datong tour

Hi,

I am trying to plan a side trip to Datong from Beijing. I have ruled out taking the over night train because the train leave BJ too late (23:30), I don%26#39;t know how we can wait for the train (hotel check out time is noon).

It appears that if we take the bus or fly from Beijing, hiring a driver for the day would be the best option for a group of 4.

Did anybody have experience with arranging for a driver for a day in Datong to see the Yangong caves and the Hanging temple?

How do you hire a driver? through the CITS office, hotel or just haggle with a taxi (I can%26#39;t speak mandarin).

Does anybody have a contact for Datong to arrange this ahead of time?

thank you in advance for you advice

datong tour

Hi,

It seems like Datong tour is not very popular? I found limited information to do this part independently?

Any advice will be much appreciated.

thanks again

datong tour

I would probably contact CITS and set something up. A taxi could be cheaper, but it communication will be a problem.

Datong is not nice, but the caves are really worth seeing, and the monastery isn%26#39;t bad.

If you make arrangements with CITS, you can also see if they can include a visit to a village near the Great Wall. It%26#39;s probably more interesting for the village and rural scenery than the Wall. The Wall here is made of earth, not brick so very different from what you see in Beijing.

When i went to there in 2007 with an American family,we took the overnight train to Datong,they are happy with the soft sleeper%26#39;s condition.But you are right,you have to wait untill 23:30pm,too late.Fly to Datong sometimes have very good discount,search it on elong or ctrip.

but the problem is hard to hire a local taxi.If you take the train,once you arrive train station you will find plenty taxis,some of them are mini van,i can%26#39;t remember excactly how much,but around 400rmb i think for the yungang grotters then hanging garden.

Let the hotel in Beijing write down what you want on a piece of paper,show the taxi driver in datong,then remember when you negociate price, write it down on the paper with'; rmb ';behind,make sure is Chinese money.This will be easy,one of my another tourists did these,no problem for them at all

Good luck

I went to there with my clients,they are Americans and work in Beijing.The Yungong caves and the Hanging temple are fabulas.The noodles that I can not fogert it.You make me want to eat again.LOL

I just came back from my BJ trip and had a stop over in Datong on our way to Xi%26#39;an.

Took the overnight train from BJ. You can leave your luggage at your hotel in BJ after you check out.

Anyway, we got a taxi at Datong train station to visit Yungang and Hanging Temple (these are fabulous. Highly recommended to visit). Paid 300RMB + 30RMB for tolls and parking (Dun think the tolls cost so much but there%26#39;s nothing we can do). We had to treat him breakfast as well. And on our return journey back to Datong, the driver put a face. Before dropping us off, he demanded another 30 RMB from us, claiming that we took too long. It was only 2.30 pm. We refused to pay in the end cuz it was simply too much.

Hi MS Singapore,

did you get a sleeper overnight train from Beijing or the seats. From the website I only see seats available not sleepers.

I don%26#39;t know how we can wait for the 11:30 pm train. The hotel kicks us out at 12 noon.

I would like to move on from Datong to Xian via night train but supposedly that is very difficult to get. Do you know if the tickets Datong-Xian can be purchased in Beijing as well?

thanks.

From Datong to Xi%26#39;an is 16 hours and 29 mins,you sure you want to do this?only one train each day,i bet tickets will be hard to purchase...

You can%26#39;t purchase Datong train tickets from Beijing.