In short
Lanzhou West Railway Station, telecode LAJ, sits in Qilihe district and is Gansu’s high-speed hub, sending trains west to Xining, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang and Urumqi and east to Xi’an and Tianshui. The easiest way there from the airport is not by road at all but straight downwards: Zhongchuan Airport East station, code ZRJ, lies directly beneath the Terminal 3 transport hub, with the concourse on B1 and the platforms on B2, on the airport loop railway fed by the Lanzhou–Xinjiang, Yinchuan–Lanzhou and Lanzhou–Zhangye high-speed lines. A lift from the Terminal 3 arrivals level takes you down to B2 and into the station; the airport quotes ten minutes for the whole air-to-rail transfer, and you board with your ID card, no paper ticket needed. Checked on 12306 on 1 November 2026, there were 20 departures that day, the fastest being C9834 at 38 minutes, with second-class fares of ¥16–28 and first class ¥26–45; the cheapest is C612 at ¥16 for 40 minutes, the first train is C612 leaving 07:02 and arriving 07:42, and the last is C9836 leaving 22:14 and arriving 22:55. In the reverse direction the first train from Lanzhou West to the airport is C611 at 05:30 and the last D8883 at 21:51. Alternative one is airport coach line 3, ¥30 and about 80 minutes, running from the airport 09:30 to 01:00 roughly every 30 minutes and finishing at Lanzhou West bus terminal beside the station, calling at Xisha Bridge, Sandship Outlets, Shen’an Bridge, Gansu Agricultural University, Yintan Bridge, Jinniu Street, Huanghe Jiayuan and Liujiaying Crossing on the way, which suits anyone staying in Anning or Qilihe better. Alternative two is a taxi or ride-hailing car, on the order of an hour, although no official distance or reference fare is published for the airport to Lanzhou West run and the expressway toll is paid by you on top. One warning for the return leg: the last train from Lanzhou West to the airport leaves at 21:51 on D8883, reaching the airport at 22:32, after which only a taxi or the coach will get you there.
- Airport station and code
- Zhongchuan Airport East (ZRJ), B1/B2 beneath T3
- Fastest journey
- 38 minutes on C9834
- Second-class fare
- ¥16–28; ¥26–45 in first class
- Departures a day
- 20 on the day checked
- First and last train
- 07:02 (C612, arrives 07:42) and 22:14 (C9836, arrives 22:55)
- From Lanzhou West to the airport
- First 05:30 (C611), last 21:51 (D8883, arrives 22:32)
- Air-to-rail transfer
- About 10 minutes per the airport; board with your ID
- Airport coach line 3
- ¥30, about 80 min, 09:30–01:00, roughly every 30 min
- Taxi
- Metered; no official distance or reference fare
- Where Lanzhou West is
- Qilihe district, Gansu’s main high-speed hub
How to take each option
Recommended: ride down to B2 and take the intercity train
Time From 38 minFare ¥16–28 second classFirst 07:02Last 22:14
- Check that day’s trains from Zhongchuan Airport East to Lanzhou West on 12306 or in the box above: about 20 run each day, the fastest takes 38 minutes, and fares move between ¥16 and ¥28 by train.
- After baggage claim follow the transport hub or railway signs in the Terminal 3 arrivals hall and take the lift down to B2; the concourse is on B1 and the platforms one level below.
- Check the gate on the departure screens and scan the ID document you booked with, since no paper ticket is needed; the airport quotes ten minutes for the whole air-to-rail transfer.
- The ride takes roughly 38 to 45 minutes to Lanzhou West: C9834 is the fastest at 38 minutes, while C612 takes 40 and costs ¥16.
- Inside Lanzhou West follow the departure signs: westbound platforms serve Xining, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang and Urumqi, eastbound ones Tianshui and Xi’an. It is a large station, so allow 20 minutes.
This is the best option at the airport and the only one immune to traffic, with two limits: the first train is at 07:02 and the last at 22:14, so very early or very late arrivals cannot use it, and the 20 daily departures are unevenly spaced, so check that day’s timetable before you fly.
Airport coach line 3: ¥30 direct to Lanzhou West bus terminal
Time About 80 minFare ¥30First 09:30Last 01:00
- Board at the coach departure point at doors 10 and 11 on level 1 of Terminal 3, or come down from the level-2 corridor of the transport hub to the same kerb.
- Pay the flat ¥30 fare; coaches run roughly every 30 minutes and leave early once full, from 09:30 through to 01:00 on the airport side.
- It finishes at Lanzhou West bus terminal beside the station, calling at Xisha Bridge, Sandship Outlets, Shen’an Bridge, Gansu Agricultural University, Yintan Bridge, Jinniu Street, Huanghe Jiayuan and Liujiaying Crossing, so anyone staying in Anning can get off en route.
This is the only coach running through to 01:00, which makes it the fallback for anyone who misses the 22:14 last train. The 80-minute figure comes from the Gansu transport department page, which predates Terminal 3, so the real run may be longer.
