Route
Xi'an to PingyaoPingyao to Xi'an: take the train or fly?
Two and a half hours links Xi'an with Pingyao, the best-preserved walled town in China. It's the natural overnight stop between Xi'an and Beijing — and the station drops you a short taxi ride from the old gates.
Pingyao 平遥
Pingyao Ancient City
Xi'an 西安
Xi'an North
- 2nd class
- from ¥150 ≈ $21
- business to ¥240
- Departures
- ~14/day
- 06:30–20:30
- Train types
- D · G
- Flight
- no flights — too short
About 2h21 on the fastest service, ¥150 second class, roughly 10–14 trains a day. Pingyao has no airport and no reason for one. Book to Pingyao Ancient City station (Pingyao Gucheng), then an 18–20 minute taxi to the walled town.
Should you take the train or fly?
Take the train. It’s 481 km, about 2h21 on the fastest service and 2.5–3.5 hours on the rest, for roughly ¥150 second class. Only about 10–14 high-speed trains run each day — mostly D-class — so this line is thinner than the Beijing–Xi’an trunk, and worth checking before you build a tight itinerary around it.
Pingyao has no airport, so there is no flight to compare.
Stations, tickets and what to expect
Which station. High-speed trains run Xi’an North (Xi’anbei) to Pingyao Ancient City (Pingyao Gucheng), which is about 8.5 km from the walled old town — 18–20 minutes by taxi, or roughly 45 minutes on a local bus. A separate, older Pingyao station handles ordinary trains and sits closer to the walls.
Why stop here. Pingyao is the most complete Ming–Qing walled county town in China: a full 6 km city wall you can walk, the old piaohao draft-bank houses that were China’s first banks, temples, and courtyard guesthouses inside the gates. One night is enough for most; nearby are the Wang Family Compound and Zhangbi Ancient Castle.
On the overland route. Pingyao sits on the Datong–Xi’an high-speed line, so it slots straight into Xi’an → Pingyao → Datong → Beijing (or the reverse) without backtracking.
Booking. Trip.com or the 12306 app, passport as the ID type, electronic ticket scanned at the gate. Confirm fares and times on 12306 or Trip.com when you book.
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FAQ
Common questions
How long is the train from Xi'an to Pingyao?
About 2 hours 21 minutes on the fastest train, and 2.5 to 3.5 hours on the rest. Around 10 to 14 high-speed trains run each day, most of them D-class — fewer than on the big trunk routes, so check times before you plan a day around it.
How much does it cost?
Second class is about ¥150, first class around ¥240. A few faster G-trains with a business seat also run this line.
Which station, and how far is the old town?
High-speed trains use Pingyao Ancient City (Pingyao Gucheng), about 8.5 km from the walled old town — 18–20 minutes by taxi, or roughly 45 minutes on a local bus. The older 'Pingyao' station, on ordinary trains, sits closer to the walls.
Is one night in Pingyao enough?
One night suits most people: an afternoon and morning covers the city wall, the old draft-bank street and a courtyard-guesthouse stay. Add a day if you also want the Wang Family Compound or Zhangbi Castle nearby.
Should I fly?
There's nothing to fly — Pingyao has no airport. The train is the way in, whether from Xi'an or, going the other way, from Datong and Beijing.
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