How to get to Xinzhou

If you have decided to travel to Xinzhou, an exciting journey awaits you in this historic city in northern China, serving as the gateway to famous Buddhist shrines and Mount Wutai. Thanks to the developed transport infrastructure of Shanxi Province, planning your journey to Xinzhou will not be difficult: you can comfortably travel here by train, bus, or by flying into the local airport.

The fastest and most comfortable way to reach the region is to take a flight to Xinzhou Wutaishan Airport (WUT). This air hub receives planes from various corners of the country and serves as a convenient gateway for those planning to visit the famous Buddhist temples, allowing you to save travel time.

If suitable direct flights are not found, an excellent alternative would be arriving in Taiyuan, located just 63 kilometres away. The provincial capital's airport offers a wider geography of flights. Also, travellers often build routes through Shuozhou or Shijiazhuang, from where regular transport connections to the final destination are established.

Rail travel is one of the most convenient and reliable ways to get to the city. Unlike many small towns, the infrastructure here is excellently developed: the Xinzhou Railway Station for regular trains and the modern Xinzhou West Station (Xinzhou West), serving high-speed trains, are fully operational.

Thanks to high-speed lines, the journey becomes fast and comfortable. Travellers often choose routes from Beijing, which take only a few hours, or from neighbouring Taiyuan — from there, the travel time on a high-speed express is less than an hour. Upon arrival at the station, one can easily use a taxi or regular buses to get to the hotel or immediately head to the famous temples.

Bus services in Shanxi Province are established excellently, so a trip along the highways will be a great alternative to the train. The most popular and shortest route leads from neighbouring Taiyuan: buses run regularly throughout the day, covering a distance of about 75 kilometres in an average of one and a half hours. Also, travellers often arrive from Shuozhou located to the north, from where the road approximately 140 kilometres long will take you about two and a half hours.

For those planning a trip from the neighbouring Hebei province, a convenient option will be a direct route from Shijiazhuang. Although the path is not short — more than 200 kilometres, which takes about three to four hours — modern intercity coaches make the transfer comfortable and untiring. Tickets for these directions, as a rule, can be purchased directly at the bus station ticket offices before departure, which allows maintaining flexibility in route planning.

Travelling by car along the high-quality highways of Shanxi Province will give you freedom of movement and the opportunity to enjoy the local landscapes. The shortest and most popular route runs from Taiyuan: a distance of about 80 kilometres can be comfortably covered in just 1 hour and 20 minutes. If you are departing from Shuozhou located to the north, the road will take just under two hours, during which you will drive 143 kilometres.

A longer voyage awaits travellers from Shijiazhuang, from where the path nearly 260 kilometres long will take just over three hours. Taxi services and transfer bookings are excellently developed in the region, so one can reach the destination with a private driver, having agreed on the cost of the trip at an intercity rate in advance, which will be significantly higher than a regular city trip.

Preparing for a trip to Xinzhou requires attention to detail so that your journey through this part of China proceeds smoothly and without unnecessary hassle. We have compiled a list of useful recommendations for you that will help you quickly adapt to local conditions and get the most pleasure from your holiday.

1. Clothing and Belongings. The climate in the region is sharply continental, with a noticeable temperature difference. It is cold here in winter, so a down jacket and thermal underwear are mandatory, while summer is hot but dry. Pay special attention to your wardrobe if you plan a trip to Mount Wutai: even in the height of summer it can be cool there, especially in the evenings, so a windbreaker and comfortable closed shoes for walking should be in your suitcase.
2. Transport. Public transport is reasonably developed, but for comfortable movement, it is better to use a taxi. To avoid difficulties with explaining the route, download the DiDi app (similar to Uber) in advance or always carry a hotel card and the names of attractions written in Chinese characters to show the driver.
3. Finances. The main currency is the Chinese Yuan. Cash is accepted, but change is not always available, and international Visa and Mastercard cards work only in large hotels. The most reliable payment method is to install the Alipay or WeChat Pay apps and link your card to them; this is the primary way of settling accounts in the country, accessible even in small shops.
4. Health and Safety. The city is quite safe for tourists, however, it is worth carefully watching your personal belongings in crowded places. Tap water is not suitable for drinking — please purchase bottled water. Pharmacies are marked with a green cross, but medicine names will be in Chinese, so assemble a small first-aid kit with familiar medications in advance.
5. Communication. Few people know English in Xinzhou, with the exception of staff at large tourist facilities. Your main assistant will be an offline translator on your smartphone with a photo translation function (for menus and signs) and voice input.
6. Local Etiquette. The region is known for its Buddhist shrines, so please show respect for religious traditions: do not photograph Buddha statues without permission and remove headwear when entering temples. It is customary to hand over and receive business cards or money with both hands — this is considered a sign of politeness.
7. What to Avoid. Beware of unlicensed taxi drivers intrusively offering services at train stations — they often inflate prices several times over. Also, it is not advisable to plan important transfers during national holidays (for example, Chinese New Year or "Golden Week" in October), when there are huge crowds everywhere.
8. Additional Tip. If you are going on a pilgrimage or excursion to Wutai, try to leave as early as possible in the morning. This is a very popular place, and by lunchtime, significant queues may form on the roads and at the entrances to the temples.

Observing these simple rules will make your stay in Xinzhou comfortable and safe. Be open to new experiences, and this ancient city will welcome you with hospitality and amazing discoveries.