Shenmu has two railway stations. Shenmu North Station (神木北站) is on the Baotou–Xi'an high-speed line and is the more convenient station for most arrivals, though it is not in the city centre. Shenmu Station is the older facility. Buses to Yulin take about two hours; Xi'an is roughly five hours by train.
Note that the city centre and the main train station are about thirty kilometres apart. Taxis cover this gap but confirm the station you need before booking.
For the Shimao Ruins, shared taxis or private hire from the city is practical; organised tours also depart from Yulin, where there is more tourist infrastructure. For Lake Hongjiannao, a car is the most convenient option; the lake is about twenty kilometres east of the city centre near Erlintu Town.