Planning a Trip
Getting There
Wusu Airport is 15km (9 miles) southeast of town. Useful connections include flights from Hong Kong (two flights weekly), Beijing (several flights daily), Shanghai (one or two flights daily), and Xi'an (four flights daily). China Eastern Airlines runs an airport shuttle bus from its office at Yingze Dajie 158, 2 hours before flights; shuttle fare is ¥10 ($1.30/65p).
The main railway station is on the east side of town at the start of Yingze Dajie. There are plenty of connections with Beijing; the K604 leaves at 8:46pm and arrives in the capital at 6:39am the following morning. The fastest train to Datong is the N266, which leaves at 8:19am and takes a little over 5 hours. Pingyao is served by several daily trains on the Taiyuan-Yuncheng route (2 hr.). Of the services to Xi'an, the 2535 is the most convenient, although it's a slow train, leaving at 6:12pm and arriving at 7:45am.
Most long-distance buses connect with Taiyuan's Main Bus Station (Qichezhan) west of the railway station, but Wutai Shan (4 hr.; ¥57/$7.40/£3.70), is served from the shiny new easterly Dong Kezhan, while Pingyao (2 hr.; ¥27/$3.50/£1.75) buses leave from the Jian Nan station. Luxury buses link Taiyuan's Main Bus Station with Beijing's Lize Qiao Bus Station (7 hr.; ¥140/$18/£9.10) and Datong (4 hr.; ¥68/$8.85/£4.40).
Getting Around
City bus fare is ¥1 (15¢/10p); with air-conditioning, the fare is ¥2 (25¢/15p). The most common taxi is the Fukang. The fare for the first 3km (2 1/2 miles) is ¥8 ($1.05/50p); after that it's ¥1.10 (15¢/10p) per kilometer. Beyond 10km (6 1/4 miles), it's ¥1.60 (20¢/10p) per kilometer.
Tours
A helpful branch of CITS is at Pingyang Lu 38 (tel. 0351/882-2777).
Fast Facts
Banks, Foreign Exchange and ATMs -- The Bank of China (open Mon-Fri 8am-5:30pm) at Yingze Dajie 288 has an ATM and full foreign-exchange facilities.
Internet Access -- There's a small 24-hour wangba at Shangma Jie 54, on the way to Chongshan Si. It charges ¥2 (25¢/15p) per hour. The Xinyi Wangba, with the same hours and rates, is just around the corner at Shangma Jie 20. Enter through a courtyard with grapevines. Internet dial-up is tel. 169.
Post Office -- The main post office (Mon-Fri 8am-7:30pm) is opposite the railway station.
Visa Extensions -- The PSB is at Houjia Xiang 9 (tel. 0351/461-2787; open Mon-Fri 8:15-11:45am and 2:45-5:45pm).
Planning a Trip
Getting There
Wusu Airport is 15km (9 miles) southeast of town. Useful connections include flights from Hong Kong (two flights weekly), Beijing (several flights daily), Shanghai (one or two flights daily), and Xi'an (four flights daily). China Eastern Airlines runs an airport shuttle bus from its office at Yingze Dajie 158, 2 hours before flights; shuttle fare is ¥10 ($1.30/65p).
The main railway station is on the east side of town at the start of Yingze Dajie. There are plenty of connections with Beijing; the K604 leaves at 8:46pm and arrives in the capital at 6:39am the following morning. The fastest train to Datong is the N266, which leaves at 8:19am and takes a little over 5 hours. Pingyao is served by several daily trains on the Taiyuan-Yuncheng route (2 hr.). Of the services to Xi'an, the 2535 is the most convenient, although it's a slow train, leaving at 6:12pm and arriving at 7:45am.
Most long-distance buses connect with Taiyuan's Main Bus Station (Qichezhan) west of the railway station, but Wutai Shan (4 hr.; ¥57/$7.40/£3.70), is served from the shiny new easterly Dong Kezhan, while Pingyao (2 hr.; ¥27/$3.50/£1.75) buses leave from the Jian Nan station. Luxury buses link Taiyuan's Main Bus Station with Beijing's Lize Qiao Bus Station (7 hr.; ¥140/$18/£9.10) and Datong (4 hr.; ¥68/$8.85/£4.40).
Getting Around
City bus fare is ¥1 (15¢/10p); with air-conditioning, the fare is ¥2 (25¢/15p). The most common taxi is the Fukang. The fare for the first 3km (2 1/2 miles) is ¥8 ($1.05/50p); after that it's ¥1.10 (15¢/10p) per kilometer. Beyond 10km (6 1/4 miles), it's ¥1.60 (20¢/10p) per kilometer.
Tours
A helpful branch of CITS is at Pingyang Lu 38 (tel. 0351/882-2777).
Fast Facts
Banks, Foreign Exchange and ATMs -- The Bank of China (open Mon-Fri 8am-5:30pm) at Yingze Dajie 288 has an ATM and full foreign-exchange facilities.
Internet Access -- There's a small 24-hour wangba at Shangma Jie 54, on the way to Chongshan Si. It charges ¥2 (25¢/15p) per hour. The Xinyi Wangba, with the same hours and rates, is just around the corner at Shangma Jie 20. Enter through a courtyard with grapevines. Internet dial-up is tel. 169.
Post Office -- The main post office (Mon-Fri 8am-7:30pm) is opposite the railway station.
Visa Extensions -- The PSB is at Houjia Xiang 9 (tel. 0351/461-2787; open Mon-Fri 8:15-11:45am and 2:45-5:45pm).
