Need advise whether to travel by overnight train from Beijing to Luoyang to visit Longmen Grottes and late evening train to Xi'an for a night stay. Or straight from Beijing to Xian then the next day by express train to Luoyang. My next destination will be Pingyao and in terms of travelling expenses and not to back track which is better? Thanks!
Here is another alternative:Beijing overnight train to Pingyao,Pingyao overnight train to Xian and then do the Luoyang Longmen from Xian north station since the train stop is near the grottoes. There are publich buses or short taxi ride connecting station and Longmen Grottoes.
JohnWong, thanks for your advise. Getting tickets in Beijing for the overnight train to Pingyao and Xian is doable, right? No need to back track to Taiyuan for Xian train? If going to Shaolin from Luoyang Longmen, will it be difficult getting transporation. We will need to go back to Beijing after this. Thanks again for your input.
Hello:
Another options for you, Beijing over night train to xi'an. Day trip in xi'an, afterwards bullet train for one day tour for Luo yang plus Shao Li temple and back to xi'an again. Next day to Ping Yao. Finally go back to beijing.
hope this can help you.
xianhistorytourguide
Sorry, you need to buy ticket of Taiyuan - Xian section, but you should be able to board the train at Pingyao.
It would be easier to charter a taxi to do Longmen and Shaolin temple both in a day, then transfer to Luoyang station to overnight train to Beijing. It might be a bit rushing and yet doable. There are taxis easily available outside the Longmen station.
Train back to Beijing is from Luoyang station and if we were to stay around Luoyang Longmen area, what is the distance from there? Will try to get Beijing - Pingyao and Pingyao - Xi'an train ticket when I reach Beijing next week. Do not wish to travel to and fro Xi'an which is time consuming, will allow 2 nights in Xi'an for all sightseeing inclusing TW before going to Longmen Grottes and stay a night at Luoyang. Intend to skip shaolin as from the reviews, it is too touristy. Thanks all for the input.
Taxi is fairly 10 Yuan to Luoyang Station from grottes.
Either BJ-PY-XA-LY-BJ or BJ-LY-XA-PY-BJ works. Only that it would be a little easier to get ticket XA-PY than PY-XA, although PY-XA should also be easy to get today after the online-ticketing website www.12306.cn was launched. Let any Chinese guys help you book tickets 12 days prior.
LY-BJ, you could take overnight train to Beijing on the day you arrive, if you skip touristy Shaolin.
Thanks John, Bryan and OR for the info. Definitely helps alot in my planning and will take in as much as possible to make it a pleasant and enjoyable trip. Cheers!
Bryandai,
I like your idea of day trips to Ping Yao and Luoyang.
How much time does each trip take?
Hello:
For the Luoyang one full ady tour is enough.
For the Pingyao two days is ok.
Hope this can help you.
xianhistorytourguide
Hello, you can take a overnight train from Beijing to pingyao, after pingyao you take a overnight train to xi'an , afterwards, you take a bullet train from Xi'an to Luoyang visit the grottos,then from Luoyang back to beijing.
Have a nice trip!
xianprivatetour
