Are you wondering how to travel between Xian and Beijing in 2024? Based on my own experience traveling between the two cities many times, I’d like to share with you the best (and fastest…and cheapest) modes of travel and why I recommend the high-speed Beijing to Xian train.
Xi’an (written as both “Xian” and “Xi’an”) was once the eastern terminus of the Ancient Silk Road and capital of the Qin, Han, and Tang Dynasties. It’s a fascinating city that offers travelers a window into China’s imperial past and ethnic diversity.
In 1421, the Chinese capital was moved to Beijing by the Ming Dynasty, where it has remained ever since. Because of this rich history, both Beijing and Xi’an have become extremely popular China travel destinations.
Thankfully, traveling between Xian and Beijing is simple.
Since you’re going to be traveling between the two cities, I’m going to share with you a number of fast and budget-friendly ways to make the journey, primarily focused on the Beijing to Xian train.
These include:
If you’re in the planning stages of your journey, you’ll also benefit from my China travel guide, available as an ebook and paperback.
*Note: All the travel methods below are applicable whether you travel from Beijing to Xian or you travel from Xian to Beijing.
Note: Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means that at no extra cost to you, I may be compensated if you choose to use one of the services listed. I only recommend what I’ve personally used, and I appreciate your support!
High-Speed Beijing to Xian Train (Recommended)
Taking the high-speed Beijing to Xian train is the recommended way to make this trip.
As you travel at speeds of up to 250-300 km/hr (155-185 mph), you can finish the 755 mile journey 4.5 – 6 hours!
Although not as fast as a plane as far as travel time goes, you save so much time and stress by avoiding having to get to an airport 2 hours in advance and long security lines.
The high speed stations servicing the lines for the Beijing to Xian train are also conveniently located within the city, as opposed to airports which are way outside both of these cities.
This means less travel time and a cheaper taxi fare should you decide to take a taxi in China!
High-Speed Beijing to Xian Train Details
- Departure Stations: Beijing South Station (北京南站; Běijīng nánzhàn) to Xi’an North Railway Station (西安北站; Xī’ānběi Zhàn). These stations are both served by subway lines, local buses, and taxis.
- High-speed Train Schedule: The Beijing to Xian train runs as early as 6:20 am and departs once or twice every hour through 7pm. There is also now an overnight high speed sleeper service available.
- Ticket Prices: Approximately US$75 to US$250. Check ticket prices here.
The cheapest tickets you can buy will have you sitting in coach class. Folks willing to splurge $250 can enjoy the swanky business class.
In my experience, the coach seats are comfortable enough and make for a pleasant journey.
You can use the ticket booking widget above or try to purchase China train tickets directly online. Be sure to select a “G” train when booking as this specifically refers to high-speed trains.
Travel From Beijing to Xian by Airplane (Easiest)
Beijing to Xian flights are another obvious mode of transportation here. I doubt you forgot it was an option 🙂
In most cases, this is the most expensive option (unless you prefer business class tickets on the high-speed train) but since it’s familiar, traveling by plane is often the easiest.
The Beijing to Xian flight is only around 2 hours, but after factoring in travel time to the airport, checking-in, security…
Traveling by plane is almost the same amount of time -if not longer- than taking the high-speed Beijing to Xian train.
This also assumes that there are no flight delays, which as we all know can add considerable travel time to your trip.
Beijing to Xian Flight Details
- Departure Airports: Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) to Xi’an Xianyang International Airport (XIY). Check prices between these airports. Airports are always easily accessible by metro and taxis.
- Flight Schedule: Numerous flights all throughout the day.
- Flight Ticket Costs: Round trip tickets can be as low as US$135 all the way up to US$400 depending on the flight, season, and when you schedule. Here you can read more on tips to save money on China flights.
Overall, I recommend taking the high-speed train over flying between Xian and Beijing, but that’s just my preference.
The only circumstance where I would take a plane is if you need to be at your destination on the same day and tickets for the bullet train are all sold out.
Should flying sound like the best option for you, I recommend booking travel from Beijing to Xi’an via Ctrip/Trip.com, which has some of the best prices in my experience.
Travel Xian to Beijing by Overnight Train (for budget travelers)
For budget travelers not in a hurry, taking a 12-hour overnight Beijing to Xian train is a great means of travel.
Sleeper trains run through the evening and you have your own private bunk to sleep away the journey.
The biggest perk from traveling in a sleeper car is that it is incredibly budget friendly. Although the costs are similar to the high-speed options – especially if you opt for a soft sleeper ticket – you save a night’s worth of hotel expenses with the overnight option.
You can also save more money by opting for a hard sleeper ticket, which lacks the luxury of a private compartment and has six beds in a single space rather than four.
READ MORE: Learn about different classes of China trains, including how comfortable they may be and what to expect.
Whatever you do, avoid taking a hard seat for the sake of saving money.
Picture yourself sharing seats with hundreds of people in a single carriage without being able to get a single wink of sleep during the entire journey. You are likely to be in plenty of pain from sitting in the hard seat all night long too and is not worth the savings.
The last thing to remember here is when buying Beijing to Xian train tickets is that most of the standard (i.e. slow) services are labeled with a “T”, a “K” or just numbers.
Tips for Enjoying China Transportation
So you’ve decided to take the Beijing to Xian train (high speed or standard). Congrats! There are several tips I want to share to ensure your journey is a pleasant one.
- Stock-up on snacks and instant noodles (this is the classic meal to have) before getting to the station as food and drinks on trains are overly priced. This is especially the case on sleeper trains where the dining car charges an insane amount of money for mediocre food. The trip can be a long one, so you will get hungry. Do your self a favor and stock up on food essentials before taking your China train!
- Another tip is to bring along a pack of cards to play games with fellow travelers. There is plenty of space to interact with other travelers on trains and card games can liven the journey. You may even attract a small crowd of Chinese and learn how to play the local favorite card game, Kill the Landlord. (true story)
- If possible, bring headphones and an eye mask. In the hard sleeper compartment, you don’t have control over the lights. Sometimes they stay on late into the night. I also love using a good pair of noise cancelling headphones since there are constant noises throughout the night on a train.
Finally, taking a train between Xian and Beijing is not all fun and games. In order to enjoy your journey, you should also be aware of what can go wrong on your trip.
- Tickets should be purchased well in advance. Often times, both soft sleeper and hard sleeper tickets sell out a week or more before the train leaves. This leaves you no options but to deal with the hard seats. So remember to get your train tickets early!
- Don’t plan on having a perfect night’s sleep. While the bunks are comfortable enough, I always managed to be stuck with someone who snored obnoxiously throughout the night.
Being properly prepared is key. This is why I wrote the book Travel to China | Everything You Need to Know Before You Go. Overall, with proper planning, your trip on a Beijing to Xian train is likely to be smooth and fun.
Final Thoughts on Chinese Transportation
As I shared above, my advice for travelers is to seriously consider the high-speed Beijing to Xian train. It’s easy, fast and reasonably priced.
My second choice of travel is to take a sleeper train, which reduces your hotel expenses by a full day.
That said, I understand that for some people, flying is the most comfortable way to travel. Thankfully, the Beijing and Xian flights are readily available and easy to book.
Once you’ve booked all your transportation for your trip to China, do you have everything you need for your trip? Read through my 9 reasons to consider travel insurance for China. And don’t forget to grab a good travel journal to keep track of your journey!
