If you’re looking for how to get from Beijing to Xian then one of the best ways is to take the Beijing to Xian train. With both high-speed bullet trains and overnight trains, this is one of the quickest and most comfortable ways to arrive in Xian.
Quick takeaway: There are up to 28 trains from Beijing to Xian each day. Tickets cost from as little as ¥148.50 ($20.50) for an overnight train and ¥515.50 ($71) for a high-speed train. Click here to book your China train ticket.
I’ve taken the Beijing Xian train many times having lived in China for over six years and find it the best way to get between the two cities. Taking the fast train is usually quicker than flying when you factor in check-in and waiting around.
There are 28 daily trains running between Beijing and Xian. 19 of these are ultra-modern high-speed trains and 9 of these are slower sleeper trains. The trains run from 06:27 in the morning to 22:06 at night.
The fastest of the high-speed trains takes just four hours and twenty minutes from Beijing to Xian.
Beijing to Xian High Speed Train
China’s high-speed rail network is one of the best in the world. The Beijing to Xian bullet train is formed of 8 or 12 carriages depending on which service. The carriages are made up of the following seats: –
2nd Class – Rows of three seats on one side of the aisle and two on the other.
1st Class – Larger seats with two on one side of the aisle and one on the other.
Business Class – One seat on each side of the aisle.
Pro tip: The 2nd Class seats are comfortable with plenty of legroom and fine for this journey.
Click here to book your China train ticket
Beijing to Xian Overnight Train
The sleeper trains are an excellent option for travellers on a budget. Not only are the fares very cheap by international standards, but you can save on a night’s accommodation and wake up in Xi’an.
The sleeper trains have the following sleeping/seating options:
Hard Seat – Not recommended for this journey. The seats are uncomfortable and upright and the carriages are very busy with people standing/sitting in the aisles.
Hard Sleeper – Open plan carriage with rows of three beds. Perfectly comfortable for this trip and the option I usually choose.
Soft Sleeper – Four berth cabins with lockable doors. If you are not on a tight budget then this is a more comfortable option, but not necessary.
Click here to book your China train ticket
How Much is a Ticket from Beijing to Xian?
Tickets for the train from Beijing to Xian are surprisingly cheap by Western standards (certainly compared to the prices of train travel in Britain) and tickets start from as low as $20.
Fast Train Ticket Prices
| Class | Cost ¥ RMB | Cost $ USD |
| 2nd Class | ¥515.50 | $71.00 |
| 1st Class | ¥824.50 | $114.00 |
| Business Class | ¥1627.50 | $225.00 |
Click here to book your China train ticket
Sleeper Train Ticket Prices
| Class | Cost ¥ RMB | Cost $ USD |
| Hard Seat | ¥148.50 | $20.50 |
| Hard Sleeper | ¥272.50 | $38.00 |
| Soft Sleeper | ¥415.50 | $57.50 |
Average prices from Trip.com are correct as of July 2023. Converted using XE.com and subject to change. See the schedule below for the exact prices for each Beijing to Xian train. Click here to book your E-ticket.
How to Buy Tickets for the Beijing to Xian Train
Tickets go on sale one month in advance (for busy routes additional trains are sometimes added nearer to the departure date). The easiest way is to book online. Click here to book your E-ticket.
At the Station
Tickets can be purchased from any station in Beijing (and indeed China). At Beijing West Station where the Xian trains depart, the ticket office is to the left of the main entrance. It is unlikely you will find anyone speaking English, though you may be lucky.
If you don’t speak Chinese you will need to research the train you want online and write down the train number, seat option and date, but you might as well just book the whole thing online (see below).
China Railways Booking Agency
There are China Railway booking agencies throughout Beijing and you can purchase tickets here for a small transaction fee of ¥5 ($0.70). As with the stations, it is even less likely to find English-speaking staff.
Online E-Tickets
So, how can you buy a ticket if you don’t speak Chinese? As someone who has lived in China for over 6 years, I can say that by far the easiest way to book is using the Trip.com website.
