Beijing to Pingyao (Pingyao Ancient City) Train Schedules, Tickets and Stations

Traveling from Beijing to Xian and stopped off for two days in Pingyao is a good idea to explore what Old China looks like. Once you finish your Beijing tour, you can keep on searching more Chinese traditional culture and history in Pingyao Ancient City, which is still in authentic looks and arrangement. When strolling around the well-preserved streets and buildings, it seems you stepping back in time and into a Chinese movie set. Even you can imagine how busy and bustling once China was through this microcosm. Such a dream journey can be easily achieved by a 4 hours’ high-speed train journey from Beijing.

Every day, about 3 high speed trains depart from Beijing West Railway Station to Pingyao Ancient City Railway Station (Pingyao Gucheng Railway Station) from about 8 am to 3:30 pm. The duration by high-speed train is only about 4 hours, while taking a normal train will be over 9.5 hours and the arrival station is Pingyao Railway Station which is close to the Ancient city but 10km away from the high-speed train station.

Beijing Pingyao (Pingyao Ancient City) High Speed Train Route

▶ High-Speed Train Route from Beijing to Pingyao: Beijing West Station (北京西 běi jīng xī) → Baoding East Station (保定东 bǎo dìng dōng) → Zhengding Airport Station (正定机场 zhèng dìng jī chǎng) → Shijiazhuang Station (石家庄 shí jiā zhuāng) → Yangquan North Station (阳泉北 yáng quán běi) → Taiyuan South Station (太原南 tài yuán nán) → Taigu West Station (太谷西 tài gǔ xī) → Pingyao Gucheng Station (平遥古城 píng yáo gǔ chéng)

Beijing Pingyao High-Speed Railway, joined by three railway sections, is a high-speed railway connecting Beijing and Pingyao in northern China. It is only 606 kilometers long and drives across three provinces, namely, Beijing, Hebei, and Shanxi. All high-speed trains leave from Beijing West Railway Station and getting to Pingyao Ancient City Station in Pingyao after 4 hours' train journey.. The Beijing-Shijiazhuang section on Beijing Guangzhou High Speed Railway is the first segment with a length of 281 kilometers. The second part is the 232 kilometer-long Shijiazhuang-Taiyuan High-Speed Railway and the last Taiyuan-Pingyao section is on the Datong Xian Passenger Railway.

Beijing Pingyao High Speed Rail Map

Beijing West Railway Station (北京西站)- High-Speed Railway Station

Location: No.118, East Lianhuachi Road, Fengtai District, Southerst Beijing (北京市丰台区莲花池东路118号)
Distance: It is about 10km to Forbidden City, 25 mins by car, 40km to Beijing Capital International Airport, 55km to Beijing Daxing Airport.

Beijing West Railway Station, located in southwest Beijing, is one of the major train stations in Beijing. It serves as the terminus for high-speed trains on the Beijing Guangzhou High-Speed Railway and ordinary trains on Beijing Kowloon (Hong Kong) Railway and Beijing Lhasa (Tibet) Railway. The station handles approximately 180 high-speed trains to most Chinese cities, including Xian, Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, Guiyang, Taiyuan, Changsha, Zhengzhou, etc. It is also the departure station of trains to Lhasa from Beijing. Beijing West Railway Station integrates two subway lines (Beijing Metro Line 7 and Line 9), bus hubs, airport shuttle bus, and taxi stands, and the Beijing Underground Diameter Line with Beijing Railway Station. Learn more about Beijing West Railway Station

Beijing Railway Station (北京站) - Normal Train Station

Location: No.13, Maojiawan Hutong Jia, Dongcheng District, Southeast Beijing (北京市东城区毛家湾胡同甲13号)
Distance: It is about about 5km to the Palace Museum/Tiananmen Square.

The Exterior of Beijing West Railway Station

The Facade of Beijing Railway Station

Pingyao Ancient City Station (Pingyao Gucheng Railway Station - 平遥古城站) - High-Speed Railway Station

Location: Houji Village, Pingyao County, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province (山西省晋中市平遥县侯冀村)
Distance: It is about 10km (20 mins' driving) to Pingyao Ancient City, 3km to Shuanglin Temple, and 120km (1.5 hours' driving) to Taiyuan Wusu International Airport (the nearest airport).

Pingyao Ancient City Station (aka Pingyao Gucheng Railway Station) is a newly built high-speed train station serving tourists to Pingyao Ancient City. The station delivers about 34 high-speed trains, including 2 pairs of G trains between Beijing and Yuncheng, and Beijing and Yongji and more than 30 D trains to Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, Chongqing, Lanzhou, Qingdao, Jinan and lots of prefecture-level cities in Shanxi Provinces. Except for taking a taxi, tourists can also take the local Bus 108 to reach the Ancient City from this station. The bus departs every 15 minutes from 7:00 am to 8:30 pm. Read more about Pingyao Maps

Pingyao Railway Station (平遥站) - Normal Train Station

Location: 14 Zhongdu Road, Pingyao County, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province (山西省晋中市平遥县中都路14号)
Distance: It is only about 1km to Pingyao Ancient City.

Pingyao Gucheng Railway Station

Pingyao Location Map (Click to Enlarge)

How to Plan Your Beijing Pingyao Tour

About 600km away from Beijing, Pingyao is noted for the World Heritage Site - Pingyao Ancient City. It is well-preserved, keeping the architecture style of the Ming and Qing Dynasty (14th-20th centuries). Here, you can leisurely stroll and get to learn about the traditions of the northern Chinese, especially during the Chinese Spring Festival. Usually, 2 to 3 days are enough for you to explore the attractions in Pingyao, including scenic sites and ancient streets of Pingyao Ancient City, Qiao’s Family Compound, Shuanglin Temple, etc.

☛ 2 Days Classic Pingyao Tour
☛ 3 Days Pingyao Discovery Tour

Also, Pingyao is well connected with many other cities in Shanxi province. You can spend more days having a Shanxi discovery tour: witnessing the stunning Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple in Datong, hiking on and the famous Buddhism mountain, Wutaishan, visiting the magnificent Hukou Waterfall, and getting to Jinsi Temple and Shanxi Museum in the capital of Shanxi province, Taiyuan.

☛ 4 Days In-depth Pingyao & Taiyuan Tour
☛ 4 Days Essence of Datong & Pingyao Tour
☛ 6 Days Essence of Shanxi Tour

If you would like to travel outside Shanxi, you can take a flight from Taiyuan to many other cites of China. It is also very convenient to take a high-speed train from Pingyao/Taiyuan to Xian and Luoyang with no more than 4 hours or head to Beijing by high-speed train.

☛ 4 Days Ancient Pingyao & Xian Tour
☛ 6 Days Beijing Pingyao Highlights Tour

Ancient Sites of Pingyao

High Speed Train Tips

Class of Ticket

There are three kinds of tickets are provided on high speed train from Beijing to Pingyao, 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 quiet 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>