Atlas of China
Zhengzhou to Datong 郑州 – 大同
Door to door, the high-speed train comes out ahead: about 4½ hours against about 4 hours by flight, counting about 20 minutes to board a train and 2½ hours of airport time for a flight. Fares run ¥355 against about ¥400. The stations are in or near the city centres, which is what tips it.
| Way | Time | Door to door | Fare | A day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-speed trainZhengzhou 郑州 → Datong South 大同南 | 4 h 12 minG468, fastest | 4½ hours | ¥355standard class | 907:08–17:45 |
| FlightZhengzhou Xinzheng (CGO) → Datong Yungang (DAT) | —in the air | about ¥400varies by day | listedmay not fly daily |
By train
9 direct high-speed trains a day run from Zhengzhou to Datong South, between 07:08 and 17:45. The fastest, G468, takes 4 h 12 min, and a standard-class seat is ¥355. Coming back, 10 trains a day, the fastest 4 h 6 min (G467, 09:11 to 22:59).
By air
A nonstop route is listed between Zhengzhou Xinzheng (CGO) and Datong Yungang (DAT), but it may not fly every day: check your date.
Stops on the way
Cities between the two with direct trains from Zhengzhou and on to Datong, so the trip can be broken there.
- Changzhi 长治 170 km from Zhengzhou · 1 h 22 min there, 2 h 54 min on
At the other end
Featured places around Datong.
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Yungang Grottoes 云冈石窟
Giant Buddhas carved into a sandstone cliff some 1,500 years ago
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Datong Ancient City 大同古城
Rebuilt Ming ramparts around genuine Liao–Jin temple halls and a glazed dragon screen
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Yingxian Wooden Pagoda 应县木塔
A Liao-dynasty timber pagoda of 1056, five storeys outside and nine within
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Hanging Temple 悬空寺
A wooden temple pinned to a sheer cliff, seemingly propped up on stilts
Around Zhengzhou: Henan Museum.
On the map
Open either city on the illustrated map, or put both in a trip and let the planner lay out the days and the legs between them, with the same tables these numbers come from.
Book
About Zhengzhou · About Datong · Where Zhengzhou reaches in a day · All routes
Trains are every direct train on 2026-10-28 or 2026-11-11 in the 12306 timetable, with standard-class fares; one weekday, so weekend and holiday services differ, and the fastest train may not run every day. Flights are the airlines' schedules for 2026-10-28, plus routes Wikipedia lists for small airports. Drives are routed on OpenStreetMap roads (extract of 2026-10-21) where the pair was routed, else estimated from the distance. Door-to-door times add about 20 minutes to board a train and 2½ hours of airport time to a flight. How to book is in the guide to trains and 12306; the rail times are open data on the data page.