Datong to Beijing by High-Speed Train
Fastest 1h 40m · from ¥151 second class · 45 daily trains · Train wins vs flight
By China for Travelers · Published 2026-04-25 · Updated 2026-05-30 · Verified against 12306 on 2026-04-30
The Datong to Beijing corridor is 285 km of G/D-class high-speed rail. Trains run from Datong South Railway Station to Qinghe Railway Station, with the fastest service taking 1h 40m and the longest about 2h 30m. Second-class seats start at ¥151 – ¥170. No practical flight option. HSR since 2019 made Datong an easy day-trip+overnight for Yungang Grottoes.
Quick facts
- Distance
- 285 km
- Train types
- G, D
- Duration
- 1h 40m – 2h 30mtypical mainline services
- Daily departures
- 45 trains
- Service window
- 06:49 → 20:16
- Second class
- ¥151 – ¥170
- First class
- ¥243 – ¥273
- Business class
- ¥456 – ¥513
- Scenery
- ★★★☆☆our editorial rating
Train vs flight
| Metric | Train | Flight |
|---|---|---|
| Fastest | 1h 40m | — |
| Door-to-door | ~2h 40m | — |
| Price | ¥151 – ¥170 | — |
Editor: No practical flight option. HSR since 2019 made Datong an easy day-trip+overnight for Yungang Grottoes.
Stations
- Departing fromDatong South Railway StationDatong · G/D-class · ~30 min to city centre
No metro yet; buses 60 / 66 or taxi (~¥40) to downtown. Yungang Grottoes are another 40 min west of the city.
- Arriving atQinghe Railway StationBeijing · G/D-class · ~35 min to city centre
Main Beijing gateway for the Beijing–Zhangjiakou HSR (onward to Datong, Hohhot). Haidian district, northwest. Metro Line 13 or Changping Line to downtown.
How to book
Two paths for foreign travelers — either the official Chinese system at face price, or a Western OTA for an English-first checkout with a small markup.
- 12306 (official): face price, no booking fee. Requires a passport-bound account. Step-by-step 12306 walkthrough →
- Trip.com: English UI, foreign cards work, small markup. Best when 12306 frustrates you. Search Datong → Beijing on Trip.com →
- Compare the two: read 12306 vs Trip.com →
Frequently asked questions
- How long is the Datong to Beijing train?
- The fastest high-speed train covers the 285 km in 1h 40m, with most services in the 1h 40m–2h 30m range. Trains are G/D-class.
- How much is a Datong to Beijing train ticket?
- Second class is ¥151 – ¥170, first class ¥243 – ¥273, business class ¥456 – ¥513. Fares are dynamically priced — peak departures trend to the high end of each band.
- How many trains run from Datong to Beijing each day?
- About 45 trains a day each way, with the first around 06:49 and the last around 20:16.
- Is there a flight between Datong and Beijing?
- There is no practical commercial flight on this corridor — the high-speed train is the standard way to travel between Datong and Beijing.
- How do I book Datong to Beijing tickets with a foreign passport?
- Two ways: the official 12306 English app (face price, passport-bound account, no booking fee) or Trip.com (English UI, foreign cards accepted, small markup). Tickets open exactly 15 days before departure.