How to Travel from Beijing to Xi’an

Xi’an sits right in the heart of China, roughly 1,200 kilometers (about 750 miles) southwest of Beijing.It is well known for its rich cultural significance and deep historical roots, having served as the starting point of the historic Silk Road. Many travelers opt to include Xi’an in their Beijing tours as it’s steeped in history and culture, offering diverse attractions and experiences.

If you’re planning a trip from Beijing to Xi’an, there are several options available to you for travel. From Beijing, there are a number of ways to get to Xi’an, including flights, high-speed rail, and overnight sleeper trains. We’ll go into great detail about each option for your trip in this guide.

Travel from Beijing to Xi’an by High-Speed Train (Recommended)

Starting Station: Beijing West Railway Station
Arrival Station: Xi’an North Railway Station
Duration: roughly 4-6 hours
Ticket Prices: Business Class (CNY 1,627.5 – CNY 1,815.5), First Class (CNY 824.5 – CNY 922.5), Second Class (CNY 515.5 – CNY 577.5)
Train Schedule: about 20 pairs of high-speed trains per day

If you’re considering a high-speed train from Beijing to Xi’an, you’ve got a plethora of options to pick from. Approximately 20 pairs of high-speed trains make daily trips between Beijing West Railway Station and Xi’an North Railway Station. These trains zip along at a rapid 300 km/h (186 mph) pace, completing the 1,216 km (756 mi) journey in roughly 4 to 6 hours. Ticket prices fluctuate based on the seating class, typically averaging between CNY 515.5 to 577.5 (USD 70 – 80) for a second-class seat. It’s wise to book your tickets ahead of time as these trains are highly sought after and tend to sell out swiftly. You can reserve your tickets either online or at the station.

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Getting to Beijing West Railway Station

In the Fengtai District of Beijing, the Beijing West Railway Station is located on East Lianhuachi Road. It’s one of China’s biggest and busiest train stations as well as a major transportation hub. With both regular and high-speed train services, this station links passengers to locations throughout south China, as well as parts of the southwest, south central, and northwest regions.

The station is large and modern, with a four-story building that is designed to accommodate passengers. The arrival hall, which has luggage storage and exit gates, is located on the first floor. Ticket offices and entrance gates are located in the departure hall on the second floor.Ascending to the third level, you will find the waiting hall, which houses the boarding gates and waiting rooms. The transfer hall, which has access to the subway station and a number of stores and eateries, is located on the fourth floor.

Subway lines 7 and 9 both stop at Beijing West Railway Station, making it easy to get to. Numerous buses, including those with the numbers 9, 21, 40, 50, 52, 65, 67, 89, 96, 109, 122, 309, 349, 373, 387, 414, 616, 661, 663, 673, and 694, also service the station. Taxis and private vehicles are further options for getting to the station if you’d rather take a more direct route.

From Xi’an North Railway Station to Iconic Xi’an Tourist Attractions

Terracotta Army: You can get to Beidajie Station by taking Metro Line 2. Go to Banpo Station on Line 1, then get off the metro at Exit A. Take Bus 307 to Bingmayong Station from there. Usually, this route takes two hours or more to complete. Alternatively, you could choose to take a car or taxi, which will cost you about CNY 150 and take about an hour.
Ancient City Wall: Xian Metro Line 2 can be used to get to Yongningmen Station. The Ancient City Wall’s South Gate is just a quick 5-minute stroll away, and the entire trip takes about 35 minutes. Alternatively, it will cost about CNY 25 and take 15 minutes for a taxi or car ride to the wall.
Shaanxi History Museum: If you take Metro Line 2 to Xiaozhai Station and then walk for 15 minutes, it will take you approximately 45 minutes to reach the museum. Taking a taxi or driving oneself to the museum takes about twenty-five minutes and costs about CNY thirty-five.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda: Ride Line 2 of the Xian Metro to Dayanta Station. The pagoda is ten minutes’ walk away, taking a total of forty minutes. It takes 20 minutes and costs roughly CNY 30 for a taxi or car ride there.
Tang Paradise: Metro Line 2 is accessible to Dayanta Station. Tang Paradise is about a 15-minute walk away, so the trip takes about 45 minutes. Alternatively, it will take about 25 minutes and cost about CNY 35 for a taxi or car ride.

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Travel from Beijing to Xi’an by Airplane (Fastest)

Duration: 2-2.5 hours
Ticket Costs: CNY 600 to CNY 2,200
From: Beijing Capital International Airport and Daxing International Airport
To: Xi’an Xianyang International Airport

When traveling from Beijing to Xi’an by plane, you’ve got a few options available to you. Daily flight frequencies can fluctuate based on dates and availability, but typically there are around 30 flights each day from both Beijing Capital International Airport and Daxing International Airport to Xi’an Xianyang Airport. China Eastern Airlines and Hainan Airlines are the two carriers offering nonstop flights on this route.

The easiest and fastest way is by air, which takes two to three hours to complete the trip. It is usually the most expensive option, though, with one-way tickets costing anywhere from CNY 600 to CNY 2,200. You should also account for the additional time and cost required for traveling to and from the airports, which are located outside of major cities.

From Xi’an Xianyang International Airport to Top Xi’an Tourist Attractions

The Terracotta Army, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, the City Wall, the Muslim Quarter, and the Shaanxi History Museum are just a few of Xi’an’s well-known attractions. You have a number of transportation options to choose from when going from Xi’an Xianyang International Airport to these locations.

