Planning a Trip
Getting There
Overnight trains from Beijing save you a night's hotel stay and arrive in Pingyao in the morning. The 1163, which leaves Beijing at 7:03pm, is the most convenient train. Coming from Xi'an there are several trains during the day, or the 2536, which leaves at 8:08pm arrives in Pingyao early the following morning. Moving on to Beijing, the K604 leaves at 7:11pm and arrives the following morning. To Xi'an, the 2535 departs at 8:02pm. Pingyao has a tiny sleeper allocation, so if you want a berth you'll have to pay the price of a ticket from Taiyuan and will be given a photocopy of the ticket which you can exchange onboard. Most hotels can arrange this service for ¥40 to ¥50 ($5.20-$6.50/£2.50-£3.25).
Luxury buses from Beijing's Lize Qiao Long-Distance Bus Station leave every 20 minutes for Taiyuan (7 hr.; ¥140/$18/£9.10), where you'll need to transfer to a Pingyao service (2 hr.; ¥27/$3.50/£1.75).
Getting Around
Trains and buses arrive at the Pingyao railway station in the "modern" city that is west of the ancient wall. The 7-minute ride by bicycle rickshaw to the old city is ¥2 to ¥10 (25¢-$1.30/15p-65p), depending on your negotiating skills. Taxis aren't allowed into the narrow streets of old Pingyao, so walk a short stretch or take a bicycle rickshaw. The better courtyard hotels will arrange free pickup with a taxi for people arriving on the morning train. Most of the courtyard hotels are in the vicinity of the Shi Lou (Market Building) -- the tallest building in sight -- at the center of the ancient town, on Nan Dajie (also called Ming Qing Jie).
The old town has only four main streets and a number of small lanes, so most places are within walking or biking distance. A ride on a motorcycle or bicycle rickshaw to places within the wall costs only a few yuan. A bicycle rickshaw that can accommodate two people can be hired for ¥40 ($5.20/£2.60) for a whole day. Several of the courtyard hotels rent bicycles for around ¥10 ($1.30/65p) per day. There's also bike rental at Xi Dajie 50 (near Bei Dajie). If you want to join the hordes you can also take a seat on one of the numerous electric buggies that circuit the main sites for ¥10 ($1.30/65p).
Tours
Most of the courtyard hotels can arrange cars and buy bus and train tickets for a small fee.
Fast Facts
Banks, Foreign Exchange and ATMs -- None available, but many of the hotels will exchange major foreign currencies, including U.S. dollars, euros, and yen.
Internet Access -- Internet cafes can be found throughout the old town, and in the dining and lobby areas of many courtyard hotels. They charge ¥6 (80¢/40p) per hour. Dial-up is tel. 169.
Post Office -- The old town's post office is at Xi Dajie 1 and is open from 8am to 6pm.
Planning a Trip
Getting There
Overnight trains from Beijing save you a night's hotel stay and arrive in Pingyao in the morning. The 1163, which leaves Beijing at 7:03pm, is the most convenient train. Coming from Xi'an there are several trains during the day, or the 2536, which leaves at 8:08pm arrives in Pingyao early the following morning. Moving on to Beijing, the K604 leaves at 7:11pm and arrives the following morning. To Xi'an, the 2535 departs at 8:02pm. Pingyao has a tiny sleeper allocation, so if you want a berth you'll have to pay the price of a ticket from Taiyuan and will be given a photocopy of the ticket which you can exchange onboard. Most hotels can arrange this service for ¥40 to ¥50 ($5.20-$6.50/£2.50-£3.25).
Luxury buses from Beijing's Lize Qiao Long-Distance Bus Station leave every 20 minutes for Taiyuan (7 hr.; ¥140/$18/£9.10), where you'll need to transfer to a Pingyao service (2 hr.; ¥27/$3.50/£1.75).
Getting Around
Trains and buses arrive at the Pingyao railway station in the "modern" city that is west of the ancient wall. The 7-minute ride by bicycle rickshaw to the old city is ¥2 to ¥10 (25¢-$1.30/15p-65p), depending on your negotiating skills. Taxis aren't allowed into the narrow streets of old Pingyao, so walk a short stretch or take a bicycle rickshaw. The better courtyard hotels will arrange free pickup with a taxi for people arriving on the morning train. Most of the courtyard hotels are in the vicinity of the Shi Lou (Market Building) -- the tallest building in sight -- at the center of the ancient town, on Nan Dajie (also called Ming Qing Jie).
The old town has only four main streets and a number of small lanes, so most places are within walking or biking distance. A ride on a motorcycle or bicycle rickshaw to places within the wall costs only a few yuan. A bicycle rickshaw that can accommodate two people can be hired for ¥40 ($5.20/£2.60) for a whole day. Several of the courtyard hotels rent bicycles for around ¥10 ($1.30/65p) per day. There's also bike rental at Xi Dajie 50 (near Bei Dajie). If you want to join the hordes you can also take a seat on one of the numerous electric buggies that circuit the main sites for ¥10 ($1.30/65p).
Tours
Most of the courtyard hotels can arrange cars and buy bus and train tickets for a small fee.
Fast Facts
Banks, Foreign Exchange and ATMs -- None available, but many of the hotels will exchange major foreign currencies, including U.S. dollars, euros, and yen.
Internet Access -- Internet cafes can be found throughout the old town, and in the dining and lobby areas of many courtyard hotels. They charge ¥6 (80¢/40p) per hour. Dial-up is tel. 169.
Post Office -- The old town's post office is at Xi Dajie 1 and is open from 8am to 6pm.
