Travel from Datong to Beijing - Datong to Beijing Trains 2025

On December 30, 2019, the Datong Beijing High Speed Railway was officially put into operation together with many new rail lines. Former 6 hours’ train travel from Datong to capital Beijing has been shortened to only 2 hours, giving great convenience for a Great Wall tour in Beijing after visiting the Yungang Grottoes in Datong.

The total length of the rail is 338 kilometers, which is composed of two sections, high speed railways between Datong and Zhangajikou, Zhangjiakou and Beijing. Every day, there are more than 5 high speed bullet trains departing from Datong South Railway Station in Datong and arriving at Beijing North Railway Station and Beijing Qinghe Railway Station after 2 hours’ ride.

Most Popular Beijing Datong Tours: 6 Days Beijing Datong Essence Tour / 4 Days Beijing Side Trip to Datong

Datong Beijing High Speed Rail Map

Datong Beijing High Speed Train Schedules

● Datong to Beijing

Check the real-time Datong to Beijing High Speed Train Schedules below:

● Beijing to Datong

What to See along Datong Beijing High Speed Railway

Datong

Datong is the second largest city in Shanxi Province and known as one of the nine ancient capitals in China. Because it held strategic location before, served as capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty and deputy capital during Liao and Jin Dynasty, there are lots of historical sites left. Yungang Grottoes, Hengshan Hanging Temple, Huayan Temple are the top attractions among all. Yungang Grottoes is a huge Buddhist treasury famous as Dunhuang Mogao Caves, Luoyang Longmen Grottoes and Tianshui Maijishan Grottoes. Tourists finishing Datong tour may extend trip further to Taiyuan and Xian by a fast bullet train.

Most Recommended Datong Tours:

☛ 2 Days Datong Yungang Grottoes Tour
☛ 3 Days Datong Culture Tour with Hanging Temple

Datong Yungang Grottoes Shot by Our Customer

Datong South Railway Station 大同南站

Address: Kaiyuan Street, Pingcheng District, Datong, Shanxi 山西省大同市平城区开源街

Transportation: Datong South Railway Station is recently opened as the second biggest train station in Shanxi Province. The station is an important transportation hub in northern region, linking Beijing in the east, Taiyuan and Xian in the south, Hohhot in the north. It is also the starting point of Datong Xian High Speed Railway and Zhangjiakou Datong High Speed Railway. It is located about 8km (30 minutes’ driving) to city center, about 25km (40 minutes’ driving) to Yungang Grottoes and nearly 1 hour and 15 minutes’ drive to the Hanging Temple, 65km far away.

Useful Links: Datong Transportation Guide | Datong Maps

Beijing

Notable as the capital city with the convenient transportation and rich tourism resources, Beijing is usually used as the top gateway for a trip to China. With more than 3,000 years’ history, Beijing once was ancient capital during different dynasties, and now the city has the largest number of UNESO World Heritage in China. During your Beijing tour, you may marvel at the spectacular ancient accomplishment, world-famous Great Walls, imperial buildings, like Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace, etc. The Hutongs are good way to know about local culture. More about China Great Wall Tours >>

Most Popular Beijing Tours:

☛ 2 Days Beijing Layover Highlights Tour
☛ 3 Days Beijing Essential Short Stay Tour
☛ 4 Days Classic Beijing Tour Package

Beijing Mutianyu Great Wall

Beijing North Railway Station 北京北站

Address: NO.1 North Binhe Road, Beida Street, Xizhimen, Xicheng District, Beijing 北京市西城区西直门北大街北滨河路1号

Transportation: Beijing North Railway Station is located near the 2nd Ring Road, the northwest of Beijing. It reopened on December 30,2019. At present, the station runs a few city bus lines and has subway transit station of Beijing Metro Line 2, Line 4 and Line 13. It takes about 30 minutes (9 km) the the city center, Tiananmen Square, half an hour to Forbidden City, 1.5 hour to Mutianyu Great Wall and Badaling Great Wall in suburb area. Considering the convenience and fares, it’s strongly suggested to travel with China Discovery, using our professional, safe and comfortable transfer service.

