Datong tour and bus times to Pingyao

Replies: 4 - Last Post: 09-May-2007 18:32 Last Post By: ellyse

jump to

travelhacker

18-Apr-2007 08:34
Posts: 5

Datong tour and bus times to Pingyao

I've been looking for specific info on the CITS tour in Datong of the Yungang caves and hanging monastery (and perhaps the GW segment near the caves). If you've been on the tour, what time did it depart and from where, and what time did you returned to Datong. Do they only do one tour a day or are there different departure times?

Secondly, does anyone know a rough bus schedule for buses between Datong and Pingyao? I've heard they take about 4-5 hours, but I'd like to get an idea of what time of day they actually leave (what's the latest one) and whether these are buses with set times or just ones that depart when full.

I realize that all of this info changes, but I am just looking for estimates and would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has actually done the tour or the bus and can provide personal insight. I'll be there is August, and though I've been to China before it has been awhile and I have never taken a CITS tour. Thanks in advance!

rmdavis82

18-Apr-2007 23:57
Posts: 2,368

I didn't do a CITS tour, but hired a driver, so maybe this isn't useful to you, but here I go anyway. You can do the caves and the hanging monestary in one day, easy. If you leave early in the morning you can be back in the early afternoon. I took the overnight train from Pingyao to Datong, if you want to consider that (in the opposite direction for you, of course). It was cheap (75RMB for a hard sleeper, I think) and easy.

travelhacker

19-Apr-2007 12:11
Posts: 5

Thanks, rmdavis. Good to know about hiring the taxi. How much did it cost to do that? It would be great to be back in early afternoon.

craigt3365

25-Apr-2007 00:20
Posts: 480

We went from Xian to Pingyao and the bus droped us off on the highway. I guess it is illegal, but they do it anyway. Nobody on the bus spoke English, but the driver, luckily, called a guest house where they spoke English. They arranged to pick us up near the toll booth. It was a bit of a pain, but not too bad. Make sure you have that ride setup as there are no taxis waiting there. And it is a long walk into town.

Life without socks, time without a watch. 68 countries and counting!

ellyse

09-May-2007 18:32
Posts: 8,932

I was at Datong during the May holiday and there were apparently no direct buses to Pingyao. It's however quite simple to take a bus/train to Taiyuan and then another bus/train to Pingyao. The last Taiyuan -- Pingyao bus is around 1700 so be sure to allow for that. Datong -- Taiyuan is about 3-4 hours by bus, departures are approximately once hourly.
Cheers!

Subscribe to the latest messages in this branch.

Your Recent Threads

Announcements

Avatars!
Posted By: VenessaP -- 28-Jan-2010 15:01
How would you improve Thorn...
Posted By: VenessaP -- 09-Dec-2009 17:01

Latest Community News

	Speaking in Tongues Messages: 68,818 Last message posted at: 10-Feb-2010 03:41
	On Your Bike Messages: 30,512 Last message posted at: 10-Feb-2010 02:59
	Travel Tech Messages: 28,997 Last message posted at: 10-Feb-2010 03:06
	Kids To Go Messages: 26,289 Last message posted at: 10-Feb-2010 01:42
	Like a Sore Thumb Messages: 22,648 Last message posted at: 10-Feb-2010 00:02
	Trekking & Mountaineering Messages: 22,263 Last message posted at: 10-Feb-2010 02:03
	Travel on a shoestring Messages: 21,527 Last message posted at: 10-Feb-2010 05:54

Destinations

Asia: Destination information

Asia is a spectacular assault on the senses, whether you're riding the trans-Siberian railway, gazing up at the temples of Angkor, struggling with the immense tide of humanity in India, or trying to s... more »

Shop Online