Major city · China
Tongchuan铜川
Give Tongchuan one full day from Xi'an for the Yaozhou kiln and Chenlu, or one night if you are heading north to Yan'an or the Yellow Emperor Mausoleum.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CNY
- Best months
- Apr–May, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jul–Aug (heat and rain), Jan–Feb (cold and dry)
- Airport
- XIY
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 7
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
- China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
- China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
- China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
- China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.
Tongchuan sits 68 km north of Xi'an on the road to Yan'an and the Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor, so most travellers treat it as a stop rather than a base. Its draw is the Yaozhou kiln, one of China's great ceramic traditions, plus the still-working pottery town of Chenlu and two mountain sites, Yaowang Mountain and Yuhua Palace. The old city and the new district are separate, buses cost ¥1–2 and taxis start at ¥5, and a car makes the outlying sights far easier.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Tongchuan, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Alipay and WeChat Pay accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB and Amex cards; single payments over ¥200 (≈ US$30) carry a fee of about 3% on a foreign card (smaller ones…China-wide
- SIM or eSIMA roaming eSIM from outside China routes traffic through its home network, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work without a VPN — the simplest setup.China-wide
- Tap waterNot for drinking from the tap; bottled water ¥2–5 (≈ under US$1), and kettles and free bottles in hotel rooms.China-wide
- TippingRestaurants: No tip; upmarket hotels add 10–15% service.China-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C/I. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): fits. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.China-wide
- SafetyTongchuan is a low-crime city and the main risks are practical: bus-station ticket and luggage scams, taxi meters and zone refusals…
- RestroomsPublic toilets are frequent and free; squat toilets outside hotels and malls.China-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire · 120 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany museums and palaces close on Mondays; the Forbidden City too (outside holidays).China-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportXIY Xi'an Xianyang International (About 72 km away; taxi to Tongchuan roughly 1.5 h, ¥150–200 (≈ US$25–30); shuttle buses also run).XIY Xi'an Xianyang International (About 45 mi away; taxi to Tongchuan roughly 1.5 h, ¥150–200 (≈ US$25–30); shuttle buses also run).
- Getting aroundCity buses cost ¥1–2 (≈ under US$1) and run roughly 06:00–20:00, with tourist routes to Yaowang Mountain and Yuhua Palace.City buses cost ¥1–2 (≈ under US$1) and run roughly 6:00 AM–8:00 PM, with tourist routes to Yaowang Mountain and Yuhua Palace.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee¥15–30 (≈ US$3–5)
- Street or quick mealNoodle or street meal¥15–35 (≈ US$3–5)
- Beerrestaurant / convenience store¥10–20 (≈ US$2–3)¥5–10 (≈ US$1–2)
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 miTaxi within the centreMetered; base fare ¥5.¥10–20 (≈ US$2–3)
- Metro or bus rideCity bus ride¥1–2 (≈ under US$1)
- Museum or sight ticketYaowang Mountain entry¥50 (≈ US$7)
- Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per personCN¥60 (≈ US$9)
- Mid-range bedStandard double room, a night, per roomCN¥280 (≈ US$40)
- High-end bedStandard double room, a night, per roomCN¥500 (≈ US$70)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget CN¥250 (≈ US$35) · Mid CN¥450 (≈ US$65) · High CN¥800 (≈ US$120)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- XIY Xi'an Xianyang International (About 72 km away; taxi to Tongchuan roughly 1.5 h, ¥150–200; shuttle buses also run)XIY Xi'an Xianyang International (About 45 mi away; taxi to Tongchuan roughly 1.5 h, ¥150–200; shuttle buses also run)
Weather and climate
Tongchuan: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
3°C37°F
−7°C19°F
4 rd
Feb
7°C45°F
−3°C27°F
5 rd
Mar
13°C55°F
2°C36°F
7 rd
Apr
19°C66°F
7°C45°F
8 rd
May
24°C75°F
11°C52°F
9 rd
Jun
28°C82°F
16°C61°F
9 rd
Jul
29°C84°F
19°C66°F
12 rd
Aug
27°C81°F
18°C64°F
11 rd
Sep
23°C73°F
13°C55°F
11 rd
Oct
17°C63°F
7°C45°F
9 rd
Nov
11°C52°F
1°C34°F
6 rd
Dec
5°C41°F
−5°C23°F
4 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
City buses cost ¥1–2 and run roughly 06:00–20:00, with tourist routes to Yaowang Mountain and Yuhua Palace. Taxis start at ¥5 and most city trips stay under ¥20; drivers work zones and may refuse out-of-zone runs, and availability drops around 18:00 at shift change. Didi works. Shared bikes and e-bikes need a Chinese phone number or local ID to register, so most visitors cannot use them.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 1.5 h
Bus from Tongchuan Bus Station, about 1 h, ¥20–30 (≈ US$3–5)
The usual way in and out; buses run through the day.
