Take China Group Tours in 2025 to enjoy a 30% discount compared to a private tour. Same Experience & Lowest Price!
Option 1. Datong to Wutaishan Bus (Most Recommend)
It's best to take a direct bus from Datong to Wutaishan, as it goes straight to the entrance of the Wutaishan scenic area without requiring any transfers. Three buses depart for Mount Wutaishan daily.
Departure Bus Stations:
Datong Passenger East Station (大同客运东站): There is only one bus a day, departing at 7:30. Datong East Bus Station is located at No. 1039, North Beihuan Road, Pingcheng District, Datong City, Shanxi Province. You can take Bus No. 66 within Datong city to reach the bus station.
Datong Integrated Passenger Transportation Hub (大同综合客运中心): The bus runs once a day at 8:00 in the morning. It is located south of Kaiyuan Street, west of Taihe Road, east of Yong'an Road, south of Zhanqian First Road, and north of Zhanqian Third Road in Datong City. You can take buses No. 31, 66, or 68 within the city to reach the station.
Datong Xinnan Bus Station (新南客运站)：The only bus of the day leaves at 08:20 The bus station is situated at 298 Weidu Avenue in Datong City. Both bus routes 1 and 28 will take you directly to the station.
Arrival Bus Station:
Wutaishan Bus Station (五台山汽车站): This station is located at the foot of Mount Wutaishan Scenic Area, approximately 98 meters northeast of the area.
Duration: about 4 hours
Fare: 75 yuan
Ticket Booking: You can directly purchase train tickets on the 12306 website using your passport, or you can buy them on-site (but tickets may be sold out, so it's recommended to purchase in advance).
If you're in doubt, you can Consult Asia Odyssey Travel.
Option 2. Datong to Wutaishan Driving
You can also drive from Datong to Wutaishan. Taking the Tianli Expressway and then switching to the gravel road, the entire journey by car is approximately 3-4 hours. You can directly reach the north gate of Mount Wutaishan. However, the driving time is quite long, and the roads in Shanxi are mountainous with many curves. It is recommended to choose this option with a professional driver.
Asia Odyssey Travel offers a private car service with direct pick-up from Datong, saving the need to navigate the bus stations. You'll have an experienced driver and a professional English-speaking tour guide with you throughout your journey to Mount Wutaishan, tailoring the trip to your preferences.
Option 3. Datong to Wutaishan Train
Besides bus and car, you can also choose to take a train from Datong to Wutaishan. However, the train station is still about a 2-hour drive from the Wutaishan scenic area, so you'll need to transfer to a taxi after getting off the train. There are about 20 trains to your destination every day, with the fastest journey taking 1 hour and 40 minutes. The entire trip will take at least 4 hours.
Datong to Wutaishan High Speed Train Timetable
Filter
Datong(大同) - Wutaishan(五台山) 
results
- Train No.
- Departure / Train Staiton
- Duration
- Seat Type
- Price
- Availability
Contact Us to Book the Train Schedules
Datong to Wutaishan Ticket Price & Facilities
Datong to Wutaishan Ticket Price:
| Type | Second Class Seat | First Class Seat | No Seat |
|---|---|---|---|
| D - Train | 65-66 RMB | 103-105 RMB | 65-66 RMB |
First Class Seat: For a more relaxing journey with amenities like charging outlets and reading lights, the first-class seat is a great choice. However, considering the short travel time, the second-class seat is often a more budget-friendly option.
Second Class Seat: Most travelers from Datong to Wutaishan choose second-class seats because of the lower price. While second-class seats may not have the same level of seat adjustment or as many charging outlets and reading lights as first-class seats, they still provide basic comfort and can accommodate 5 passengers per row. Considering the relatively short journey, second-class seats are sufficient for most travelers.
No Seat: Standing tickets are generally prepared for peak travel seasons. Passengers who purchase standing tickets can stand in the aisle or at the connections between carriages.
Datong to Wutaishan Train Railway Station
Departure Station - Datongnan Railway Station (大同南站): Datongnan Railway Station is a major high-speed rail station for travelers going to Mount Wutaishan in Xinzhou. It's located at the southeast corner of the intersection of Kuanyuan Street and Taihe Road in Pingcheng District, Datong City, Shanxi Province. You can take bus No. 28 or 30 to reach Datong South Station.
Arrival Station - Xinzhouxi Railway Station (忻州西站): It's situated in Zhanqian Street, Jieyuan Village, Xinfu District of Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province. Once you've left the station, hail a taxi to reach the scenic spot. The taxi ride will take approximately 2 hours.
How to Plan a Datong Wutaishan Tour
Stay 2-3 days in Datong
Generally, travelers allocate 2-3 days in Datong for those renowned ancient architecture such as Yungang Grottoes, Hanging Temple, etc.
