Beijing to Datong by high-speed rail in 2 hours, two days and one night, average cost 850 per person detailed guide

Beijing is crowded with people on weekends, so my friends and I decided to spend the weekend in another city. The high-speed train takes 2 hours directly to Datong, Shanxi. It turns out that Datong is truly an underrated treasure city—delicious food, fun activities, low prices, and a summer resort. Spending two days on the weekend here feels like walking through a documentary～
🚄Transportation:
Departure: 20:25-22:44 Qinghe Station - Datong South Station
Return: 20:53-22:52 Datong South Station - Beijing North Station
Leave after work on Friday, take a taxi for 30 minutes from Datong South Station to the ancient city.
Stay at Bajue Lou Inn in the ancient city, very convenient location facing the Bell Tower, perfect for photos with a sense of traditional rooftops.

【Two days and one night itinerary】
✔️Day 1 route
1️⃣ Longjuxiang Breakfast (specialties: Shaomai, glutinous rice cold cake)
Wake up at 7 am on Saturday and freshen up. Breakfast from 6:40 am to 9 am, go at 8 am.
2️⃣ Yungang Grottoes
Take a taxi for 30 minutes at 9 am, start touring around 10 am. Divided into sections A, B, C (key caves 5-13), and D (caves 14-20).
👉 Cave 20 is the iconic carving of Yungang Grottoes, the largest outer cliff Buddha statue, a must-visit photo spot. Finish visiting by 2 pm, total 4 hours.
3️⃣ Zini 369 Coarse Grain Season
Lunch, taxi arrives at 2:30 pm, a nice local cuisine restaurant.
4️⃣ Huayan Temple
Walk there, arrive at 3:45 pm. The Mahavira Hall is extremely magnificent and impressive.
5️⃣ Nine-Dragon Wall (exterior view)
6️⃣ Prince Dai’s Mansion
Walk there, arrive at 6:30 pm. Feature: large live performances inside the mansion, also offers Hanfu photo experiences.
7️⃣ Ancient City Wall
Walk there, arrive at 8:40 pm.
8️⃣ Xijin Dao
How can you not eat knife-cut noodles in Shanxi! Rouwei Knife-Cut Noodles (set meal including side dishes and one marinated egg) ~ sauce chicken feet ~ spicy and sour cucumber are all good, sea buckthorn juice is sour and delicious too.
9️⃣ Stroll around the ancient city after dinner.
🏠Accommodation: Bajue Lou Inn
Located in the center of the ancient city, convenient location, a few minutes’ walk to Xijin Dao, Longjuxiang, Zini Coarse Grain and other restaurants. You can climb to the rooftop of the inn to get a panoramic view of the ancient city.
✔️Day 2 route (with private car)
1️⃣ Datong Earth Forest Scenic Area
Depart from Longjuxiang after breakfast at 7:20 am, arrive at 8 am. If you have been to Zhangye to see the Yardang landforms, this is not recommended.
2️⃣ Hanging Temple
Arrive at 10:30 am, tour for 1.5 hours. The temple is not large but ingeniously built. Poet Li Bai was inspired to write after visiting, and explorer Xu Xiake praised it as a world wonder.
3️⃣ Yingxian Wooden Pagoda
The world’s largest wooden pagoda, very spectacular. Arrive at 12:30 pm, tour for 1.5 hours.
4️⃣ Take the 20:53 high-speed train from Datong South Station back to Beijing.