In short
The official taxi ranks at Xianyang Airport are opposite Gate 213 at T2 and outside Gate 03 on Level 1 of the Ground Transport Centre (GTC) at T3, with pre-booked cars picking up north of the indoor car-park entrance; both ranks open at 06:30 and stay open until the last flight. For T5 the official descriptions disagree: one puts the rank outside Gate 501 on level B1, while a Xi’an government release directs passengers to the transport hub east of T5, so follow the taxi signs inside the terminal. Fares follow the Xi’an Municipal Transport Bureau schedule: a ¥8.50 flag drop covering 3 km, then ¥2.00 per km; beyond 12 km a 50% empty-return surcharge lifts the rate to ¥3.00 per km; between 23:00 and 06:00 the flag drop rises by ¥1 and the kilometre rate by ¥0.30; at speeds under 10 km/h every 5 minutes is billed as one kilometre (4 minutes during 07:00–09:00 and 17:00–19:00); bridge tolls, expressway tolls and parking fees you ask for are paid by you. With the airport 47 km from downtown, the published formula works out at roughly ¥131 before tolls. No official airport-to-city-centre fare is published; third-party travel sites quote a ¥120–180 reference range over 45–60 minutes.
- Flag drop
- ¥8.50 (first 3 km)
- Per-km rate
- ¥2.00 (¥3.00 beyond 12 km)
- Night surcharge
- 23:00–06:00: +¥1 flag drop, +¥0.30 per km
- Waiting time
- Every 5 min billed as 1 km
- Ranks
- T2 opposite Gate 213; T3 GTC L1, Gate 03
- Hours
- 06:30 until the last flight
How to take each option
Getting a taxi at T2 or T3
Fare Metered
- After baggage claim follow the taxi signs: opposite Gate 213 at T2, or outside Gate 03 on Level 1 of the Ground Transport Centre at T3.
- Only queue at the official rank. Touts who approach you inside the terminal are unlicensed operators — refuse them.
- Show the driver your destination written in Chinese; English proficiency among Xi’an drivers is limited.
- Make sure the driver starts the meter, note the licence plate, and ask for a receipt (airport hotline 029-88796327).
- Pay the metered fare plus expressway tolls on arrival. If a driver refuses you or tries to add other passengers, report it to staff at the rank and take the next car.
Pre-booked cars pick up north of the indoor car-park entrance at T3. The terminals are far apart, so if you go to the wrong one take the free 24-hour inter-terminal shuttle (outside Gate 512 at T5, Gate 316 at T3, Gate 213 at T2, every 15–30 minutes).
Getting a taxi at T5
Fare Metered
- From the arrivals hall look for the taxi signs first: official material gives two different locations for the T5 rank, so the signage is the only reliable guide on the spot.
- One description places it outside Gate 501 on level B1 of T5; the other directs you to the transport hub east of T5 and to a designated boarding area.
- Refuse touts here too, and confirm the meter before you set off.
Terminal 5 opened in February 2025 and handles all international, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan flights. The conflicting descriptions of the rank are recorded as a data gap; this page does not pick one on the authorities’ behalf.
How the fare adds up
- The ¥8.50 flag drop covers the first 3 km.
- From 3 to 12 km the rate is ¥2.00 per km, so 9 km adds ¥18 and the meter reads ¥26.50 at the 12 km mark.
- Beyond 12 km a 50% empty-return surcharge applies, lifting the rate to ¥3.00 per km.
- On the official 47 km distance that works out at ¥8.50 + ¥18 + 35 km at ¥3.00, roughly ¥131, plus expressway tolls.
- Between 23:00 and 06:00 add ¥1 to the flag drop and ¥0.30 per km; in jams every 5 minutes is billed as a kilometre (4 minutes in the morning and evening peaks).
The above is an arithmetic illustration of the published formula, not an official reference fare: neither the airport, the metro, the municipal nor the provincial government publishes an airport-to-city taxi price. Third-party travel sites quote a ¥120–180 reference range over 45–60 minutes.
How to pay
- Pay what the meter shows, plus bridge and expressway tolls.
- No official statement covers Alipay, WeChat Pay or foreign bank cards in taxis, so carry some cash.
- Ask for the receipt: it carries the plate number and a complaints line, which is what you need if anything goes wrong.
Expressway tolls are a legitimate charge, not a markup, but refusing passengers, adding others or skipping the meter are all violations — report them to staff at the rank.
Questions travellers ask
How much is a taxi from XIY to the city centre?
No official airport-to-city fare is published. You pay the meter: ¥8.50 for 3 km, ¥2.00 per km, ¥3.00 per km beyond 12 km, plus tolls — about ¥131 over the official 47 km. Third-party travel sites quote a ¥120–180 reference range over 45–60 minutes.
What is the Xi’an taxi flag drop?
¥8.50 covers the first 3 km in a car with an engine of 1.8 litres or less, then ¥2.00 per km.
Is there a night surcharge?
Yes — from 23:00 to 06:00 the flag drop rises by ¥1 and the per-km rate by ¥0.30.
Where do I find a taxi at XIY?
Opposite Gate 213 at T2, outside Gate 03 on Level 1 of the GTC at T3, with pre-booked cars north of the indoor car-park entrance; at T5, follow the taxi signs.
Where exactly is the T5 taxi rank?
Official material gives two locations: outside Gate 501 on level B1 of T5, or a designated area in the transport hub east of T5. Follow the taxi signs inside the terminal.
Do taxis take Alipay, WeChat Pay or foreign cards?
Officially only metered payment and passenger-borne tolls are stated; nothing covers QR payment or foreign bank cards. Carry some cash.
How long does the taxi take to the centre?
No official journey time is published; the airport lies 47 km north-west of downtown. Third-party travel sites quote 45–60 minutes depending on traffic.
Who pays the expressway toll?
The passenger pays it on top of the metered fare. It is a legitimate charge, not a markup.
Is there a taxi at 3 a.m.?
Yes. The ranks run from 06:30 until the end of night flights, so licensed taxis are there after the last arrival, and Night Owl line 3 is still running.
Taxi or metro?
Line 14 is 31 minutes and ¥7, predictable and immune to traffic, but needs a change. A taxi is door to door and better with heavy bags, a group, or a late arrival — and the metered cost is usually an order of magnitude higher.
Do I need to tip?
No — just pay the metered fare. Tipping is not the custom in Chinese taxis.
How do I avoid unlicensed drivers?
Queue only at the official ranks, opposite Gate 213 at T2 and outside Gate 03 on Level 1 of the GTC at T3. Refuse anyone who approaches you inside the terminal, confirm the meter, note the plate and ask for a receipt.
Can I take a taxi to Xi’an North railway station?
Yes, it is a common direct option by day. You pay the meter; reference material gives indicative figures of about 40 minutes and around ¥100, but no official fare for this run is published.