How to Get to & Travel around Xian – Ultimate Xian Transportation Guide

Visiting Xian is easy thanks to a major international airport, several grand railway stations, and well-developed public transportation in the city. For most tourists, the best way of getting to or from Xian is either by air or by train.

As one of the most popular travel destinations in China, the city boasts a variety of historical landmarks and time-honored heritage. Its well-developed public transportation, like metros, buses, and taxis, allow you to travel around the city and reach all its popular attractions with ease and convenience.

How to Get to / from Xian by Air

Xian is serviced by Xian Xianyang International Airport, a highly modern aviation hub located about 37 kilometers away from downtown Xian. As the largest air traffic hub in Northwest China, the airport currently has three terminals hosting over 20 airlines, including both domestic flights and international flights.

Domestically, it offers flights to or from almost all major cities in China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Guilin, Xiamen, Chengdu, Chongqing, Urumqi, Harbin, Lanzhou, etc. The domestic flights mainly depart or arrive at T2 and T3 terminals.

Internationally, you can find nonstop flights to or from Japan, South Korea, Central Asia, and Europe. There are over 40 international flights connecting the city with Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Almaty, Paris, London, Milan, etc. All these international flights and flights to or from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan will arrive or depart at Terminal 3.

In recent years, thanks to its 144-hour visa-free transit policy and a range of visa-free entry policies implemented by China, Xi’an has become an increasingly popular destination for worldwide travelers.

Transport from the Airport to Xian City Center

Transfer from Xi’an Xianyang International Airport to the Xi’an downtown area is incredibly easy, with many metros, shuttle buses, and taxis available for every budget and time preference.

Metro Line 14 will transfer you from the west of the airport to Xian North Railway Station, from where you can transfer to Metro Line 2 to reach Bell Tower and Xiaozhai, or Metro Line 4 to reach Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

By taxi, it will take about 50 minutes from the airport to the Xi’an city center, with a fare of about CNY 75.

There are various shuttle bus routes offering convenient transfers between the airport and major downtown areas. Long-distance buses to other cities and attractions within Shaanxi Province are also available.

Major Xian Airport Shuttle Bus Lines

All the bus routes between the airport and Xi’an city area charge CNY 25 per person for a single trip.

From the airport, you can ride the bus at both T2 and T3 terminals.

Below are some major airport shuttle bus lines connecting the airport with major Xi’an attractions and railway stations. Typically, it is advised to take the airport bus from downtown at least 2.5 hours prior to your flight time.

Please note that some special early or night buses are one-way routes.

Updated in January 2025:

Bus Route	Airport Departure	Downtown Departure	Duration	Frequency	Start/end Station	Main Stations
Early Morning Route	/	4:00-7:20	70 mins	30-40 mins	Nanshaomen Xian Hotel	Nanshaomen Xian Hotel Xishaomen Airport Business Hotel
Airport – Bell Tower	8:40-21:40	8:20-0:00 the next day	70-80mins	30-40 mins	Bell Tower Hotel	Bell Tower Hotel Xishaomen Airport Business Hotel
Airport – Xian Railway Station	9:00-20:00	5:00-20:00	70 mins	50 mins	Wulukou (Near Xian Railway Station)	Wulukou (Near Xian Railway Station) Wenjinglu (Near Xian North Railway Station)
Airport – Shaanxi History Museum	9:30-20:30	7:30-18:30	90 mins	50-60 mins	Shaanxi History Museum	Big Wild Goose Pagoda Shaanxi History Museum
Night Line 1	22:20-1:00 the next day	/	90 mins	20-30 mins	Shaanxi Province Stadium	West Xian Bus Station Xishaomen Bell Tower Hotel Nanshaomen Xian Hotel Shaanxi Province Stadium
Night Line 3	21:00-00:40	/	80 mins	30-40 mins	Wulukou	Wenjinglu (Near Xian North Railway Station) Xian Railway Station Wulukou
Night Line 5	01:15-last flight	/	90 mins	30-40 mins	Xishaomen Airport Business Hotel	Bell Tower Nanshaomen Xian Hotel Xiaoshaomen Airport Business Hotel

Getting to / from Xi’an by Train

The train is an excellent option to keep in mind if you are planning a China tour with Xian and many other major cities. The high-seed trains connect Xian and Beijing in only 4.5 to 6 hours, and to Chengdu in around 3-4 hours. Below are general travel times between Xian and major cities by high-speed train:

Xian –Beijing: About 4.5-6 hours
Xian – Chengdu: About 3-4 hours
Xian – Shanghai: About 6-7 hours
Xian – Guilin: About 10 hours
Xian – Luoyang: About 1.5 hours
Xian – Huashan: About 0.5 hours
Xian – Guangzhou: About 7 hours
Xian – Pingyao: About 3 hours

Xian Railway Stations

Xian Railway Station and Xian North Railway Station are the two busiest train stations in Xian, both of which are comprehensive transportation hubs connecting all major cities around China.

