Transportation suggestions for August itinerary

Question

Hello everyone,

we have a round-trip flight to Chengdu and would like to visit the following places. I'm looking for advice on transportation and any suggestions to make the itinerary more efficient. Whenever possible, we would prefer to use high-speed trains. If not available, we’ll consider direct flights only.

This is the itinerary I was thinking of:

Chengdu

Datong (via direct flight)

Pingyao (train)

Luoyang (train)

Xi’an (train)

Zhangjiajie (direct flight – is there a high-speed train available?)

Chongqing – is there a high-speed train?

Guilin (Longji + Yangshuo) (flight)

Chengdu (flight or high-speed train)

Lastly, I wanted to ask if Trip.com is reliable for booking train tickets. Thank you!

Answer

Your proposed itinerary covers many cities across China, so careful planning of transport modes is important. Here's a detailed breakdown and suggestions for each leg of your trip:

Chengdu → Datong: There are no high-speed trains connecting Chengdu and Datong directly; the most efficient option is a direct flight. Several domestic airlines operate this route. Flight time is around 3 hours.
Datong → Pingyao: Datong has a high-speed train link to Pingyao, usually via Taiyuan. You can take a high-speed train from Datong to Taiyuan South (approx. 1–1.5 hours) and then transfer to a Taiyuan–Pingyao high-speed train (approx. 1–1.5 hours).
Pingyao → Luoyang: High-speed trains are available, usually with a transfer at Taiyuan or Zhengzhou. Expect 4–6 hours depending on train and connections.
Luoyang → Xi’an: Direct high-speed trains connect Luoyang Longmen Station to Xi’an North Station. Travel time is approx. 2–3 hours.
Xi’an → Zhangjiajie: There is currently no high-speed train covering this route efficiently. The most practical option is a direct flight from Xi’an Xianyang International Airport to Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport. Flight time is about 2–2.5 hours.
Zhangjiajie → Chongqing: High-speed trains are available from Zhangjiajie West Station to Chongqing North Station, with travel times around 5–6 hours. Alternatively, you could consider a direct flight if you want to save time, though trains are convenient for avoiding airport transfers.
Chongqing → Guilin: Direct high-speed trains exist but are very long (around 9–10 hours). A direct flight from Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport to Guilin Liangjiang International Airport is strongly recommended for efficiency.
Guilin (Longji + Yangshuo) → Chengdu: There is no direct high-speed train from Guilin to Chengdu. Flights are the fastest and most convenient option, about 2 hours. Trains are possible but take 10–12 hours.

Other tips:

High-speed trains are very reliable and comfortable, and usually better for distances under 6–7 hours.
Direct flights make sense for long-distance legs like Chengdu → Datong, Xi’an → Zhangjiajie, and Guilin → Chengdu.
Trip.com is generally reliable for booking train tickets and flights in China. You can pre-book up to 30 days in advance for trains, and they will deliver e-tickets that can be collected at stations or used digitally with your passport.
For busy travel dates in August, especially weekends, it’s highly recommended to book train and flight tickets in advance to secure seats.
Always check whether your departure/arrival stations are “North,” “South,” or “West” stations, as major cities often have multiple high-speed train stations.

Summary recommendation:

Use flights for Chengdu → Datong, Xi’an → Zhangjiajie, and Guilin → Chengdu.
Use high-speed trains for all other legs where travel is under 6–7 hours.
Book everything in advance via Trip.com or official China Railway website for convenience and peace of mind.

This combination maximizes efficiency and minimizes long waiting times or overnight travel, giving you more time to explore each destination.