Taxi or ride-hailing
Fare Metered, plus the expressway toll
- Taxis queue at the ground-level pick-up zone of Terminal 3, on the first and second kerbs outside the terminal; the airport also describes it as the second kerb outside Exit 11 of the international arrivals hall.
- Show the driver the Chinese characters for Lanzhou West, say clearly that you want the meter, and keep the receipt with the cab number; the Lanzhou New Area authorities are cracking down on refusal to carry, fare haggling and refusing the meter.
- Ride-hailing picks up in zone A on level P5 of the car park, the P5A point, and the airport expressway toll is paid by you, so it is worth asking before you set off.
No official distance or reference fare for the airport to Lanzhou West run has ever been published, so this page quotes neither; all you can check is the tariff, ¥10 for the first 3 km, ¥1.4 per km, and ¥2.1 per km one-way beyond 10 km.
Onwards from Lanzhou West
- Check the screens for your gate as you enter; the station is large, so allow 20 minutes, and tickets to anywhere on the national network are sold inside.
- For the centre: Lanzhou West stands in Qilihe, a few kilometres from Chengguan, so take a taxi or a city bus east from the station.
- Continuing by rail, westbound services run to Xining, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang and Urumqi and eastbound ones to Tianshui and Xi’an, all searchable from the links below.
For the return leg: the first train from Lanzhou West to the airport is C611 at 05:30, arriving 06:10, which works for early flights, and the last is D8883 at 21:51, reaching the airport at 22:32.
Late-night and early-morning arrivals
The last intercity train towards Lanzhou West is C9836, leaving 22:14 and arriving 22:55. Miss it and airport coach line 3 runs through to about 01:00, roughly every 30 minutes, which is the only public-transport fallback in the small hours. Later than that only taxis and ride-hailing remain, available as long as flights arrive, with the night tariff between 22:00 and 06:00 at ¥1.6 per km from 3 to 10 km and ¥2.3 per km one-way beyond 10 km, plus the expressway toll. From Lanzhou West back to the airport the last departure is 21:51 on D8883, so a later flight means the coach or a cab.
Questions travellers ask
How fast can I get from Lanzhou airport to Lanzhou West?
38 minutes on C9834. Zhongchuan Airport East sits beneath Terminal 3, concourse on B1 and platforms on B2, and a lift from arrivals puts you straight into the station, the airport quoting ten minutes for the transfer. There are 20 departures a day at ¥16–28 in second class.
How much is the train from the airport to Lanzhou West?
Second class costs ¥16–28 and first class ¥26–45, varying by train, with the cheapest being C612 at ¥16 for 40 minutes. These figures come from a 12306 check on 1 November 2026; timetables change, so recheck for your date.
Where is the railway station at the airport, and is it easy to find?
Directly beneath the Terminal 3 transport hub, concourse on B1 and platforms on B2, and the station is called Zhongchuan Airport East, code ZRJ. From arrivals, follow the transport hub or railway signs and take the lift down to B2: no leaving the terminal, no shuttle bus.
Is there a direct bus to Lanzhou West?
Yes: airport coach line 3 costs ¥30 and takes about 80 minutes, running 09:30 to 01:00 from the airport roughly every 30 minutes and finishing at Lanzhou West bus terminal next to the station. It boards at doors 10 and 11 on level 1 of Terminal 3.
Are Lanzhou West and Lanzhou station the same?
They are different. Lanzhou West, code LAJ, is the high-speed hub in Qilihe district, while Lanzhou station, code LZJ, is the old main-line station in the centre of Chengguan. Intercity trains from the airport serve both: from 38 minutes and ¥16–28 to Lanzhou West, 53 minutes and ¥16–23 to Lanzhou station.
What does a taxi to Lanzhou West cost?
No official reference fare exists, so this page quotes none. What you can check is the tariff: ¥10 for the first 3 km, ¥1.4 per km, and ¥0.7 more per km beyond 10 km on a one-way trip, taking it to ¥2.1, with the airport expressway toll charged on top.
I have a train at Lanzhou West — how early should I leave the terminal?
The ride itself is 38 minutes at best, but add walking, security and boarding: plan to leave the arrivals hall 1.5 hours before your train departs. The 20 daily departures are unevenly spaced, so confirm the service you are aiming for and keep a margin.
What are the first and last trains from Lanzhou West to the airport?
The first is C611 at 05:30, arriving 06:10, which works for early flights, and the last is D8883 at 21:51, reaching the airport at 22:32. After that only the coach or a taxi will do. Checked on 12306 on 1 November 2026 and subject to timetable changes.
Can I still reach Lanzhou West if I land late?
C9836 at 22:14 is the last intercity service, arriving 22:55, and after that airport coach line 3 runs through to about 01:00, the only public transport left at night. Later still, a taxi or ride-hailing car is the answer, priced on the night tariff between 22:00 and 06:00, which costs more than a daytime ride.
Do I need a paper ticket for the airport train?
No: you scan the ID document you booked with at the gate. Windows and machines inside sell tickets and print reimbursement slips too. Because it is a small station with limited departures, buying ahead on 12306 is the safer plan at busy times.