If you want to explore the roots of Chinese history and culture, the Beijing – Pingyao route is a must to add to your itinerary. A train trip is a great way to discover the local landscape, culture, and lifestyle in depth.
Both high-speed and normal-speed trains are available from Beijing to Pingyao and vice versa. Here are some things you need to know about how to arrange your train travel for this route, including information about the direct trains, a transfer plan, and other useful train travel tips.
Beijing – Pingyao High-Speed Trains
There are two high-speed trains running between Beijing and Pingyao, one departs in the morning and the other departs in the afternoon. They operate at Beijing West Railway Station and Pingyaogucheng Railway Station, which are different from train stations that serve ordinary trains between Beijing and Pingyao.
Beijing to Pingyao high-speed train- Distance: 591 kilometers (367 miles)
- Shortest duration: 3 hours 54 minutes
- Terminals: Beijing West Railway Station (Chinese: 北京西站), Pingyaogucheng Railway Station (Chinese: 平遥古城站)
- Main stops: Beijing, Shijiazhuang, Taiyuan, Pingyao
Beijing – Pingyao High-Speed Train Schedules
(Updated on February 13rd, 2020)
| Daytime High-Speed Trains Between Beijing and Pingyao | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing West to Pingyaogucheng | Pingyaogucheng to Beijing West | ||||||
| Train Number | Departure | Arrival | Duration | Train Number | Departure | Arrival | Duration |
| G605 | 10:28 | 14:28 | 4 h | D2004 | 10:14 | 15:01 | 4 h 47 min |
| D2005 | 15:29 | 19:41 | 4 h 12 min | G616 | 13:42 | 17:28 | 3 h 46 min |
*The timetable above is for your reference. Check here for up-to-date Beijing – Pingyao bullet train schedules.
Beijing – Pingyao High-Speed Train Ticket Prices
| Ticket Type | Business Class | First Class | Second Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult ticket | US$103 (698 CNY) | US$53 (361 CNY) | US$34 (225.5 CNY) |
| Child ticket | US$52 (349 CNY) | US$27 (181 CNY) | US$17 (113 CNY) |
A child fare is 50% of the full price. Child fares apply to children younger than 12 years old and not taller than a height of 1.5 meters (4.9 feet). Read more about children's tickets for China trains.
Beijing – Pingyao Non-Bullet Trains
There are three normal-speed overnight trains running between Beijing and Pingyao. The departure times are from 02:54 to 23:53.
- Shortest duration: 9 hours 34 minutes
- Terminals: Beijing Railway Station (Chinese: 北京站), Pingyao Railway Station (Chinese: 平遥站)
Beijing – Pingyao Overnight Train Schedules
(Updated on February 13rd, 2020)
| Overnight Trains Between Beijing and Pingyao | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing – Pingyao | Pingyao – Beijing | ||||||
| Train Number | Departure | Arrival | Duration | Train Number | Departure | Arrival | Duration |
| K961 | 02:54 | 15:24 | 12 h 30 min | K962 | 15:19 | 04:37 next day | 13 h 18 min |
| K603 | 17:12 | 04:49 next day | 11 h 37 min | K604 | 17:21 | 05:33 next day | 12 h 12 min |
| K609 | 23:53 | 09:29 next day | 9 h 36 min | K610 | 20:02 | 05:14 next day | 9 h 12 min |
Beijing – Pingyao train up-to-date train schedules.
Overnight Train Ticket Prices for Beijing – Pingyao Non-Bullet Trains
| Ticket Type | Soft Sleeper | Hard Sleeper | Hard Seat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult ticket | US$42 (285 CNY) | US$27 (184 CNY) | US$16 (105 CNY) |
| Child ticket | US$32 (214 CNY) | US$21 (138 CNY) | US$8 (53 CNY) |
- For sleeper tickets, a child fare is about 75% of the full price. Read here for information about children's tickets.
- For different types of seat class, read more information about how to choose China train types and seats.
How to Book Your Train Tickets Between Beijing and Pingyao
Trains between Beijing and Pingyao are very popular. Tickets for those trains sell out very quickly, especially during holidays. It is recommended that you book your train tickets in advance with a travel agency like China Highlights.
As well as a ticket booking service, our professional travel advisors provide a one-to-one service and after-sales support to make your trip run smoothly.
How to Choose Beijing – Pingyao Train Types and Seat Classes
1. High-speed trains in China are faster, smoother, and more comfortable than overnight trains. Compared to high-speed trains' new and modern facilities, normal trains are relatively old and in poor condition.
2. The hard seat class on a normal overnight train is the cheapest of all the classes. It is not recommended to book a hard seat ticket from Beijing to Pingyao.
3. A hard sleeper (six berths in an open plan compartment) is more cost-effective than a soft sleeper (four berths in a private compartment). However, a soft sleeper is more comfortable and provides more privacy. If you have four people in your group, you can have the whole compartment to yourselves.
4. High-speed trains between Beijing and Pingyao depart from/arrive at Pingyaogucheng Railway Station, which is a long way from the city center and Pingyao Ancient City. The most convenient way to get to the downtown area is to get a taxi. Here is a bilingual note that you can show to your taxi driver to take you to Pingyaogucheng Railway Station:
- Chinese: 你好，请你送我到平遥古城站，谢谢！
- English: Please drive me to Pingyaogucheng Railway Station, thank you!
Read more about how to choose China train types and seat classes.
Public Transportation to Train Stations
Beijing Railway Station = “北京站”
- It is the terminus of three overnight trains running between Beijing and Pingyao.
- Located in the city center, it's only 4 kilometers southeast of the Forbidden City and 30 kilometers southwest of Beijing Capital International Airport.
Taking a taxi or subway train are two of the most convenient ways to get around Beijing. It is very easy to take Beijing Subway Line 2 from Beijing Railway Station to Wangfujing and Tian'anmen Square.
The subway also connects Beijing Railway Station to the other two important stations of Beijing South and Beijing West.
Beijing West Railway Station = “北京西站”
- It is the terminus of high-speed trains between Beijing and Pingyao.
- Located in Fengtai District, it's 8 kilometers (5 miles) southwest of the Forbidden City and 36 kilometers southwest of Beijing Capital International Airport.
- Subway to and from this station: Beijing Subway Line 7 and Line 9
Pingyao Railway Station = "平遥站"
- It is the terminus for all overnight trains between Beijing and Pingyao.
- Located in the center of the city, it is adjacent to Pingyao Ancient City.
- You can walk from Pingyao Railway Station to Pingyao Ancient City in just 10 minutes.
Pingyaogucheng Railway Station = “平遥古城站”
- Pingyaogucheng Railway Station is designated for high-speed trains to and from Pingyao.
- Located on the southeast outskirts of the city, it's 8 kilometers (5 miles) to Pingyao Ancient City.
- It is a long way from the city center.
- By bus: 108
- By taxi: Taking a taxi is the most convenient and fastest way of getting from Pingyaogucheng Railway Station to Pingyao Ancient City. It costs around 5 USD (30 CNY) for a one-way ticket.
Please note: there are two train stations in Pingyao - be clear about which station your train departs from/arrives at.