To reach the Terracotta Army, one route is to go to Xi’an Railway Station via the Airport Shuttle Bus Airport – Xi’an Railway Station Line, then take Bus Line 42 to Fangzhicheng Transportation Hub. The Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum is located 650 meters (710 yards) from the Terracotta Warriors bus station, where you can then take Tourism Lines 5 or 306 to get there. This trip typically costs about CNY 30 and takes two to three hours. Alternatively, it takes about 65 minutes and costs roughly CNY 180–270 to take a taxi to the Terracotta Army.
For the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, you can get there in 1.5–2 hours for about CNY 30 by taking the Airport Shuttle Bus Jiyuan Hotel Line to Jiyuan Hotel, then walking 10 minutes to Xiaozhai Station and taking Metro Line 3 to Dayanta Station. It takes about 60 minutes and costs between CNY 130 and CNY 190 to get to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda via taxi.ation and a metro ride to Zhonglou Station for about 1.5-2 hours at around CNY 30. A taxi costs approximately CNY 100-150, taking about 50 minutes.
For the Muslim Quarter, you can get there in about 2-2.5 hours for about CNY 30 by taking the Jiyuan Hotel Line, taking Metro Line 3 to Beidajie Station, changing to Metro Line 1 to Zhonglou Station, and walking for about 15 minutes. An alternative is to take a taxi, which takes 50–60 minutes and costs about CNY 100–150.
Heading to the Shaanxi History Museum corresponds to a comparable travel route that costs about CNY 30 and takes 1.5 to 2 hours. In about fifty minutes, a taxi ride will set you back between CNY 110 and 180.

Travel from Beijing to Xi’an by an Overnight Train (Slow but Budget)

Starting Station: Beijing West Railway Station
Arrival Station: Xi’an Railway Station
Distance: 1,200 km (746 mi) – 1,279 km (795 mi)
Duration: 11.5-17 hours
Train Schedules: Around 10 pairs of regular overnight trains

There are a few options available to you if you want to take an overnight train from Beijing to Xian. There are about ten pairs of regular overnight trains that run from Xi’an Railway Station to Beijing West Railway Station. Tickets for soft sleepers usually cost between CNY 435.5 and 460.5 (about USD 60 to 64), hard sleepers between CNY 292.5 and 308.5 (about USD 41 to 43), and hard seats between CNY 148.5 and 156.5 (about USD 21 to 22). Because of their comparatively shorter travel time, the Z19/20 trains are frequently suggested among them.

These overnight trains offer different types of seats including the hard sleeper, hard seat, soft sleeper, and deluxe soft sleeper. The most luxurious and costly option is the deluxe soft sleeper, which comes with a private cabin with two berths, a sofa, a table, and a private bathroom. While sharing a bathroom and housing four berths in a single cabin, the soft sleeper is equally cozy. Although the hard sleeper is less expensive, it has six berths in an open cabin with no privacy curtains or doors. The least expensive and least comfortable option is the hard seat, which is also frequently crowded, noisy, and unsuitable for lengthy travels. Selecting a sleeper option will ensure a more restful journey on a long trip, such as Beijing to Xi’an. For most passengers, hard seats may be uncomfortable and exhausting.

By choosing an overnight train, you can travel and stay in one place, arriving at your destination early and ready to explore the city. However, the overnight train may not be as comfortable as high-speed trains or planes, particularly if there are no options for hard seats or sleepers. Some disadvantages are having to share space, having few amenities, and possibly having a rough ride. In comparison to quicker transportation options that have more frequent departures and shorter travel times, it might also be less flexible and convenient.

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From Xi’an Railway Station to Top Xi’an Tourist Attractions

Xi’an hosts various top tourist spots like the Terracotta Army, Ancient City Wall, Bell Tower & Drum Tower, Muslim Quarter, and the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. If you’re traveling from Xi’an Railway Station to these attractions, you’ve got a few options:

By Metro: Using the metro line, you can reach these landmarks. For the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, take line 4 to Wanshuiquan Station, transfer to line 3, and alight at Xiaozhai Station. To visit the Ancient City Wall, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, and the Muslim Quarter, take line 4 to Beidajie Station and transfer to line 2 for Yongningmen Station or Bell Tower Station. For the Terracotta Army, take line 4 to Xingzheng Zhongxin Station, then transfer to line 1 and disembark at Fangzhicheng Station.

By Bus: Buses like no. 5, 9, 41, or 103 will take you from Xi’an Railway Station to Xiaozhai Station for the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. Alternatively, buses no. 6, 11, or 46 head to South Gate Station for the Ancient City Wall, or buses no. 4, 7, or 43 stop at Bell Tower Station for the Bell Tower, Drum Tower, and the Muslim Quarter. Buses no. 914 or 915 go from Xi’an Railway Station to Bingmayong (Terracotta Army) Station for the Terracotta Army.

By Taxi: Taxis are available to these attractions from Xi’an Railway Station, with fares around CNY 30 (USD 4) to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, CNY 15 (USD 2) to the Ancient City Wall, CNY 10 (USD 1) to the Bell Tower, and approximately CNY 120 (USD 16) to the Terracotta Army.

How to Travel from Xi’an to Beijing Forbidden City?

You are suggested to take the high-speed train from Xi’an North Railway Station to Beijing West Railway Station, which takes about 5.5 hours. Upon arrival, take Beijing Metro Line 9, then transfer to Line 1 at the Military Museum and get off at Tian’anmen East Station. Take Exit B and walk about 3 minutes to Tian’anmen Square. Continue north for 1km to the Forbidden City.