How to Get to & around Shanxi

Taiyuan Wusu International Airport (IATA: TYN)

Location: Taiyu Road, Xiaodian District, Taiyuan, Shanxi (山西省太原市小店区太榆路), about 16 km, 30 minutes’ drive to Taiyuan downtown (Yingze Park), 24 km, 30 minutes’ drive to Jinci Temple, and only 7 km, 15 minutes’ drive to Taiyuan South Railway Station.

Taiyuan Wusu International Airport is also most frequently used airport to Shanxi, operating over 130 airlines connecting with over 70 domestic and foreign cities such as Beijing (1.5h), Shanghai (2.5h), Chengdu (2h10min), Chongqing (2h), Wuhan (2h), Kunming (3h), Hangzhou (2.5h), Xiamen (3h), in China, and international cities like Bangkok (5.5h) in Thailand, etc.

Take Flight to Datong

Datong Yungang Airport (IATA: DAT)

Location: Yunzhou District, Datong, Shanxi (山西省大同市云州区), about 15.5 km (40 minutes’ drive) to downtown, 46 km (1 hour’s drive) to Yungang Grottoes and 73km (1.5 hours’ drive) to the Hanging Temple.

Datong Yungang Airport (大同云冈机场) was built in 2005. It now has 15 airlines connecting 25 cities in China such as Beijing (1h), Shanghai (2.5h), Chongqing (2.5h), Xian (2h), Chengdu (2.5h) and Wuhan (2h). But please note that the flights may be a little different in winter/spring and summer/autumn. For example, flights to Beijing are not available in winter/spring. Main airline companies include Air China (CA), China Eastern Airlines (MU), Shanghai Airlines (FM), China Southern Airlines (CZ), etc.

Take Flight to Wutaishan (Mount Wutai)

Xinzhou Wutaishan Airport (IATA: WUT)

Location: Wuweizhuang Village, Hongdao Town, Dingxiang County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province 山西省忻州市定襄县宏道镇无畏庄村, about 110 km (2 hours’ driving) from Taihuai Town, Mount Wutai; about 40 km (1 hour’s driving) from Xinzhou City

It serves tourists to Mount Wutai and Xinzhou City. At present, tourists can take non-stop flights to Wutaishan from Shanghai, Chengdu, Nanjing, and Hangzhou and over 10 Chinese cities. Air travel is normally within 3 hours. Flights departing from Shanghai, Nanjing are scheduled daily while others are weekly. If you want to fly from Beijing to Wutaishan, there are frequent connecting flights available daily, which takes at least 7 hours. Please note that once arrived, air travelers still need to spend 2 hours driving to Wutaishan from the airport.

• Useful Links: Wutaishan Airport and Flights | Shanghai Wutaishan Flights

Take Flight to Changzhi & Yuncheng

As for sightseeing in Changzhi and Yuncheng, flights are available in these two cities. Changzhi Wangcun Airport has direct flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi’an, and Datong. While, Yuncheng Guangong Airport has flights to Guangzhou, Taiyuan, Shenzhen, and Tianjin and has become the aviation center of the southwest region of Jin.

Get to Datong by Train

There are two railway stations in Datong - Datong South Railway Station and Datong Railway Station. The former one is a newly built high speed railway station and the latter one is mainly for normal trains.

Datong South Railway Station (大同南站)
Location: Kaiyuan Street, Pingcheng District, Datong, Shanxi (山西省大同市平城区开源街), about 8 km (25 minutes’ drive) to city center, 25 km (40 minutes’ drive) to Yungang Grottoes and 65km (75 minutes’ drive) to the Hanging Temple.

Datong Railway Station (大同站)
Location: No. 4 Zhanqian Street, Pingcheng District, Datong, Shanxi (山西省大同市平城区站前街4号), about 10 km (30 minutes’ drive) to city center, 18 km (40 minutes’ drive) to Yungang Grottoes and 90 km (1h 40 minutes’ drive) to the Hanging Temple.

• Useful Links: How to Get to Datong | Datong Railway Stations

Get to Wutaishan by Train

Now, Xinzhou West Railway Station is the nearest high speed train station to Mount Wutai. The train station is located in Xinzhou City, about 150 km southwest of Mount Wutai. After arrival at Xinzhou West Railway Station, tourists can take a private car or a local taxi to get to Mount Wutai directly.

Xinzhou West Railway Station 忻州西站
Location: Zhanqian Street, Jieyuan Village, Xinfu District, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province 山西省忻州市忻府区谢原村站前街, about 150 km (2.5 hours to 3 hours’ driving) to Taihuai Town, Mount Wutai

• Useful Links: How to Get to Wutaishan | Get to Wutaishan from Beijing | Wutaishan Railway Station

Get Around Taiyuan

For independent travelers, the most common way to get around Taiyuan is by Taxi or bus. Subway in Taiyuan is under construction now. Metro Line 2 that runs north-south through the central axis of Taiyuan is expected to be put into operation at the end of 2020. >>how to get around Taiyuan

Get to Jinci Temple: Jinci Temple is located in Jingci Town, Jinyuan District, Taiyuan, Shanxi (山西省太原市晋源区晋祠镇), about 26 km (40 minutes’ drive) southwest of Taiyuan downtown (Yingze Park), 24 km (30 minutes’ drive) from Taiyuan Wusu International Airport.

Get Around Pingyao

With two train stations, Pingyao is easily accessible by train. Pingyao Railway Station and Pingyao Bus Station are right next to the ancient city wall, while Pingyao Gucheng Railway Station (Pingyao Ancient City Railway Station) is a high-speed train station (about 10km to the ancient city), serving trains from Beijing, Xian, Taiyuan, etc. The nearest airport is about 100km away from Pingyao, namely Taiyuan Airport. On your way to Pingyao from Taiyuan, you can also visit the famous Qiao's family compound or head to Wang's family compound after your Pingyao trip. Besides traveling Pingyao alone, you are recommended to visit other places in Shanxi, such as Datong, Mt Wutai, Hukou Waterfall, etc. >>More about how to get around Pingyao