Beijing to Datong Train 2026: Fastest Route, Prices, and Yungang Grottoes Access

Quick answer: The fastest Beijing to Datong train takes about 1 hour 46 minutes on the high-speed line from Beijing North or Qinghe station; regular K/T trains from Beijing Railway Station take 5.5 to 6.5 hours, so the high-speed option is worth the extra fare for almost anyone doing a Yungang Grottoes or Hanging Temple trip.

Datong sits about 338 km west of Beijing in Shanxi province, and it's the closest base for two of northern China's best day-trip sights: the Yungang Grottoes, with more than 51,000 carved Buddha statues, and the Hanging Temple (Xuankong Si), a monastery bolted into a cliff face outside town. Getting the train choice right matters here more than on most routes, because the difference between the fast and slow options is roughly four hours, not forty minutes.

For step-by-step guidance on registering, choosing between 12306 and Trip.com, and boarding with only your passport, see our complete guide to booking China's high-speed trains.

How long does the Beijing to Datong train take?

The high-speed line (G-series trains) runs Beijing to Datong in 1 hour 46 minutes at its fastest, with most departures landing in the 1 hour 50 minute to 2.5 hour range depending on how many intermediate stops the train makes at Zhangjiakou and other Hebei/Shanxi stations. Regular-speed K and T trains from Beijing Railway Station take 5.5 to 6.5 hours on the older line, which loops further north.

For a day trip built around the Yungang Grottoes, the 90-minute time difference between the fastest and slowest high-speed trains barely matters. The 4-5 hour gap between high-speed and regular trains does.

Which Beijing station do I leave from for Datong?

High-speed trains to Datong leave from two stations: Beijing North Railway Station and Beijing Qinghe Railway Station, both served by more than 40 combined daily departures between roughly 06:44 and 20:17. Qinghe is newer and sits further north near the Olympic Park area, with over 10 daily departures to Datong; Beijing North is more central and easier to reach from downtown hotels by subway (Line 2 or Line 4 to Xizhimen, then a short walk).

Regular K and T trains use Beijing Railway Station (Beijing Zhan), the older station near the city center on Line 2. If you're booked on a slower train, don't confuse Beijing Railway Station with Beijing North or Beijing South: they're different buildings on different subway lines, and mixing them up is the single easiest way to miss a train on this route.

On the Datong side, high-speed trains terminate at Datong South Railway Station, a modern station about 15-20 minutes by taxi from the city center. Regular trains arrive at the older Datong Railway Station, which is closer to downtown and to the Yungang Grottoes bus routes. If your itinerary is tight, arriving at Datong Railway Station saves a bit of taxi time versus Datong South.

What are the Beijing to Datong train ticket prices in 2026?

Expect these approximate 2026 fares one-way. Prices shift slightly by exact train and demand, so treat these as planning ranges rather than fixed numbers.

Second class on the high-speed line is the sweet spot for most travelers: it's roughly the price of a regular-train hard sleeper but gets you there in under 2.5 hours instead of overnight. First class adds wider seats and more legroom for a modest premium; business class (sofa-style seats that recline flat) mostly makes sense if you're working on the train or traveling with a laptop you want spread out.

How do I book Beijing to Datong train tickets?

Two options work reliably for this route. 12306 (https://www.12306.cn/en/) is China Railway's own booking site and app, free to use, and it's the only place that always has full inventory the moment tickets release, typically 15 days before departure. The interface is functional but plain, and it requires a passport number and, for some ticket types, a Chinese phone number for verification codes.

If you'd rather book in English with a credit card and no phone-verification hassle, a booking platform pulls the same 12306 inventory through an English interface and issues an e-ticket tied to your passport, which is what you tap at the turnstile. For deeper detail on which to use when, see this 12306 vs Trip.com comparison and the 12306 foreigner booking guide.

Whichever platform you use, book high-speed seats for weekend and holiday travel at least 3-5 days ahead; midweek departures usually still have second-class seats available 1-2 days out. See how far in advance to book China train tickets for the exact release-window math.

Is the high-speed train worth it for a Yungang Grottoes day trip?

Yes, for almost every itinerary. Taking the 07:00-ish high-speed train from Beijing North puts you in Datong before 9:00 am, leaving a full day for the Yungang Grottoes (about 30-40 minutes by taxi or bus 3 from Datong Railway Station) and the Hanging Temple (roughly 1.5 hours by car, best combined with a driver or tour since public transit there is limited). You can catch an evening high-speed train back and sleep in your own bed in Beijing.

The regular overnight trains only make sense if you specifically want a sleeper-train experience or you're extending the trip into a 2-3 day Shanxi loop that also covers Pingyao, in which case the time cost of the slow train matters less because you're not racing a same-day return.

Common mistakes

• Booking a regular K/T train by accident because it's cheaper. The fare gap (roughly CNY 60-100) is small next to the 4-hour time gap. Unless you specifically want the overnight sleeper experience, this trades away most of your Datong daylight hours.
• Showing up at the wrong Beijing station. Beijing North, Beijing Qinghe, and Beijing Railway Station are three separate buildings on three different subway lines. Check your ticket's station name, not just "Beijing," before you leave your hotel.
• Not budgeting transfer time to the Hanging Temple. It's roughly 1.5 hours from Datong by road with limited public transit, so a same-day Yungang-plus-Hanging-Temple itinerary needs an early train and a car or tour booked in advance, not a same-day taxi hail.
• Assuming Datong South and Datong Railway Station are the same place. They're on opposite sides of the city; confirm which one your return train uses before booking a taxi back.

Who this is for

This high-speed route suits day-trippers based in Beijing who want to see the Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple without an overnight stay, and business or leisure travelers who value 2 hours over a lower fare. It's also the right call for anyone connecting onward from Datong the same day.

It's not the right pick for budget travelers with no fixed schedule who don't mind a slower pace, or for anyone who wants the overnight-sleeper experience as part of the trip; the regular K/T trains cover that niche at a lower price, just with several extra hours in transit.

FAQ

Is there a bullet train from Beijing to Datong? Yes. G-series high-speed trains run the 338 km route from Beijing North or Beijing Qinghe to Datong South in as little as 1 hour 46 minutes, with roughly 43 daily departures.

How much is a Beijing to Datong train ticket? High-speed second class runs about CNY 131-170 one-way; first class is about CNY 210-273; business class is about CNY 440-530. Regular-train hard sleeper runs about CNY 106-108.

Can I do Datong as a day trip from Beijing? Yes. An early high-speed train gets you to Datong before 9:00 am, giving enough time for the Yungang Grottoes and, with a car or tour, the Hanging Temple, before an evening train back.

Which Beijing station should I use for the high-speed train? Either Beijing North or Beijing Qinghe works; check your ticket, since both serve the Datong line but sit in different parts of the city.

Is 12306 or a booking platform better for this route? 12306 is free and has the fullest inventory the moment tickets release; an English-language booking platform is easier for non-Chinese speakers and avoids the phone-verification step, for a small service fee.

Book early for weekend travel, pick the high-speed train unless you specifically want the sleeper experience, and confirm your Beijing station name before you leave the hotel. For more on choosing seat classes across China's network, see China's high-speed train types explained.