Coach, Train Plus Bus, or Car: Getting to Qikou and Fenyang from Taiyuan

Qikou has no railway. The simplest route from Taiyuan is the direct coach to Qikou, booked on the "Shanxi Wenlüxing" (山西文旅行) WeChat mini-program; it takes about four hours. Without a booked seat, take an intercity train to Lüliang Station in Lishi and continue by road. Fenyang is under an hour from Taiyuan South by train.

Option 1: the Taiyuan–Qikou direct coach

Shanxi Culture and Tourism Group's transport arm launched a direct Taiyuan–Qikou line in late August 2026, as reported by the Taiyuan Daily. As reported then:

• Pick-ups in Taiyuan: near Taiyuan South Station (Wanfeng hotel stop), Taiyuan Railway Station, and the Beizhonghuan / Binhe Road junction.
• Departures: 7:00 and 8:00 from Taiyuan. Return 14:30 and 16:30 from Qikou.
• Time and fare: about 4 hours, 100 yuan one way.
• Booking: WeChat mini-program "山西文旅行". Seats are limited, so book weekends early.

The return times mean a same-day trip gives you only about six hours in Qikou. That is enough for the town but tight for Lijiashan too. Most people are better off staying a night and taking the next day's afternoon coach back.

Option 2: train to Lüliang, then road

Intercity trains (C and D numbers) run between Taiyuan South and Lüliang Station (吕梁站) in Lishi district. Recent timetables show journeys of roughly 50 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on stops, and several trains call at Fenyang on the way. From Lishi, recent guides describe minibuses to Qikou from the Jinianbei (纪念碑) area, taking about 1.5–2 hours. Another route is a coach to Lin County and then Lin County's tourist bus line to Qikou. Schedules on these local legs are thin and change. Ask at your hotel or the bus station on the day, and do not plan a tight connection.

A taxi or hired car from Lishi is the stress-free version. Agree the fare in advance. Recent guides put the drive at around 50 km and 1.5 hours.

Option 3: drive

From Taiyuan the drive is around 3.5 hours by expressway, via the Qikou exit. Recent guides say parking at the scenic area costs a small daily fee. Some roads between Lin County and Qikou were reported under repair in 2026. A car makes Lijiashan, Xiwan and Fenyang's village temples much easier.

Getting to Fenyang and Xinghuacun

Fenyang Station is on the same Taiyuan–Lüliang line. Recent timetables show the fastest intercity trains from Taiyuan South taking under an hour. The station itself is in Xinghuacun town, which is convenient for the Fenjiu distillery. Use taxis or a hired car for the village temples.

What should you check before travelling?

Checked October 2026 (Asia/Shanghai). China Railway's 12306 app and the operator's mini-program win over any timetable printed here or on third-party sites.

• Trains: buy on 12306 with your passport. Intercity fares on this line are low, and some services have been discounted in 2026.
• Coach: the times and the 100-yuan fare above come from the August 2026 launch report. Confirm them in the mini-program, which may require a Chinese phone number. If it won't let you book, ask your hotel.
• Local minibuses: cash and patience. There is no reliable published timetable.

Which should you pick?

If you have a mini-program seat, take the coach and overnight in Qikou. If you are also doing Fenyang, take the train to Fenyang first, then continue by car to Qikou and come back by coach. The three-day plan uses that loop.

Cover photo: 螺钉 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)