Xian North Railway Station

Xian North Railway Station is about 12 kilometers from the city center. As the largest railway passenger hub in Northwest China, the station covers an area of 533,000 square meters, and is equipped with a total of 18 platforms and 34 railway lines.

It primarily handles high-speed trains to major cities across China and intercity trains to other cities and regions in Shaanxi Province.

Visitors can reach Xian North Railway Station by Metro Lines 2 or 4.

Xian Railway Station

Xian Railway Station is just located in the city center, close to the Ancient City Wall and Daming Palace National Heritage Park. The station has a history of nearly 90 years, and serves as one of the three train stations in the country that provide direct trains to every provincial capital and major prefecture-level city in mainland China.

The station covers an area of 80,000 square meters, with its 9 platforms and 18 tracks mainly serving for K, T, and Z trains. Also, it offer limited high-speed and bullet trains to Beijing, Chengdu, and intercity trains to most other cities within Shaanxi Province.

Visitors can reach Xian Railway Station by Metro Line 4.

Xian Railway Station

Transportation Between Xian and Major Cities or Attractions

Transfer Between Xian and Beijing

Both cities are great ancient capitals in China, featuring rich cultural and historical highlights and experiences. Xian is roughly 1,200 kilometers (about 750 miles) southwest of Beijing, and most travelers opt to include these two cities in their China tour to explore the rich history of China.

High-speed trains are usually highly recommended to travel between Beijing and Xian. There are about 20 pairs of high-speed trains operating between these two cities daily. A single journey generally takes about 4-6 hours. The ticket price is about CNY 515.5 to 577.5 (USD 70 – 80) for a second-class seat.

Taking an airplane is still the fastest way, taking only 2 to 3 hours. But you should account for the additional time and cost required for traveling to and from the airports and the more expensive flight tickets (around CNY 600 to CNY 2,200, depending on your travel time).

For a more budget option, you can choose the regular overnight trains or other normal trains.

√Recommended Tour: 5 Days Beijing & Xian Classic Tour

Transfer Between Xian and Shanghai

Shanghai, as China’s biggest and most prosperous city, along with Beijing and Xian make up China’s Golden Triangle. About 1,509 km (938 miles) from Xian, Shanghai and Xian can be easily connected by either high-speed trains and airplane.

Flying between these two cities will take about 2-2.5 hours, with over 50 flights available. By high-speed train the travel duration is about 6-7 hours, with over 20 pair of trains available each day.

√Recommended Tour: 4 Days Shanghai & Xian Tour by Bullet Train

Transfer Between Xian and Chengdu

Include Chengdu in your China tour if you are interested in giant pandas, Sichuan cuisine, and Chengdu people’s leisurely lifestyle.

Chengdu and Xi’an are about 658 kilometers (409 miles) away from each other, taking only 3-4 hours to transfer between them by high-speed train.

Flights are less recommended compared to high-speed trains. While the flights take only around 2 hours, the additional time for airport transfers, security checks, and possible delays means that the total travel time can be similar to or even longer than that of high-speed trains.

√Recommended Tour: 5 Days Xi’an-Chengdu Classic Tour

Transfer Between Xian and Zhangjiajie

About 930 kilometers away from Xian, Zhangjiajie is known for its towering rock pillar formations. It is the inspiration for Avatar’s floating Hallelujah Mountains.

A direct flight between Xian and Zhangjiajie takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.

Currently, there is no direct train from Xi’an to Zhangjiajie, and you’ll need to make a transfer at Changsha South if traveling by train.

Transfer Between Xian and Dunhuang

Both are important hubs along the Silk Road, Xian and Dunhuang are about 1726.5 kilometers away from each other. Traveling between them by air is the most convenient and fast option, taking around 2 hours and 35 minutes. Currently, there is only 1 pair of no-stop flights each day.

Traveling by train is more time consuming, but allows you to admire the stunning scenery along the way. Currently, there are one high-speed train and one ordinary train from Xian to Dunhuang every day. A high-speed train ride takes around 11 hours, while a regular train takes around 22.4 hours.

√Recommended Tour: 5 Days Best Xian Dunhuang Culture-tracing Tour

Transfer Between Xian and Pingyao

Many visitors like to extend their Xian tours to Pingyao Ancient Town to glimpse into the prosperous era of Jin merchants. This former financial hub during the late Qing Dynasty is about 520 kilometers from Xian. Taking a high-speed train from Xian, you can reach the ancient city in around 2.5-3 hours. No need to take a flight considering the short distance.

√Recommended Tour: 5 Days Classic Xi’an and Pingyao Tour

Transfer Between Xian and Huashan Mountain

While many people include Mt. Huashan in their Xian tour, the mountain is actually not a part of Xi’an, but located in Weinan City which is about 120 km from Xian. It is a great choice for people who want to explore the best natural beauty and enjoy an impressive hiking experience around Xian.

