Datong Xian High Speed Train

Datong Xian High Speed Railway, also called Datong-Xian Passenger Railway (大西客运专线), Daxi HSR, is a south-north rail line connecting Datong in northern Shanxi Province and Xian in Shaanxi Province. The 859-kilometer long railway consists of two sections: Datong-Taiyuan High Speed Railway (706 kilometers in Shanxi Province) and Taiyuan -Xian High Speed Railway (153 kilometers in Shaanxi Province). The rail passes 9 cities and over 10 midway stations, running at an average speed of 250km/h.

The previous Datong Xian normal train takes more than 16 hours, but now the newly-opened high speed bullet trains just needs 6-6.5 hours. After touring of Yungang Grottoes, Hanging Temple, you can take a morning high speed train from Datong to visit Terracotta Warriors in Xian within half daytime, or make a short stopover tour in Taiyuan, or Pingyao (Pingyao Ancient City) to enjoy featured regional Chinese culture and history there.

Datong Xian High Speed Rail Map

Datong Xian High Speed Rail Map

Datong Xian High Speed Train Schedules

● Datong to Xian

From To Frequency (day) Operating Hours Duration Detailed Train Schedule >>
Datong South Xian North about 2 about 08:00-11:00 about 6-6.5 hours

● Xian to Datong

From To Frequency (day) Operating Hours Duration Detailed Train Schedule >>
Xian North Datong South about 2 about 09:30-17:00 about 6 hours

Other Recommended Sections on Datong Xian High Speed Railway

Except the starting point and terminus, the Datong Xian High Speed Railway also pass by several hot destinations in Shanxi Province, including the famous Pingyao and Taiyuan (the capital of Shanxi Province). You can take an in-depth discovery of Shanxi if you have more time and would like to make trip more diverse and memorable.

From - To Frequency (day) Operating Hours Duration
Datong - Taiyuan: about 10 trains about 07:30-19:30 about 2.5 hours
Datong - Pingyao: about 2 trains about 12:00-18:00 about 3-3.5 hours
Taiyuan - Pingyao: over 20 trains about 06:30-20:30 about 0.5 hour
Taiyuan - Xian: about 30 trains about 06:30-19:00 about 3.5 hours
Pingyao - Xian: about 10 trains about 07:30-18:30 about 3 hours

Please Note: This information of time and duration might changes slightly, be free to contact us for the up-to-date schedule.

What to See along Datong Xian High Speed Railway

The Datong Xian High Speed Railway perfectly links Shanxi and Shaanxi Province in north China, two areas with long history of more than 1,000 years. Passengers can take the high speed trains to visit different kinds of significant historical and cultural treasures along the route.

Datong

Located in north of Shanxi Province, Datong is the second largest city after the capital city Taiyuan. Datong was the capital and auxiliary capital in the ancient times. Thus, many splendid cultural relics has been left, including the Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, Huayan Temple, etc.

Useful links:

Popular Datong Tours | Things to Do in Datong

Most Popular Datong Tours:

>> 2 Days Datong Yungang Grottoes Tour

>> 3 Days Datong Culture Tour with Hanging Temple

>> 6 Days Beijing Datong Essence Tour

Datong South Railway Station 大同南站

Address: Kaiyuan Street, North of Xiwangzhuang Village, Pingcheng District, Datong City, Shanxi Province 山西省大同市平城区西王庄村北开源街

Transportation: Datong South Railway Station is new high speed train station in south of Datong, situated about 15 south of Datong Railway Station. It takes about 1 hour’s drive (26km) to the west suburb of Yungang Grottoes and about 1 hour and 10 minutes’ drive (60km) to the Hanging Temple and Mt. Heng in the farther south side.

Datong Xian High Speed Railway

Yungang Grottoes in Datong

Taiyuan

Taiyuan is the current capital and transportation hub in Shanxi Province. With over 1,700 years’ history, Taiyuan offers travelers diverse tourist resources to explore, such as the Jinci, Yongzuo Temple (Twin Pagoda Temple), Tianlongshan Grottoes, Jinyang Ancient City, the national legacy - Jin Opera and plenty of themed museums.

Useful links:

Hot Taiyuan Tours | Top Things to Do in Taiyuan

>> 3 Days Cultural Exploration in Taiyuan

Taiyuan South Railway Station 太原南站

Address: Beiyingbei Road, Xiaodian District, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province 山西省太原市小店区北营北路

Transportation: The station is located about 15km to downtown, 25km to Jinci (about 30 minutes by car); about 20 minutes (10km) to Twin Pagoda Temple; 30 minutes (18km) to Shanxi Museum.

Xian

Xian is the capital of Shaanxi Province and best known as the location of Terracotta Warriors and China’s ancient capital of 13 dynasties. Evaluated as one of the most popular destination in the world, Xian totally has 6 properties listed in the UNESCO World Heritage. A majority travelers will visit Xian from Beijing and Shanghai to witness the man-made wonders of the Terracotta Army, see the palace relics of Tang and Han Dynasty, experience bike riding on the Ancient City Wall, shoot nice night views of Bell and Drum Tower, and taste local flavors in Muslim Quarter.

