Xi'an Xianyang International Airport - Flight Information and Guide (XIY)

How to get to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport

Xi'an's historic center is approximately 47 km from the airport: the transfer takes roughly 50-60 minutes by metro or bus.

By Car

Those arriving by car reach the historic center in approximately 50-60 minutes.

By Train

Metro: line 14 of the metro system connects the airport directly to Xi'an's city center in approximately 50-60 minutes.

By Bus

Multiple dedicated bus lines connect the airport to Xi'an's city center.

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Tips If your main goal is the Terracotta Army, it is located east of the city, not on the direct route from the airport to the center: consider an organized tour or direct taxi from the airport if time is limited. Activate Alipay or WeChat Pay at the airport.

Average travel time to XIY

Train50-60 minutes (metro)

Shuttle bus50-60 minutes

Taxi / Private hire50-60 minutes

Parking near Xi'an Xianyang International Airport

The official airport parking is located in front of the terminal.

Cars: 1.5 CNY every 15 minutes, maximum 60 CNY per 24 hours (first 30 minutes free once per day); large vehicles: 2.5 CNY every 15 minutes, maximum 80 CNY per 24 hours.

How to get to Xi'an from XIY

By Train

Metro: Line 14 directly connects the airport to Xi'an city center in approximately 50-60 minutes, approximately 9 CNY.

By Bus

Multiple dedicated bus lines connect the airport to Xi'an city center.

By Taxi

Official taxis wait in the arrivals area; metered fares are standard for rides to the city center, approximately 100-150 CNY (14-21 USD) during the day, 20% more after 23:00, given the roughly 47 km distance.

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Car rental at Xi'an Xianyang International Airport

A limited number of car rental operators are available in the arrival area.

Most visitors rely on organized tours, taxis, or Didi to reach the Terracotta Army and other archaeological sites.

Hotels near Xi'an Xianyang International Airport

Xianyang airport is one of the most distant from the centre among China's major hubs, 41 km from the Bell Tower: metro line 14 connects the terminals to the North railway station in 35-38 minutes, but to reach the centre you still need to change onto line 2, for a total of about an hour; the taxi takes just as long in traffic, the shuttle bus even more. That's why those with a short stopover or a dawn flight are better off staying close to the terminals, while those staying to visit Xi'an gain a lot by sleeping near the Bell Tower and the City Wall, the historic core of the city where almost everything is reached on foot.

At the airport

At Xianyang airport

The Regal Airport Hotel is directly connected to Terminal 3 through the arrivals area, with no need for a shuttle; the Atour Hotel is about 5.6 km from the terminals with a free shuttle on request.

Best for: Stopovers of a few hours and departures before dawn, when an extra hour of transfer comes straight out of sleep.

Pros

The Regal is the only hotel physically connected to a terminal, handy for anyone who doesn't want to leave the arrivals/departures area
Both hotels offer either direct access or a shuttle that avoids line 14 entirely

Cons

Only the airport area surrounds them: for dinner you stay in the hotel
An evening at the Bell Tower still requires 50-60 minutes by metro with a change, or an hour by taxi

Recommended hotels

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City centre

Bell Tower and the City Wall

Line 14 to the North station, then change onto line 2 for the Bell Tower: about an hour in total; the taxi covers the 41 km in about an hour in traffic (70-100 yuan), the shuttle bus 1-1.5 hours for 25 yuan.

Best for: Those who want the historic centre, the restaurants of the Muslim Quarter and the City Wall within walking distance, accepting an hour's transfer from the airport.

Pros

The Bell Tower, the Drum Tower and the Muslim Quarter around Huimin Street are within walking distance of the area's hotels
Xi'an's perfectly preserved City Wall is just minutes away on foot or by bicycle

Cons

No direct, fast connection to the airport: the transfer is always close to an hour
A central and touristy area, so higher prices and crowded streets in the evening

Recommended hotels

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Airport services

The airport is an aerial gateway to one of China's most significant historical destinations.

Shopping & Duty Free

The duty-free area offers Chinese tea, baijiu, and handcrafted miniature reproductions of the famous Terracotta Army.

Lounges & relaxation

Access typically requires a paid day-pass; opening hours follow flight time windows.

Connectivity & Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal area. For a local SIM, China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom have service desks at the airport.

Families & Children

The waiting areas offer essential services for families traveling with small children.

Terminal guide

The terminal is appropriately sized for the city's heavy tourist traffic. Walking from check-in to gate typically takes 15–20 minutes.

It is advisable to allow for longer-than-usual customs checks and arrive 3 hours early for international flights.

Map of Xi'an Xianyang International Airport

Frequently asked questions

Q. How do you get to the Terracotta Army from Xi'an?

The site is located east of the city, not on the direct route from the airport: most visitors arrange a tour or a direct taxi from the old town.

Q. Is it worth downloading offline map apps before arriving in Xi'an?

Yes, strongly recommended: Google Maps is blocked by the Chinese Great Firewall, and to get around between the Ancient City and the Terracotta Army area it's worth downloading offline maps or a local app such as Baidu Maps, as well as activating a VPN before departure.