visa-free activity area, but this policy is only for eligible nationalities transiting to a third country or region through a designated port. Shanxi’s designated port is Taiyuan Wusu International Airport; do not assume that arriving in Beijing and taking a train to Datong is allowed under this policy. Check the National Immigration Administration’s current rules and confirm your exact route with the port immigration authority before booking.

Mobile payment is near-universal: set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with an international card before you arrive, and carry a little cash as a backup.