Yan'an
overnightDoor to door: About 3 h
Bus or car north on the G65W, roughly 2.5–3 h
Tongchuan is a natural break on this run; sleep in Yan'an, not here twice.
Xianyang
cautionDoor to door: About 2 h
Bus from the main stations, about 2 h, ¥30–40 (≈ US$5–6)
Only worth it if you are connecting onward; the airport is the real reason to pass through.
Hanzhong
skipDoor to door: Half a day or more
Rail or road via Xi'an, several hours
Too far for a day; go via Xi'an instead.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
New District (Xinqu)
Newer hotels and the Xianfeng bus station; the practical base if you arrive by bus from Xi'an.
Old City (Wangyi District)
Around Tongchuan Bus Station on Xinchuan Road; older, cheaper, closer to the traditional centre.
Yaozhou District
Closest to the Yaozhou kiln site and museum; quiet in the evening.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥200–350 (≈ US$30–50) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥350–600 (≈ US$50–85) excl. bed
- High
- ¥600 (≈ US$85)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Standard double room1 × 1 night × CN¥280 | CN¥280 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × CN¥450 | CN¥900 |
| Bus Xi'an ↔ Tongchuan, both ways2 × CN¥50 | CN¥100 |
| Car rental, one day1 × CN¥250 | CN¥250 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × CN¥100 | CN¥200 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | CN¥173 |
| Trip total≈ CN¥952 per person per day, bed included | CN¥1,903≈ US$300 |
2026 estimate in yuan; transport to and from Tongchuan excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| City bus ride | ¥1–2 (≈ under US$1) |
| Taxi within the centreMetered; base fare ¥5. | ¥10–20 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Noodle or street meal | ¥15–35 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Coffee | ¥15–30 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Beer: restaurant / convenience store | ¥10–20 (≈ US$2–3) / ¥5–10 (≈ US$1–2) |
| Yaowang Mountain entry | ¥50 (≈ US$7) |
| Yuhua Palace entry | ¥60 (≈ US$9) |
| Yaozhou kiln museum entry | ¥40 (≈ US$6) |
| Chenlu Ancient Town | Free |
| Parking, per hour | ¥2–5 (≈ under US$1) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Buy bus tickets only at official stations; touts add luggage and ticket fees.
- Ask for the meter in taxis, and expect zone refusals for remote sights.
- Summer rain can make mountain roads risky; check conditions before driving.
- Old City and New District are far apart — confirm which one your hotel is in.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire
- 119
- Ambulance
- 120
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
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Tongchuan铜川
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
请到这个地址To this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire119
- Ambulance120
Embassy
No embassy in Tongchuan; most countries keep embassies in Beijing and consulates-general in Xi'an or Chengdu.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- XIY airport → Tongchuan, taxi: about ¥150–200 (≈ US$25–30), 1.5 h
- Tongchuan → Xi'an, bus: about ¥20–30 (≈ US$3–5), 1 h
- Taxi in the city centre: ¥10–20 (≈ US$2–3), base fare ¥5 (≈ under US$1)
Say or show
- 你好 — Hello (nǐ hǎo)
- 谢谢 — Thank you (xiè xie)
- 多少钱？ — How much is it? (duō shao qián)
- 请打表 — Please use the meter (qǐng dǎ biǎo)
- 我听不懂 — I don't understand (wǒ tīng bu dǒng)
- 洗手间在哪里？ — Where is the toilet? (xǐ shǒu jiān zài nǎ lǐ)
Sights are spread out; a car or Didi saves hours. Carry cash for small buses and kiln shops.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Tongchuan. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–May, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (heat and rain), Jan–Feb (cold and dry) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for XIY: last shuttle and taxi options field-checked, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters for Old City, New District and Yaozhou with rescue anchors.
- Place pages with verified hours and prices for Yaowang Mountain, Yuhua Palace, the Yaozhou kiln museum and Chenlu.
- Rain and mountain-road fixtures so gates A–D can go green.