Beijing Qinghe Railway Station 北京清河站

Address: Qinghe Street, Qinghe Town, Haidian District, Beijing 北京市海淀区清河镇清河街道

Transportation: Qinghe Railway Station was a very small and old train station reconstructed larger and more modern to serve passengers on Beijing Zhangjiakou High Speed Railway. It is located outside the 5th Ring Road, a little far away from downtown. You can take Metro Line 13 to get to the station.

Useful Links: How to Get to & around Beijing | How to Get to Great Walls

Get from Datong to Beijing by Flight

Datong to Beijing flight is usually available from November to March but is not daily scheduled. This direct flight usually departs in the morning from Datong Yungang Airport and arrives at Beijing Capital International Airport after about an hour. Actually, with the operation of high speed train, flight is less chosen by travelers as it may need more transfer time considering that you need to get to the airport at least 1.5h in advance.

How to Plan a Datong Beijing Tour

It usually needs 6 days if you want to travel both Datong and Beijing. As the operation of high speed train has shortened the transfer time to about 2 hours, a Datong Beijing tour is more convenient than ever.

When you are in Datong, it is recommended to schedule 2 days here. On the first day, visit Yungang Grottoes, a real treasure of traditional Chinese art consisting of 53 grottoes with 51,000 statues, Nine Dragon Screen, the oldest and largest glazed screen in China, and Huayan Temple, which keeps the largest wooden structure of Buddhist temple hall with elegant mural and scriptures. The next day is for the attractions a little far from downtown such as Hanging Temple, an unusual temple standing on the precarious cliff built over 1500 years ago, and Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, the highest wooden pagoda in the world.

☛ 2 Days Datong Yungang Grottoes Tour
☛ 3 Days Datong Culture Tour with Hanging Temple

Then take a high speed train to Beijing and start your Beijing exploration to the Forbidden City, one of the world’s five most important palaces, the amazing wonder Great Wall, imperial site Temple of Heaven, etc.

☛ 6 Days Beijing Datong Essence Tour
☛ 4 Days Beijing Side Trip to Datong

If you have more days, you can extend your Datong Beijing tour to other attractions in Shanxi such as Pingyao Ancient City, Mount Wutai and Hukou Waterfall, or travel a little further to time-honored Xi’an (Terracotta Warriors), and modern metropolis Shanghai (the Bund).

☛ 6 Day Datong Pingyao Tour Plus Wutaishan Visit
☛ 9 Days Ancient Treasures of China Tour
☛ 11 Days Golden Triangle Tour with Shanxi Highlights

Yungang Grottoes, Hanging Temple in Datong & Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall in Beijing

High Speed Train Tips

Class of Ticket

There are three kinds of tickets are provided on high speed train from Datong to Beijing, Business Class Seat, First Class Seat and Second Class Seat. Second Class Seat is the most budget level you will share a row space with other passengers. And the First Class of Seat is more comfortable and quieter for those who prefer a good rest on the way. If you would like to try the most luxury and superior train travel experience, the Business Class better than the business level on airplane will shock you beyond expectation. Check All Types of Seats on China High Speed Train>

Book, Collect, Alter and Cancel

Foreign tourists can book train ticket online or ask help from ticket agency, or buy the tickets physically at the train station with your valid passport. One thing you should remember is to book the ticket as early as possible, especially in peak tourist seasons. After collecting the tickets, please read carefully about the train number, departure date and station to make sure you won’t miss the train. If you want to cancel, alter your train tickets, you are required to bring your passport to the ticket counter and make the adjustments. Check details about How to Book, Collect, Alter, and Cancel Train Tickets>

Board & Get off

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 details about How to Board & Disembark a Train>

Baggage Allowance

China train travel with luggage is much easier than taking flight, for you don’t need to check luggage separately. Each passenger with a train ticket is allowed to carry luggage in certain weight and volume, but without limitation of amount and types. Though there are written regulation and rules about the luggage allowance, in practice, passengers can take as much luggage as you can if only you handled them properly. Check detailed Baggage Allowance & Policy to Take China Train>

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 All Facilities & Service on China Train>