Beijing to Xi’an Flight: Time, Prices, Airports & Arrival Tips

A Beijing to Xi’an flight takes just 2–2.5 hours, which makes flying one of the easiest ways to travel between these two cities.

But don’t let that number fool you. Your trip will also include getting to the right Beijing airport, checking in, waiting to board, and getting from Xi’an Airport into the city. In practice, the whole journey can take 6–8 hours.

In this article, we’ll tell you everything about traveling from Beijing to Xi’an by air on our local guide’s real-life experience.

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• How Long Does a Beijing to Xi’an Flight Really Take?
• Beijing to Xi’an Flight Schedule: Beijing to Xi’an Flight Schedule & Best Departure Times
• Beijing to Xi’an Direct Flight Schedule
• How Much Do Beijing to Xi’an Flights Cost?
• How to Find Cheap Flights from Beijing to Xi’an
• Which Beijing Airport Should You Use for a Xi’an Flight?
• How to Get From Xi’an Airport to Downtown?
• Flight vs High-Speed Train?
• What to Do in Xi’an After You Arrive
• Travel with China Xian Tour

How Long Does a Beijing to Xi’an Flight Really Take?

The Beijing to Xi’an flight duration is only about 2–2.5 hours, but that’s not the number you should plan your day around. From leaving your hotel in Beijing to checking into your hotel in Xi’an, the whole trip usually takes around 6–8 hours.

A typical journey looks like this:

• Beijing hotel → PEK (Beijing Capital International Airport) or PKX (Beijing Daxing International Airport): about 40–90 minutes
• Time at the airport before a domestic flight: about 2 hours
• Beijing to Xi’an flight duration: about 2–2.5 hours
• Landing and collecting checked baggage: about 20–40 minutes
• XIY (Xi’an Xianyang International Airport) → downtown Xi’an: about 40–70 minutes

If you’re staying near the airport, traveling light, and your flight is on time, you might get there faster. But Beijing traffic, long lines at the airport, or a delay can easily stretch the trip beyond 8 hours.

Take a Morning Flight for More Sightseeing Time

Based on our experience, if you want to squeeze in some sightseeing after arrival, a morning flight is your best bet. You can leave Beijing in the morning, and that usually allows you to reach Xi’an around noon or early afternoon. Then you can have enough time for exploring Xi’an’s attractions like the City Wall, Bell Tower, Muslim Quarter, or the Big Wild Goose Pagoda at night.

If you arrive in the evening, it’s better to keep things simple and head straight to your hotel.

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Beijing to Xi’an Flight Schedule: Beijing to Xi’an Flight Schedule & Best Departure Times

Multiple daily flights operate between Beijing and Xi’an every day. Major airlines on this route include Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and Hainan Airlines.

Here’s a quick way to think about the schedule:

• 06:00–09:00: Best if you want to reach Xi’an around noon and save time for sightseeing.
• 09:00–15:00: A pretty comfortable window for most travelers.
• 15:00–19:00: Kind of handy if you still want to spend the morning exploring Beijing.
• After 19:00: A good fit if you’d rather give more sightseeing time to Beijing.

Beijing to Xi’an Direct Flight Schedule

Below are some of the direct flights currently available from Beijing to Xi’an. Keep in mind that the Beijing to Xi’an flight schedule can change depending on the season, day of the week, and airline.

Flight numbers and departure times may also change, so it’s best to check the schedule for your exact travel date before booking.

If this is your first time taking a domestic flight in China, allow extra time. The same goes if you have checked luggage or you’re traveling during a major holiday — arrive at least 2 hours before departure.

How Much Do Beijing to Xi’an Flights Cost?

Based on our experience, Beijing to Xi’an flight prices can vary a lot depending on your travel date, departure time, and airline. During the off-season, or when there happens to be a promotion, you may find one-way tickets, you may find one-way tickets for around RMB 500–800 (US$70–110).

On regular dates, expect about RMB 700–1,500 (US$98–210), while holiday periods and popular travel times can cost more.

A few things can affect the fare:

• Travel date: Summer, the Spring Festival, and the National Day holidays are some of the most expensive periods.
• Departure time: Early-morning and late-evening flights can sometimes be cheaper.
• Booking time: Once your dates are set, comparing flights early gives you more choices than booking at the last minute.
• Beijing airport: Check both PEK and PKX. Fares can differ even on the same day.

How to Find Cheap Flights from Beijing to Xi’an

When looking for cheap flights from Beijing to Xi’an, we suggest you don’t just go for the lowest fare. Look at the cost and convenience of the whole trip.

