Two stations, and the fast one is not the near one

Pingyao Ancient City takes the high-speed trains — about half an hour from Taiyuan, three hours from Xi'an, four from Beijing — and is a short taxi from the walls. The old Pingyao station is nearer the gate but serves slow trains only.

Book the high-speed leg ahead in season and tell your guesthouse which station you are arriving at; most will send someone, because taxi drivers at the ancient-city station are not always keen on a five-minute fare.