Pingliang has a railway station on the Lanzhou–Xi'an line, with regular trains in both directions. Journey time to Lanzhou is about four to five hours; to Xi'an about five to six hours on conventional trains. The high-speed line does not pass through Pingliang, so train travel here is slower than at other Gansu cities.
Buses are a practical alternative — the intercity bus station has regular services to Lanzhou (about five hours), Xi'an (about five hours), and destinations within eastern Gansu including Qingyang and Tianshui.
Kongtong Mountain is about 12 kilometres west of the city centre. Local buses and taxis run to the scenic area entrance from the main bus and railway stations. The cable car up the mountain is the easiest way to reach the upper temples; the walk takes about two hours each way.