Trip.com charge a ¥30 ($4.15) transaction fee but it’s so easy that I don’t mind paying this. Everything is in English and it’s easy to search for trains and pay online.
You will then be emailed your E-ticket which will enable you to enter the station and train (you’ll need your passport too). Click here to book now.
Here are the screens from the Trip.com app for choosing the train and seat.
For more info see my complete guide to buying train tickets in China.
Where Do I Get the Beijing to Xian Train From?
All trains for Xian leave from Beijing West Station. The fast trains go to Xian North Station and the sleeper trains go to the more central Xian Railway Station (with the last train going to Xian South).
Beijing West Railway Station Details
Address: China, Beijing, Fengtai District, 阜成门 邮政编码: 100038. Click here for directions.
How to Get to Beijing West Station
Metro: Beijing West is located at the intersection of lines 7 (light green) and 9 (beige). Click here to view a PDF of the Beijing Metro.
Bus: There are shuttle buses from the airport and other locations around the city to Beijing West. From the airport, the journey time is around two hours depending on traffic.
Taxi: A taxi from the airport to the station takes around 90 minutes and costs around ¥150 ($21). As a foreigner, it’s not always easy to hail a taxi in Beijing, but if you go to official ranks at the airport of stations it’s generally okay.
Private Transfer: The most comfortable way to get to the station is by private transfer. Click here for details.
Facilities at the station:
- Ticket office (usually very busy, so try and buy online to save queueing)
- Left luggage
- Toilets (Asian squat style, bring your own loo roll)
- Metro station
- Restaurants (Chinese and fast food such as McDonalds and KFC)
- Coffee shops
Security When Entering the Station
Entering a railway station in China is the same as going through airport security. First, you’ll need to show your passport and ticket. Then, you’ll have your bags scanned and go through an X-ray. If you have any open drinks bottles you’ll need to drink some in front of security to show it’s not harmful.
Prohibited items on the train:
- Pocket knives (including Swiss Army Knife)
- Spray cans (deodorant, hair spray etc)
- Anything that can be construed as a weapon
Current Beijing to Xian Train Schedule
Trains from Beijing West to Xian North (Bullet Train)
Trains from Beijing West to Xian Railway Station (Sleeper)
Beijing to Xian Schedule
Trains from Beijing West to Xian South (Sleeper)
Beijing to Xian Schedule
Where to stay in Xian?
Xi’an offers everything from budget accommodation like the fantastic Travelling with Hostel next to the South gate to more luxurious hotels like the nearby Howard Johnson Plaza. Check Booking.com for a full list of options.
Things to Do in Xian
Xian is one of my favourite cities in China (along with Hangzhou and Sanya) as it’s steeped in history from the ancient Silk Road. It was once the capital of China, known then as Chang’an.
I’ve visited Xian many times and am looking forward to returning soon for a visit. Here are some of the top things to do in the city:
- Visit the Terracotta Warriors
- Cycle the City Walls
- See the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
- Eat Street Food in the Muslim Quarter
- Visit the Shaanxi History Museum
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Beijing to Xian Train FAQs
It takes 4 to 6 hours to go from Beijing to Xian by bullet train or 11 to 15 hours by sleeper train.
The first train leaves Beijing West Station at 06:27 and arrives in Xian at 11:03.
There are 28 trains from Beijing to Xian every day. 19 high-speed bullet trains and 9 slow, sleeper trains.
Tickets cost from ¥515 ($73) for a fast train and ¥148 ($21 for a slow train).
Conclusion
Now you know all there is to know about going from Beijing to Xian by train, all that’s left is to buy your ticket. Click here to get your e-ticket with Trip.com.
You might like my other articles about China:
About the author:
Steve Rohan is a writer from Essex, England. He has traveled to over 60 countries, lived in Armenia, China and Hong Kong, and is now living the digital nomad life on the road.
Steve prefers “slow travel” and has covered much of the world by train, bus and boat. He has been interviewed multiple times by the BBC and recently featured in the documentary Scariest Places in the World. See the About page for more info.
Where I am now: Yerevan, Armenia 🇦🇲