For example, a flight taking off from PKX may be RMB 100 (US$14) cheaper than one from PEK, but if you’re staying in northeastern Beijing, getting to Daxing Airport could take extra time and cost more. Once you factor that in, the cheaper ticket may not actually save you money.

Weekday flights can sometimes cost less than weekend flights, but fares change, so check your exact travel dates before booking.

Before buying your tickets, also remember to check:

• Whether checked baggage is included
• Whether changes or refunds are allowed
• Whether the arrival time is convenient for getting into the city
• Whether you’ll need a late-night taxi

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Which Beijing Airport Should You Use for a Xi’an Flight?

When booking a flight, pay close attention to the airport code. Beijing has two major airports, PEK and PKX, and the better choice usually comes down to where you’re staying and which flight works best for you.

The Capital Airport Express connects Beixinqiao, Dongzhimen, Sanyuanqiao, T3, and T2. A one-way ticket costs RMB 25 (US$3.50), making PEK especially convenient if you’re staying around Dongzhimen, Sanlitun, or northeastern Beijing.

Daxing Airport is in southern Beijing and is easily reached by the Daxing Airport Express from Caoqiao. If you’re staying in southern Beijing, or you have found a PKX flight with a much better departure time or fare, Daxing may be the better choice.

Which Airport Is Better If You’re Staying Near Wangfujing or the Forbidden City?

In fact, if your hotel is around Wangfujing or the Forbidden City, neither airport is automatically better.

So the better planning strategy is to take a look at how long it’ll take to get from your hotel to each airport, then compare the flight price and departure time. There’s no point going out of your way for a “personally preferred” airport if the other one has a more convenient flight.

One more important tip: always make sure you don’t mix up PEK and PKX. They’re two totally separate airports on opposite sides of Beijing.

For example, if your international flight lands at PEK but your Beijing to Xi’an flight leaves from PKX, you’ll have to cross the city to change airports. That takes much more planning than a normal connection, so leave plenty of time between the two flights.

How to Get From Xi’an Airport to Downtown?

Once your flight lands, check your terminal before heading out, as Xi’an Xianyang International Airport has T2, T3, and T5, with different airlines using different terminals.

Most domestic China Eastern and China Southern flights use T5, while Air China and Hainan Airlines usually use other terminals. Check your flight details on the day, as terminal assignments can change.

The airport is about 25 km northwest of central Xi’an. By road, it’s usually 35–45 km to the Bell Tower and South Gate, and farther if you’re staying around the Big Wild Goose Pagoda or Qujiang.

For Xi’an airport transportation, these are the main choices:

Taking the Metro

From the airport, take Metro Line 14 to Xi’an North Railway Station, then switch to Line 2 or Line 4 for reaching the city center. This is a good option if you don’t have much luggage and if you don’t have much luggage and are looking to keep costs down.

Taking a Taxi or Ride-Hailing Car

If you’re staying around the Bell Tower, South Gate, or Big Wild Goose Pagoda and are carrying large suitcases, taking a taxi is an easier way to get to your hotel.

A daytime taxi trip from the airport to the city costs around RMB 120–130 (US$17–18). However, fares can be higher at night.

Flight vs High-Speed Train?

High-speed rail is another well-established way to travel from Beijing to Xi’an. The usual route is Beijing West Railway Station to Xi’an North Railway Station, with the fastest trains taking about 4–6 hours. Second-class tickets are around RMB 515–620 (US$72–87).

If you’re staying in central Beijing, the train is often less hassle. Flying makes more sense if you’re connecting from another flight, staying near the airport, or if you find a particularly convenient flight time or fare.

What to Do in Xi’an After You Arrive

Beijing and Xi’an fit nicely into the same China trip. Plan on 3–4 days in Beijing and another 2–3 days in Xi’an, then you’ll get a solid 5–7-day Beijing-Xi’an itinerary covering two of China’s most historic cities.

With 2 Days in Xi’an

• Day 1: Arrive in Xi’an → Bell and Drum Towers → Muslim Quarter
• Day 2: Terracotta Warriors → Xi’an City Wall → Big Wild Goose Pagoda at night

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With 3–4 Days in Xi’an

• Day 1: Arrive in Xi’an → Bell and Drum Towers → Muslim Quarter
• Day 2: Terracotta Warriors → Big Wild Goose Pagoda → Grand Tang Mall
• Day 3: Mount Hua day trip
• Day 4: Xi’an City Wall → Xi’an Museum → Small Wild Goose Pagoda

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Travel with China Xian Tour

Traveling with China Xian Tour means you can settle into Xi’an without spending your first day figuring everything out on your own. Our local team knows the city well and can not only take care of your ticket booking but also help make your time here smoother, especially if it’s your first visit to China.