Route
Beijing to DatongDatong to Beijing: take the train or fly?
Under two hours puts you in Datong, the base for the Yungang Grottoes and the Hanging Temple. It also opens the overland route on to Pingyao and Xi'an, instead of backtracking through Beijing.
Beijing 北京
Beijing North
Datong 大同
Datong South
- 2nd class
- from ¥153 ≈ $21
- business to ¥458
- Departures
- ~20/day
- 06:45–19:10
- Train types
- G · D
- Flight
- no flights — too short
Around 1h40 on the fast G-trains, about ¥153 second class. There are flights but nobody uses them over this distance. Book Beijing North or Qinghe to Datong South, then a taxi or local bus the last few kilometres into the old city.
Should you take the train or fly?
Take the train. It’s roughly 290 km on the high-speed line built for the 2022 Winter Olympics, about 1h40 on the fastest G-trains and around two hours on the ones that stop more. Second class is about ¥153. Something like 20 or more high-speed trains run this way each day, though a good number are through-services to Hohhot that pause only briefly at Datong — check that yours actually stops.
There is a short flight, but over under 300 km it saves nothing once you add both airports.
Stations, tickets and what to expect
Which stations. Trains leave from Beijing North (Beijingbei), next to Xizhimen on metro lines 2, 4 and 13, or from Qinghe (Qinghe) on metro line 13 and the Changping line — Qinghe fares run slightly cheaper. They arrive at Datong South (Datongnan), about 6 km south of the walled old city; take a taxi or a local bus in.
What Datong is for. The Yungang Grottoes are the headline — 5th-century Buddhist carvings on a huge scale, a UNESCO site about 16 km west of the city. Pair them with the Hanging Temple (Xuankong Si) near Mount Heng, the rebuilt Ming city wall, and the Huayan and Shanhua temples in town.
Carrying on. Datong South has fast trains south through Taiyuan to Pingyao and Xi’an, so you can run Beijing → Datong → Pingyao → Xi’an overland rather than doubling back.
Booking. Trip.com or the 12306 app, passport as the ID type, electronic ticket scanned at the gate. Fares and schedules move around a little — confirm on 12306 or Trip.com when you book.
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FAQ
Common questions
How long is the train from Beijing to Datong?
About 1 hour 40 minutes on the fastest G-trains, and roughly 2 hours on services with more stops. Something like 20 or more high-speed trains a day run this way, many of them continuing to Hohhot.
How much does it cost?
Second class is about ¥153 (a little more from Beijing North than from Qinghe). First class is around ¥244 and a business seat about ¥458.
Which stations does it use?
Trains leave from Beijing North (Beijingbei, by Xizhimen on metro lines 2, 4 and 13) or Qinghe (Qinghe, on metro lines 13 and Changping), and arrive at Datong South (Datongnan), about 6 km south of Datong's walled old city.
What is Datong for?
The Yungang Grottoes — one of China's three great sets of Buddhist cave carvings — plus the cliff-hanging Hanging Temple (Xuankong Si) near Mount Heng, the reconstructed Ming city wall, and the Huayan and Shanhua temples. A full day, comfortably two.
Should I fly?
No. It's under 300 km and about 1h40 by train; the short flight saves nothing once you add both airports.
Can I carry on to Pingyao or Xi'an from here?
Yes. Datong South has high-speed trains south to Taiyuan, Pingyao and Xi'an, so Datong fits neatly into a Beijing → Datong → Pingyao → Xi'an overland run.
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