Xi’an airport is located 50 km (about 31 miles) northwest of downtown Xi’an in Xianyang, a neighboring city. Ranked as the fourth busiest airport in China, Xianyang International Airport (XIY) is home to 68 domestic daily flights from almost every major Chinese destination. There are domestic flights from Jiuzhaigou, Ningbo, Zhengzhou, and Lianyungang to Xian and international service from Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand is well established. There are flights from Germany, France, Britain, America, and Canada via transfers in Beijing. as well as flights from Europe, and the US via transfers in Shanghai. International air connections with Hong Kong and Macao are also available depending on the airline schedule. With a total of 25 international air routes, Xi’an has the most international connections in Western China.

There are shuttle buses between the airport and downtown that cost CNY 25. A taxi ride to the city center will cost CNY 100-120.

The train station in Xi'an is located to northeast of downtown and is just outside the city walls. It is a hub for trains heading west or east and the line actually splits here. Some trains head north to Beijing and others east to Shanghai.

There are direct trains from Xi'an to Beijing (11 hours), Shanghai (16 hours), Guangzhou (26 hours), Chengdu (13 hours), Hefei, Qingdao, and Urumuqi.

There is a foreigner’s ticket office on the second level of the train station which is open from 8.30-11.30 and 14:30-17:30. Make sure you bring your passport with you’ll need it to purchase tickets. You can also buy hard seats at an office on Lianhua Road and most of the major hotels will book train tickets for you, although they will charge for the service.

The highway system around Xi”an extends in all directions. Long-distance buses travel between Xi’an and 300 other cities in 18 provinces. The Xi’an long-distance bus station, which has been ranked the best in the country, lies to the southwest of the railway station.

Bus tickets can be purchased on the day of travel. Although the price is much more economical, travel by long-distance bus can be uncomfortable and tiring for foreigners. If at all possible, travel by air or rail is a better choice.

The main long-distance bus station is located across from main railway station

Taxi is a great way to get around inside Xi’an city. The roads in the central district are fairly well organized but be warned that some of the main roads can become very congested during rush hour.

Taxi fares are only CNY 6 for the first 2 kilometers (CNY 7 between 22:00 and 6am) and CNY 1.5 for each additional kilometer. The fare is rounded off to the nearest yuan.

Buses are a cheap option for getting around if your travel group is small. Bus fares are usually CNY 1 for normal buses and CNY 2 for buses with air conditioning. There is a third fare schedule that involves paying based on the distance traveled.

Tourist bus numbers have been changed and buses may have two different bus numbers. For example, bus number 306 is also bus number 5.

The best way to travel in Xi'an by yourself is to ride a bicycle. There are bicycles for rent in most hotels in Xi'an and the rental averages CNY 10-20 per day with CNY 300 or a passport left as a deposit.