Xi’an Airport (XIY) to City Center: Metro, Bus, Taxi & DiDi

Xi’an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) is about 40 km from central Xi’an, so it can look quite far from the city when you first check the map.

In practice, getting into Xi’an is not difficult.

For most daytime arrivals, I would take Metro Line 14. It is cheap, avoids traffic, and is much easier than trying to work out which airport bus stop is closest to your hotel.

If the metro has already stopped running, I would look at the late-night airport bus first. Xi’an is actually quite convenient for late arrivals because airport buses continue to serve passengers after midnight, especially around Bell Tower.

For two or three people traveling with several large suitcases, I would consider a taxi instead. The fare to central Xi’an is usually around RMB 100–150, which is quite reasonable once you split it.

International flights now arrive at Terminal 5, and this is important: you do not need to transfer to T2 or T3 before going into the city. T5 has its own metro station, airport buses, taxis, and ride-hailing pickup area.

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Xi’an Airport to the City: Quick Comparison

Transport	Best For
Metro Line 14	Most daytime arrivals
Airport Bus	Late-night arrivals, especially near Bell Tower
Official Taxi	Groups, heavy luggage, direct hotel transfer
DiDi	Travelers already comfortable with ride-hailing

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Metro Line 14: My First Choice During the Day

T5 station: Airport (T5) Station 机场 (T5)
T2/T3 station: Airport West Station 机场西 (T1、T2、T3)
Fare: Around RMB 6–9
Airport to Xi’an North: About 35 minutes
Airport to central Xi’an: Around 60–70 minutes
Last train from T5 toward the city: Around 22:24

For most first-time visitors arriving during the day, I would not overthink this.

Just take the metro.

It is by far the easiest option if your hotel is around Bell Tower, Yongningmen, or inside the City Wall. The fare is only a few yuan, and you do not need to worry about traffic.

The biggest change for international travelers is that Terminal 5 now has its own metro station.

Some older guides still suggest taking the terminal shuttle to T2 or T3 first, but that is no longer necessary.

After immigration and baggage collection, follow the signs for:

Metro / 地铁

from the T5 transportation area to Airport (T5) Station.

If you arrive at T2 or T3, use Airport West Station instead.

Getting to the City Center

Line 14 does not go directly to Bell Tower.

Most visitors will ride to Xi’an North Railway Station and transfer there.

For the most common tourist areas:

• Bell Tower, Yongningmen, City Wall: transfer to Line 2
• Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Grand Tang Mall: transfer toward Line 4

From the airport to central Xi’an, allow roughly 60–70 minutes in total.

That may not sound dramatically faster than a taxi, but the metro is much more predictable. If traffic is heavy, especially around the evening rush, I would rather know exactly how long the journey will take.

Buying a Ticket

If Alipay or WeChat Pay is already working on your phone, payment is easy.

If not, you can still buy a single-journey ticket with RMB cash. Staffed service counters are also available if you need help.

I would keep a small amount of cash after landing anyway. It is useful backup during your first few hours in China.

Watch the Last Train

The main limitation is the last train.

From T5, the final train toward the city leaves at around 22:24.

If your flight lands at 10 PM, I would not assume you will make it. Immigration, baggage collection, and walking through the terminal can easily take long enough to miss the metro.

In that situation, I would move straight to the airport bus.

Airport Bus: The Best Late-Night Backup

City routes: Around RMB 25
Typical journey: Around 45–60 minutes without heavy traffic
Late-night service: Continues after the metro closes

During the day, I would still choose the metro.

But late at night, the airport bus becomes much more useful.

Xi’an has late-night services designed around arriving flights, and this is one of the reasons I think the airport is easier to deal with after midnight than many first-time visitors expect.

If I arrived late, was traveling alone, and stayed near Bell Tower, I would probably take the bus before paying more than RMB 100 for a taxi.

International arrivals at T5 can board directly there. There is no need to transfer to another terminal first.

At T5, follow the airport bus signs toward the pickup area around Gate 512 on Level 1.

If you are unsure which bus to take, I would not spend too much time studying the route map. Show the staff your hotel name and address in Chinese and ask which bus gets you closest.

That is usually easier.

Large suitcases can go into the storage compartment under the bus, which makes this practical even after a long international flight.

Why Bell Tower Is the Most Useful Stop

Several airport bus routes serve central Xi’an, but Bell Tower is the one I would pay most attention to as a visitor.

Many hotels around Bell Tower, Muslim Quarter, and the old city are within a short walk or taxi ride from the stop.

Late-night buses continue after the metro closes, and services keep operating for arriving flights after midnight.

You do not need to memorize every late-night route before you fly.

The practical rule is:

If you land after the metro closes, go to the airport bus counter and show them your hotel address.

If you are staying around Bell Tower, there is a good chance the bus will be useful.

If your hotel is around Qujiang or Big Wild Goose Pagoda, you may still need a short taxi ride after getting off in central Xi’an.

Official Taxi: Best for Groups and Heavy Luggage

To Bell Tower: Around RMB 100–150
Normal journey: About 45–55 minutes
Availability: 24 hours

If I were traveling alone while the metro was running, I would probably not take a taxi.

But with three people and several large suitcases, I would.

Once the fare is split between a few travelers, RMB 100–150 is not especially expensive, and you get a door-to-door ride without changing metro lines.

At T5, follow the Taxi / 出租车 signs to the official taxi area on B1 near Gate 501.

Again, you do not need to transfer to T3 first.

For foreign visitors, the most useful preparation is simple:

Save your hotel name and full address in Chinese.

Keep a screenshot on your phone and show it to the driver.

I would also only use the official taxi queue. If someone approaches you inside the terminal and immediately offers a fixed price into the city, I would just keep walking.

Want a simpler airport arrival? Book a private transfer on Trip.com for a direct ride to your hotel—ideal if you have luggage or just want to skip the hassle of finding a taxi or ride-hailing pickup point.

DiDi: Useful, but Not Automatically Easier

To Bell Tower: Roughly RMB 95–130
T5 pickup: P5A parking garage, B1
Availability: 24 hours

DiDi works well from Xi’an Airport, especially if you have already used it elsewhere in China.

The main advantage is that you can see an estimated fare before booking.

But for a first arrival, I do not think it is automatically easier than a taxi.

At T5, you need to follow the Ride-hailing / 网约车 signs to the designated pickup area in the P5A parking garage on B1.

My advice is to find the pickup area first, then request the car.

Do not book while standing in arrivals and only afterward start trying to work out where the driver is allowed to meet you.

For most trips to central Xi’an, the price is fairly similar to a regular taxi.

What I Would Choose

For a first arrival at Xi’an Airport, I would keep the decision very simple.

Daytime: Metro Line 14.

Late night: Airport bus.

Three or more people with luggage: Taxi.

DiDi is useful once you are comfortable with the app, but I do not think it has a major advantage over the official taxi queue on your first arrival.

The most important thing to remember is that T5 now has direct access to city transportation.

You do not need to take the terminal shuttle to T2 or T3 before finding a metro, airport bus, or taxi.

Once you know that, getting from XIY into central Xi’an is much simpler than it first appears.