Useful links:

Best Xian Tours | Top Things to Do in Xian | Xian Travel Guide

Most Recommended Xian Tours:

>> 2 Days Xian City Break

>> 3 Days Classic Xian Tour

>> 4 Days Xian Highlights Tour with Mt. Hua Hiking

Xian North Railway Station 西安北站

Address: Yuanshuo Road, Weiyang District, North Xian, Shaanxi Province 山西省西安市未央区元朔路

Transportation: Xian North Railway Station is in the north suburb of Xian, which has city bus, subways (Xian Metro Line 2 and Line 4). You can take Metro Line 2 to get to Bell Tower and Ancient City Wall directly and walk to tour the nearby attractions like Muslim Quater, Great Mosque. It takes more than 1 hour’s drive to get to the Terracotta Warriors Museum in east suburb. More about How to Get from Xian North to Downtown / to Terracotta Warriors >>

Datong Xian High Speed Train

Terracotta Warriors in Xian

Datong Xian High Speed Train

Tourists Riding Bike on Ancient City Wall

More Popular Tourist Destinations & Attractions

● Shuozhou: Yingxian Wooden Pagoda

● Xinzhou(忻州): Mount Wutai

● Jinzhong: Pingyao Ancient City, Qiao Family’s Compound, Wang Family’s Compound

Linfen: Hukou Waterfall, Hongtong Grand Pagoda Tree

Yuncheng: Pujiu Buddhist Temple, Guandi Temple of Xiezhou

● Weinan: Mount Huashan

Pingyao Ancient City

Pingyao Ancient City

Tips for Booking and Taking Datong Xian High Speed Train

1. Seats choosing & price comparing

On Datong Xian high speed trains, there are two types of seats: First Class Seat and Second Class Seat.

>> Check more about types of seat on high speed trains.

2. Booking & collect your bullet train ticket

To book a Datong Xian high speed train ticket, you could choose to book it at the official website: China Railway Customer Service Center or with a travel agency, also you could directly tell China Discovery to book the tickets for you. Besides, you could go to the Railway Station or Designated Ticket Offices to do that.

To collect your high speed train ticket, you could go to the railway station nearby, however, the Self-service Ticketing Machines are not serving foreign people. Besides, you can tell China Discovery to help you to do the collection, which only needs your passport information.

>> Check more about booking and collecting high speed train tickets.

Second Class Seat on Bullet Train

Second Class Seat on Bullet Train

3. How to embark the bullet train?

1) Prepare your documents well (valid passport with China Visa); 2) Get to the right train station in advance; 3) Collect train tickets; 4) Read your train ticket; 5) Pass the security control; 6) Pass through Security & Luggage Checks; 7) Find the right waiting room; 8) Cross the ticket checking gate; 9) Get to the right platform; 10) Get on your train. Keep the ticket well, because the ticket will be checked again to leave the station after you get off.

>> Check more about boarding on & getting off a high speed train.

4. Facilities and service

All high speed trains in China are equipped with advanced facilities and good service to make your journey more convenient and comfortable. There are different places you can put your luggage onboard, racks and specialized luggage storage areas. Besides, the air-conditioner train offers you plug under the seats to charge your phone or laptop, sightseeing window to view the outside scenery as well as western-style toilets. There is also available dining area you can get some supplies. Bilingual signs and the broadcast use both Chinese and English so that you don’t need to worry about the communication.

>> Check more about facilities & service on high speed train.

Travel Datong & Xian by High Speed Train with China Discovery

Xian is an notable ancient capital of 13 dynasties in China and Shanxi (including Pingyao) is the birthplace of the very influential Shanxi (Jin) Merchants during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The two destinations both well preserves many architectures of the old styles. Exploration Xian and Pingyao, or Taiyuan and else cities in Shanxi offer you good way to learn the past prosperity of China. It is highly recommended to cover Yungang Grottoes, Hanging Temple, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, Mount Wutai, Pingyao Ancient City, Qiao Family’s Compound and Terracotta Warriors, Xian Ancient City Wall in your trip. Here is our 12 Days Historical China Tour with Bullet Train Experience you can fully visit the mentioned sites. To customize your Shanxi and Shaanxi tour, feel free to contact our professional travel consultants who are here ready to build your own tour to satisfy your likes and needs.

Recommended Tours

Top 3 tours chosen by most customers to explore in the best way. Check the detailed itinerary, or tailor your own trip now with us.

Peaceful Scenery of Mount Wutai

6 Day Datong Pingyao Tour Plus Wutaishan Visit

Datong / Wutaishan / Taiyuan / Pingyao

Old Streets of Pingyao Ancient City

9 Days Ancient Treasures of China Tour

Beijing / Datong / Pingyao / Xian

Experience the Real Shaolin Kung Fu

12 Days Historical China Tour with Bullet Train Experience

Beijing / Datong / Pingyao / Xian / Luoyang / Dengfeng / Zhengzhou

Start planning your tailor-made holiday to China by contacting one of our specialists. Once inquired, you’ll get a response within 0.5~23.5 hours.

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Questions & Discussions

Following are latest questions and answers from our webusers and customers. You can learn many useful information from the discussion and cases. You can also join in the discussions or ask your own question. Our experts will help you ASAP.

datong to pingyao
is the new Datong to pingyao high speed train in operation??If not can you please let me know when it is open?
2017-01-05 07:50
Dear John Chia,

Sorry to tell you that Datong to Pingyao high speed rail is still under construction and there is no clear news when it will be in operation. Instead of taking high speed train, you can take normal train from Datong to Pingyao (four daily trains) which costs about 6~7.5 hours. Or, if you need private car service, please feel free to let us know.

Best Regards!
hanging temple
Is the hanging temple close to the public due to safety measures????? Is it open on march/17.thanks
2017-01-05 07:46
Dear John Chia,

Thanks for your question. The hanging temple now can be visited and you can climb up to the temple as well. It will be open on March 17, 2017, please do not worry.

Have a nice day!

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