To reach the mountain, you can either take a direct bus at Xian Bus Station in about 1.5-2 hours, or take a high-speed train in around 0.5 hours.

√Recommended Tour: 4 Days Xian Classic Tour with Mt. Huashan

Transfer Between Xian and Jiuzhaigou

A famous nature reserve located in the northern part of Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province, Jiuzhaigou is about 770 km away from Xi’an. The area features its stunning highland karst lakes, calcified waterfalls, and breathtaking water landscapes.

Transferring between Xi’an and Jiuzhaigou is a little inconvenient as there are no direct trains or flights.

A recommended option is to take a high-speed train from Xi’an to Chengdu, then transfer to another high-speed train to Huanglong Jiuzhai Station, followed by a bus ride to the scenic area.

Flying is an efficient option for those with limited time. You can fly from Xi’an to Chengdu first, then take a connecting flight to Jiuhuang Airport near the scenic area.

Getting Around Xian – Metro, Taxi, Bus, Bicycle

Getting Around Xian by Metro

As of January 2025, Xian has 10 metro lines in operation: Line 1, Line 2, Line 3, Line 4, Line 5, Line 6, Line 9, Line 10, Line 14, and Line 16. These lines form a convenient and efficient metro network, making traveling around Xian much more convenient.

The operating hours for these lines vary slightly, but most lines operate from around 6:00 to 23:00 or 23:30.

The price of a ticket depends on the distance covered:

The starting fare is 2 RMB for trips up to 6 kilometers (inclusive).
From 6 to 10 kilometers (inclusive): 3 RMB.
From 10 and 14 kilometers (inclusive): 4 RMB.
From 14 and 20 kilometers (inclusive): 5 RMB.
From 20 and 26 kilometers (inclusive): 6 RMB.
Exceeding 26 kilometers: an additional 1 RMB is charged for every 8 kilometers.

Xian Metro Bell Tower — Xian Metro Zhonglouzhan Bell Tower

Major Metro Lines to Popular Tourist Attractions:

Line 1: Connects to the ruins of the Efang Palace, Banpo Museum, Yongxingfang
Line 2: To attractions such as the Xi’an City Wall, and the Bell and Drum Towers.
Line 3: Provides access to the Tang City Wall Ruins Park, Daxingshan Temple, Shaanxi History Museum, and Expo Park.
Line 4: Connects to Daming Palace National Heritage Park, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Tang Paradise, and the Qujiang Pool Ruins Park.
Line 5: To Fengqing Park, the Great Tang West Market, Xi’an Museum
Line 6: Muslim Street, Baxian Gong, and Xingqing Palace Park
Line 9: Get to Terracotta Army, Huaqing Palace, Mount Lishan

Getting Around by Taxi

By taxi, the base fare is CNY 8.5 for the first 3 kilometers, then CNY 2 per kilometer. From 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM, nighttime fares are applied, with a base fare of CNY 9.5, and CNY 2.3 per additional kilometers.

Taxi is a more time efficient option when getting to attractions or places far away from city center. Generally, it will take about 50 minutes from Xian city center to the airport, and about 45 minutes to the Terracotta Army.

Getting Around by Bus

Taking the bus to travel around Xi’an is also a budget-friendly option. Also, it will give you a chance to see Xi’an’s street sights while conserving your energy. Some popular bus lines include:

Bus Line 22 (Qujiang Pool – Railway Station): Main attractions along the way include Qujiang Pool Ruins Park, Tang Paradise, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the eastern section of Xi’an City Wall (where you can enter the wall from the East Gate), and Daming Palace National Heritage Park.
Bus Line 610 (Tourist Line 8, Qujiang Ocean World – Railway Station West): Passes by Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Tang Paradise South Gate, Qujiang Ruins Park, South Gate (Yongning Gate), the Bell Tower, and the Drum Tower.
Bus Line 2(Special Scenic Bus): Passes by Tang Paradise and Qujiang Pool Ruins Park.

Get to Xi’an Urban Sightseeing Buses for more detailed information of Xian’s popular sightseeing buses.

Biking

Many famous historical sites and tourist attractions, such as the Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and the City Wall, are all located in Xian’s city center. Cycling is also a great way to explore these sites leisurely as they are relatively close to one another.

When visiting the Ancient City Wall, cycling atop the wall is also one of the best things to do in Xi’an.

Best Xian Tours:

Getting to Terracotta Warriors from Xian

As we have mentioned above, there are several ways to get to the Terracotta Warriors from Xi’an. You can take metro Line 9 or Tourist Bus Line 5 (the previous No. 306) to reach the site. Taking a taxi will take about 45 minutes to the site from Xi’an city center.

From the airport to the Terracotta Army, a taxi ride will take about 1 hour, costing around CNY 160. Currently, there is no direct metro or bus running between them.

Recommended Xian Terracotta Army Tours: