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Personally, I'd flag Datong if I were you and spend another day in Beijing. As I recall, there aren't any night-trains between Pingyao and Datong (I did this route earlier this year) so you'll be wasting a day in travel. There may be long-distance buses, but they really aren't fun.
Train Type From Leaving To Arrival Duration Details
2672 Ordinary PingYao 07:12 DaTong 15:19 08:07 View
K7808 Fast PingYao 11:52 DaTong 19:07 07:15 View
2604 Ordinary PingYao 13:08 DaTong 21:16 08:08 View
2464 Ordinary PingYao 20:50 DaTong 04:28 07:38 View
If the night train exists, it would be great to go see the Hanging Temple. But I didn't realize that it's so far from Beijing (6hr train ride)!
Maybe we will skip it. Who knows. It all depends on everyone's energy level when the time comes.
I agree- those times suck!! But if we end up going to Datong, that would be the only possibility to save some time so we don't have to travel during the day-time.
If we do this route, I figure we can store our luggage in Pingyao in the hotel after checkout while we wander around Pingyao until catching the evening train to Datong.
As to arriving at 4:30....oh that will not be fun!!! Perhaps they will have some kind of 24hr shop nearby to drink a coffee or go on the internet.. I saw on a tripadvisor forum that the first bus leaves for the Hanging temple at 06:30. If that is true then the 2hr wait won't be so bad.
I will leave Datong in the "maybe" part of the trip... seeing as it will be an exhausting day and especially at the end of the trip we may or may not want to go.
Something else I must ask: Where are the best areas to go shopping? Is there a big difference in price from other countries?
For what?
Electronic items/phones? Don't. Very expensive here. Cheaper in the West.
Clothes? If you're bigger than a Small, you'd be better off buying Chinese made clothing in Western countries as
A) they probably won't have your size
B) if they do, they'll try to charge you like a wounded bull.
Rip-off "designer" stuff? That can be picked up anywhere for peanuts.
I should add: if you DO decide to go to Datong, I suggest you take a taxi to the Hanging Temple as...
A) it'll be quicker and far less hassle
B) if you are a non-smoker, there is less chance that the person sitting next to you will light up than on the bus
C) if you are a party of 4, the cost difference between bus tickets/taxi ride when you get there and the 200RMB it should cost you for a taxi (Perhaps less if you have good bargaining skills) will be negligable. It would also be advisable to negotiate a return ride from the outset (Get him/her to wait for you) but pay the lot on the return leg.
Yes. You'll be able to store your luggage at your hotel in Pingyao for the afternoon/evening after checking out (At midday). But what are you going to do with it when you get to Datong? You could, perhaps, leave it at the station but I'm picking you have zero Chinese so that might be a bit of an ask.
For shopping, I am thinking of getting custom made clothing(dress, jacket), accessories (for electronics), shirts, bags..whatever! I thought that since most things are "made in China" it might be cheaper than in Europe.
Thank you for pointing out the Datong tips. We are all non-smokers so it does make sense to get a taxi. We will definitely keep that in mind. Thanks a lot for all your tips!
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15
Hang on. I think I see what you mean! Bit confused there for a moment.Personally, I'd flag Datong if I were you and spend another day in Beijing. As I recall, there aren't any night-trains between Pingyao and Datong (I did this route earlier this year) so you'll be wasting a day in travel. There may be long-distance buses, but they really aren't fun.
16
According to Chinatripadvisor.com, it does list the night train, but it does say below that it may change without notice. Hope that the night train still exist!!Train Type From Leaving To Arrival Duration Details
2672 Ordinary PingYao 07:12 DaTong 15:19 08:07 View
K7808 Fast PingYao 11:52 DaTong 19:07 07:15 View
2604 Ordinary PingYao 13:08 DaTong 21:16 08:08 View
2464 Ordinary PingYao 20:50 DaTong 04:28 07:38 View
- The above information is for reference only and is subject to be changed without any pior notice.
If the night train exists, it would be great to go see the Hanging Temple. But I didn't realize that it's so far from Beijing (6hr train ride)!
Maybe we will skip it. Who knows. It all depends on everyone's energy level when the time comes.
17
Yes! Those are the 4 trains I've got, too. The only night train (2464) leaves Pingyao at 8:50PM and arrives in Datong at 04:28AM. Those are NOT good times! You will have to pay for a whole extra day at your Pingyao hotel/hostel and what do you propose doing in Datong at 04:30 in the Morning? The Hanging temple (Interesting but very small. Costs 120RMB per-head to get in to) is a good hour outside of Datong (Bus will leave you a few kms short, taxi 200RMB one-way). The grottos are quite close (Haven't been to them myself yet) but I doubt they'd be open for business at that hour. Neither would 9 Dragon Screen (Which is just an old wall with dragons on it. You can't spend more than about 20 minutes looking at an old wall) or either of the temples. Outside of that and its new "Ancient" city wall, Datong is a prize-winning dump!18
Hey manchurianexile. Thanks for your reply.I agree- those times suck!! But if we end up going to Datong, that would be the only possibility to save some time so we don't have to travel during the day-time.
If we do this route, I figure we can store our luggage in Pingyao in the hotel after checkout while we wander around Pingyao until catching the evening train to Datong.
As to arriving at 4:30....oh that will not be fun!!! Perhaps they will have some kind of 24hr shop nearby to drink a coffee or go on the internet.. I saw on a tripadvisor forum that the first bus leaves for the Hanging temple at 06:30. If that is true then the 2hr wait won't be so bad.
I will leave Datong in the "maybe" part of the trip... seeing as it will be an exhausting day and especially at the end of the trip we may or may not want to go.
Something else I must ask: Where are the best areas to go shopping? Is there a big difference in price from other countries?
19
Shopping?For what?
Electronic items/phones? Don't. Very expensive here. Cheaper in the West.
Clothes? If you're bigger than a Small, you'd be better off buying Chinese made clothing in Western countries as
A) they probably won't have your size
B) if they do, they'll try to charge you like a wounded bull.
Rip-off "designer" stuff? That can be picked up anywhere for peanuts.
I should add: if you DO decide to go to Datong, I suggest you take a taxi to the Hanging Temple as...
A) it'll be quicker and far less hassle
B) if you are a non-smoker, there is less chance that the person sitting next to you will light up than on the bus
C) if you are a party of 4, the cost difference between bus tickets/taxi ride when you get there and the 200RMB it should cost you for a taxi (Perhaps less if you have good bargaining skills) will be negligable. It would also be advisable to negotiate a return ride from the outset (Get him/her to wait for you) but pay the lot on the return leg.
Yes. You'll be able to store your luggage at your hotel in Pingyao for the afternoon/evening after checking out (At midday). But what are you going to do with it when you get to Datong? You could, perhaps, leave it at the station but I'm picking you have zero Chinese so that might be a bit of an ask.
20
Hello.For shopping, I am thinking of getting custom made clothing(dress, jacket), accessories (for electronics), shirts, bags..whatever! I thought that since most things are "made in China" it might be cheaper than in Europe.
Thank you for pointing out the Datong tips. We are all non-smokers so it does make sense to get a taxi. We will definitely keep that in mind. Thanks a lot for all your tips!
