In short
Xi’an Xianyang (XIY) sits 47 km north-west of downtown and has no railway station of its own, so every way in starts on the road or on Metro Line 14. Line 14 is the one to know: from Airport West (T1, T2, T3) it runs 31 minutes straight to Xi’an North for ¥7, with trains from 06:00 to 22:20 every 5 min 25 s at peak and 8 min 31 s off-peak. If you land at Terminal 5, which now handles every international flight, the Airport (T5) station on the ground floor of the transport hub puts you on the same line for the same ¥7, first train 06:04 and last 22:24. Xi’an North is not the city centre, but it is where Lines 2 and 4 meet: Line 2 runs south to the Bell Tower, Line 4 east to Wulukou. Airport buses cost ¥25 and run direct to the Bell Tower, Xi’an railway station south square and the Hi-tech Zone, which suits anyone with heavy bags who would rather not change trains. Taxis are metered and no official airport-to-city fare is published.
- Airport → Xi’an North
- 31 min (Line 14, direct)
- Metro fare
- ¥7 (¥9 to Heshao)
- First / last train
- Airport West 06:00 / 22:20; T5 06:04 / 22:24
- Headway
- 5 min 25 s peak, 8 min 31 s off-peak
- Airport to downtown
- 47 km north-west
- Airport bus
- ¥25 (¥15 Xianyang line)
How to take each option
Metro Line 14 (recommended)
Time 31 min to Xi’an NorthFare ¥7First 06:00Last 22:20
- Work out which terminal you are in: Terminal 5 handles all international, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan flights, while most domestic flights use T1–T3.
- From T1–T3: follow the metro signs to the station between T1–T3 and the car park and go in through Exit A1.
- From T5: walk east into the transport hub, where the station is on the ground floor. It opened with the terminal on 18 February 2025.
- Buy a single-journey ticket at the machine (the T5 station also takes QR codes and has a smart POS for international bank cards), or tap a transit QR code at the gate.
- Board a train towards Heshao and ride to Beikezhan (North Square), the station for Xi’an North: 31 minutes, ¥7, no changes.
- At Xi’an North change to Line 2 for the Bell Tower area, or Line 4 for Wulukou and Xi’an railway station.
After the through-running arrangement started, the Airport West to Xi’an North fare dropped from ¥16 to ¥7; riding to the far end at Heshao costs ¥9. With trains every 5 min 25 s at peak and 8 min 31 s off-peak you rarely wait.
Airport bus
Fare ¥25 (¥15 Xianyang line)
- Find the coach bay first: at T5 it is berth 04 outside Gate 512 on Level 1, at T3 it is the bus hall of the Ground Transport Centre (GTC) at check-in 5, and at T2 it is berth 3 outside Gate 213.
- Buy at the counter for your destination: a flat ¥25 on city lines, ¥15 to Xianyang.
- Load your bags into the hold and keep the ticket stub; the Bell Tower, the railway station south square and the Hi-tech Zone are the main drop-off points.
In daytime two lines serve the Bell Tower: the Bell Tower West Line (08:50–21:30) and the Bell Tower North Line (09:20–21:50). The West Hi-tech Zone Express, Chang’an University Town and Jinye Road city terminal lines cover the rest.
Taxi
Fare Metered
- Follow the taxi signs to the official rank: opposite Gate 213 at T2, outside Gate 03 on Level 1 of the GTC at T3.
- The ranks open at 06:30 and stay open until the last flight; never follow touts who approach you inside the terminal.
- Confirm the driver uses the meter and show your destination written in Chinese.
- Pay the metered fare plus expressway tolls, and ask for a receipt (airport hotline 029-88796327).
The Xi’an flag drop is ¥8.50 for the first 3 km, then ¥2.00 per km; beyond 12 km a 50% empty-return surcharge lifts the rate to ¥3.00 per km.
If you are at the wrong terminal
- The three terminals are far apart, so first check whether you need Terminal 5 or T1–T3.
- Take the free 24-hour inter-terminal shuttle: outside Gate 512 at T5, Gate 316 at T3 and Gate 213 at T2, every 15–30 minutes.
All international, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan flights use Terminal 5 — check the terminal on your ticket before you travel and you can skip the shuttle.
Questions travellers ask
What is the fastest way from XIY to Xi’an city centre?
Take Metro Line 14 for 31 minutes to Xi’an North (¥7), then change to Line 2 towards the Bell Tower. Nothing on that route depends on traffic, so it is the most predictable option.
How long does it take to get from XIY to downtown Xi’an?
The published running time on Line 14 from Airport West to Xi’an North is 31 minutes; add the onward Line 2 ride into the walled city. No official total journey time is published for buses or taxis.
How much is the metro from Xi’an airport?
¥7 from Airport West or Airport (T5) to Xi’an North, and ¥9 all the way to Heshao at the far end of the line.
What time is the first and last metro train?
From Airport West (T1–T3) towards the city the first train is 06:00 and the last 22:20; from Airport (T5) they are 06:04 and 22:24.
Is there a railway station at Xi’an airport?
There is no national rail station at the airport. For high-speed trains, ride Line 14 for 31 minutes to Xi’an North, the hub for the Zhengzhou–Xi’an, Xi’an–Chengdu, Datong–Xi’an and Yinchuan–Xi’an lines.
How much is a taxi from XIY to the city centre?
Taxis are metered: ¥8.50 for the first 3 km, then ¥2.00 per km, rising to ¥3.00 per km beyond 12 km, with a night surcharge from 23:00 to 06:00 and expressway tolls on top. No official airport-to-city fare is published; third-party travel sites quote a ¥120–180 reference range and 45–60 minutes.
How much is the airport bus to the Bell Tower?
¥25. In daytime take the Bell Tower West Line (08:50–21:30) or the Bell Tower North Line (09:20–21:50); at night the Night Owl lines take over.
Which terminal do international flights use, and where is the metro there?
All of them use Terminal 5. The metro station is called Airport (T5), on the ground floor of the transport hub east of the terminal, with the first train at 06:04 and the last at 22:24; it is the same ¥7 to Xi’an North.
Can I pay on the metro with a foreign card or Alipay?
The Airport (T5) station accepts single-journey tickets and QR codes and has a smart POS for international bank cards. Other payment methods are not individually confirmed, so carry some cash.
What is the cheapest way into the city?
Line 14 at ¥7 to Xi’an North, then Line 2 into the walled city. It is far cheaper than the ¥25 airport bus and an order of magnitude cheaper than a taxi.
How far is the airport from the city centre?
Officially, the airport lies 47 km north-west of downtown Xi’an.
Is there anything into the city if I land late at night?
Yes. After the last Line 14 train at 22:20 / 22:24, Night Owl lines 1, 2 and 3 keep running until the last flight; later than that, official taxis wait at the ranks until the last arrival.