Taiyuan Transportation

Ok. If you are flying into Taiyuan on your way to Pingyao or anywhere else, this may be useful to you. If you fly into Taiyuan Airport, don't expect to find a normal operation airport, there is absolutely nothing around, no ATMs, no information desk and no taxis! Once you have collected your baggage, exit outside like everyone else. There is a small host stand to the right of the exit, buy bus ticket from the guy standing there.

The bus ticket costs 15Y per person. You need to tell the bus driver where you want to be drop off along the way. The minibus will leave whenever it fills up, and it takes 24 passengers. If you are going to take a bus to Pingyao, tell the driver you want to get off at JiangNan Bus Station (½¨ÄÏÆû³µÕ¾£©£¬this should be the first stop. If you want to go to the railway station, tell the driver Ì«Ô­»ð³µÕ¾ which generally may be the last stop, but the driver will likely drop you off a distance away from the train station so expect to walk for at least 5 minutes.

Where to buy train ticket? If you are facing the train station straight on, on the most right side of the building has two doors, that's the entrance to buy that day's tickets, on national holidays, don't expect to find anything but standing tickets at those windows. What you should do is go into the door to the left of that. It is under a blue sign which says "soft sleepers lounge". But basically it will be the main ticketing area. Go to Window 14. This window is reserved for military, government personels but foreigners are welcome to line up there, but be sure you have a foreign passport which they need to verify. You will likely buy a sleeper ticket from that window. Unfortunately no one can speak English at the Station so it can be a challenge.

During National holidays or busy time, don't bother to go to the Train booking Office unless you are buying tickets in advance (a few days) or if you happen to be in that area and want to try your luck. Otherwise, just go straight to Window 14 because that's the only "window of opportunity" for you to buy any tickets especially urgently.

To get on a train: 20 minutes before departure time is safe for night trains. You can probably go straight to the platform as you go in. Check your ticket for the train number and you will see it displayed on the boarding screen which waiting room to go into.