Enjoy a journey to the world-renowned Yungang Grottoes, one of China's four great Buddhist grottoes and a world-famous large-scale cave complex. Carved over several centuries starting from the 5th century, it now houses 53 major caves and over 51,000 statues. Venture to the foot of Mount Hengshan to visit the Hanging Temple, ingeniously built on a sheer cliff and supported by wooden beams embedded in the rock face. Step into the grand Huayan Temple, another significant Buddhist site, and marvel at its immense scale and rich Khitan culture. Stand before the Nine Dragon Wall and admire the nine dragons crafted from vibrant glazed tiles, exuding the imperial grandeur of the 17th century.
| Day by Day Itinerary | Attractions |
|---|---|
| Day 1. Arrive in Datong | Explore Nine Dragon Wall, Daiwang Palace. |
| Day 2. Datong Architecture Tour | Yungang Grottoes (UNESCO World Heritage), Huayan Temple, Shanhua Temple, Biking on Datong City Wall. |
| Day 3. Nearby Datong | Hengshan Hanging Temple, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda |
Stay 2 Days in Wutaishan
And visitors usually spend 2 days in Mount Wutaishan.
At Tayuan Temple (塔院寺), the most famous landmark is the 54.56-meter-tall White Pagoda, an iconic symbol of Mount Wutaishan. The White Pagoda is not only a pilgrimage destination for Buddhist believers but also a must-visit spot for photography enthusiasts seeking to capture the beauty of Mount Wutaishan. In Shuxiang Temple (殊像寺) you'll find an almost 10-meter-tall statue of Manjushri Bodhisattva, a place once visited by emperors and empresses to pay their respects.
Then, visit Xiantong Temple (显通寺), one of the largest and oldest temples in Mount Wutaishan. Don't miss the temple's Youming Zhong and the copper hall, both considered the temple's treasures. Afterward, head to the Pusa Ding temple (菩萨顶), the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Mount Wutaishan. Legend has it that Manjushri Bodhisattva once resided here, and Ming and Qing emperors also stayed in this temple.
On the second day, wake up to fresh air and head to Dai Luo Ding Temple (黛螺顶寺), offering panoramic views of Mount Wutaishan. Inside the temple, you'll find five statues of Manjushri Bodhisattva. To reach them, you can either climb 1080 steps as a spiritual challenge or take the cable car for a more leisurely ascent.
Recommended 4 Days Datong Tour with Mount Wutaishan
Datong plus Wutaishan, most tourists will arrange a 4-day tour. If you are interested in the hiking of Wutaishan, you can allocate extra 1 day to challenge it.
| Where to Stay | What to See |
|---|---|
| Day 1-2 in Datong | Yungang Grottoes, Nine Dragon Screen Wall, Huayan Temple, Biking on City Wall of Datong, Hanging Temple, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda. |
| Day 3-4 in Wutaishan | Tayuan Temple, Shuxiang Temple, Xiantong Temple, Pusa Ding Temple, South Terrace of Mount Wutai, Dailuo Ding Temple, Foguang Temple. |
Explore More Attractions Nearby Wutaishan with Asia Odyssey Travel
Beyond the renowned Buddhist holy site of Mount Wutaishan and the historic cultural city of Datong, Shanxi province offers many other cities worth exploring. Asia Odyssey Travel, with 13 years of experience in Chinese tourism, recommends Taiyuan and Pingyao, both located south of Mount Wutaishan. You can extend your Datong-Wutaishan itinerary to include these fascinating destinations, such as a 6 Days Datong Wutaishan Taiyuan Pingyao Tour.
Day by Day Itinerary:
| Where to Stay | What to See |
|---|---|
| Day 1-2 in Datong | Ancient Architectures |
| Day 3-4 in Wutaishan | Ancient Temples and Natural Landscape |
| Day 5-6 in Taiyuan & Pingyao | Ancient City & Ancient Castle |
After arriving in Taiyuan, you can rest your weary body from the mountain climbing and then head to the must-see attraction, Jinci Temple (晋祠). As one of China's oldest royal gardens, Jinci Temple boasts numerous ancient buildings, inscriptions, and exquisite sculptures. Here, you can experience the culmination of Chinese garden aesthetics from various dynasties and delve deeper into the pre-common era history and culture of Shanxi.
Leaving Taiyuan behind, we journeyed to Pingyao Ancient City (平遥古城), another UNESCO World Heritage site. Step inside these ancient walls and you'll feel as though you've been transported to the Ming and Qing dynasties. The city's layout, homes, and even the feel of the streets remain largely unchanged. Explore landmarks like the Rishengchang Exchange, the City God Temple, and the County Government Office to gain insights into the Jin merchants and ancient Chinese city life.
Not far west of Pingyao Ancient City is Shuanglin Temple (双林寺), a Buddhist temple renowned for its lifelike sculptures. Further afield is Zhangbi Ancient Castle (张壁古堡), a former military and residential fortress with intriguing underground passages to explore. And not too far away is the Wang Family Compound (王家大院), often compared to a folk-style Forbidden City.
Popular China City Tours:
Data in submission...
