Xi'an Train

Being regarded as the “Gateway to the West”, Xi'an plays a significant role in the Chinese railway system.

It is a city where six of China's main railway lines intersect, thus the city is linked with all of China’s provincial capital cities and four municipalities, for instance, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Haikou, Tibet, etc. Apart from the capital cities, visitors can easily find trains for many tourism cities such as Guilin, Dunhuang, Luoyang, Suzhou, Qingdao, Huashan, etc.

Several high speed rails such as Xuzhou-Lanzhou High Speed Rail, Datong-Xi'an High Speed Rail, etc pass the city make to reach Beijing, Shanghai and even Shenzhen within 10 hours.

Travel Time to major cities from Xi'an (approximation)

Destination	Normal Trains		Bullet Trains
Beijing	11.5-16h		4.5-6h
Shanghai	11.5-24.5h		6-7.5h
Guangzhou	22.5-29h		8-9h
Shenzhen	29.5-34h		9.5h
Taiyuan	8.5-12h		3-4h
Zhengzhou	6-10h		2-4h
Guilin	26.5h		9.5h
Lanzhou	7-12h		3h

 More Xi'an Train Schedule

Tips: Taking the traveling time into consideration, the bullet types are always the best choice. However, when you buy tickets between Xi'an and Beijing or Shanghai, some overnight sleeper ones are favorable for they save time and also the expense on hotels, for example, Beijing - Xi'an, Z19/Z20, T41/T42, T231/T232 and Xi'an – Shanghai, Z94/Z92, Z166/Z164. It is reminded to book these popular tickets as early as possible; otherwise, it is hard to get the most suitable sleeper tickets.

Major Rail Lines from Xi'an to:

 Among the five railway stations in the city, three are used for passengers' transportation while the East and the West are for freight only.
 Situated in the city proper, it is presently the city's busiest transportation hub. In total, around 100 rail services, including T, K, Z and other kinds pass through this station daily. The major destinations include Shanghai, Pingyao, Datong, Chengdu, and Luoyang. The overnight sleeper trains to Beijing as well as the overnight sleepers to Shanghai are also operated here. As the station sits close to the Xi'an Bus Station, passengers can transfer to long-distance bus stations here. Besides, outside the station, local public buses and tourism buses are available.

Xi'an Railway Station

Waiting Hall inside Station

It only operates over 100 pairs of bullet trains daily, including those to/from Beijing, Datong, Pingyao, Luoyang, Zhengzhou, Shanghai, Guangzhou,  Shenzhen, and Yan'an, etc. Subway Line 2 is considered as the best method to the station from the city proper.

 Transportation between Railway Station and North Station
1. Bus Line 266 runs between the two stations. Passengers can find the bus stop at Railway Station West (walk west from the Exit for about 270 yards (250m)). It takes about 1 hour and costs CNY1 to get to the north station. The bus runs every 10 to 20 minutes from 06:00 to 23:30 daily. Please prepare RMB 1 note and take care of your belongings on the bus.   
2. Passengers can take subway line 2 from the north station to Beidajie (North Avenue) station, change to line 1 and get off at Wulukou. Leave from Exit D and walk north along the road for about 550 yards (500m), you will see the Railway Station. It takes about 30 minutes and costs CNY3 per person. Line 1 runs between 06:10 and 23:17; line 2 runs between 06:10 and 23:15.
3. Taxies are also available. Passengers can find taxi stands near the exit of Railway Station. It takes about 30 minutes and costs CNY 50 to reach the north station.

 

North Railway Station

Waiting Hall of North Station

Located in the city’s south suburb, this station is around 30 kilometers (18.6 miles ) from the Railway Station. Every day, eight trains to Ankang, Yichang, Guiyang, etc, pass through. This station only has two ticket windows and usually one is in service. The local public bus Line 918 will take passengers to this station. If one starts from the city proper, it is recommended to change to Line 918 at Hang Tian Da Dao Xi Kou Bus Stop.

Ticket purchasing and collecting (if booking online) are available at these three stations. Besides, tickets can also be bought at around 120 ticket offices in the city. Some major ticket offices in city proper area are listed below:

 

Ticket Office	Chinese Version	Address	Working Hours
Long Hai	陇海	No.1, West 5th Road (500 meters south to the railway station)	08:00 ~ 00:00
Dong Li Da Sha (Dongli Mansion)	东立大厦	No.187, North Huancheng Road	08:00 ~ 00:00
Drum Tower West Square	鼓楼西广场	No. 55, West Street	08:30 ~ 19:30
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Xiaozhai Branch	中国工商银行小寨支行	No. 96, Middle Chang'an Road	09:00 ~ 16:30
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Cuihua Road Branch	中国工商银行翠华路分理处	No. 371, Cuihua Road	09:15 ~ 16:30
South Bus Station	城南客运站	Zhuque Avenue, South Street	08:30 ~ 19:30
North Bus Station	城北客运站	No. 9, West Section, North Second Ring	08:30 ~ 19:00
Guang Dian Zhong Xin (Shaanxi Radio Film and TV Center)	广电中心	No.336, South Chang'an Road	08:00 ~ 17:00
High Technology Industrial Development Zone	西高新	No. 18, First Gaoxin Road	09:00 ~ 17:30

 Further Reading: How to Collect a Ticket, Xi'an-Beijing Train vs. Flight

 Railway Station Transfer Service