VISITXIAN
A gleaming concourse on the Xi'an Metro
Moving in Xi'an

Get around.

China moves by app, scan and high-speed rail — not by hailing cabs from a curb. The metro is the spine; DiDi and scan-to-ride bikes fill the gaps; the right map matters more than you'd think. Here's how each piece works.

In the city
Photo by Bob Wehn, via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
01

In the city

The metro is the spine; DiDi and bikes fill the gaps; the right map matters more than you'd think.

Practical guide

Getting around: metro, buses, DiDi & taxis

Xi'an's metro covers everything a tourist needs for ¥2–8 a ride, with English signage throughout. For anywhere off the rails, DiDi (China's Uber, in English) is cheap and easy — and the walled center is compact enough to walk.

Practical guide

Maps in China: why Google Maps fails, and what to use instead

Google Maps in China fails twice — it's blocked on mainland networks, and its pins sit 100–600 meters off reality thanks to China's scrambled map coordinates. The fix is easy: Apple Maps on iPhone, Amap on Android, and a few screenshots before you fly.

Practical guide

DiDi in English: ride-hailing in Xi'an without a Chinese number

DiDi is China's ride-hailing giant, and in 2026 it works end-to-end for foreigners: English interface, signup on your home phone number, payment by foreign card or through Alipay/WeChat. Set it up before you fly and every ride in Xi'an becomes a non-event.

Practical guide

Shared bikes in Xi'an: the last-kilometer answer

Xi'an's yellow and blue shared bikes turn the flat, spread-out city center into a 10-minute ride — unlocked with the Alipay or WeChat scan you already have, deposit-free, for about ¥1.5 per half hour. The one skill you need is parking inside the GPS zones.

02

Reaching Xi'an & the region

The high-speed rail that frames every trip — and the stations you'll pass through.

Practical guide

High-speed rail to Xi'an

China's bullet trains are the best way to reach Xi'an from Beijing, Shanghai or Chengdu — city center to city center at 300 km/h. Book on Trip.com or the official 12306 app with your passport, then scan that same passport at the gates: it is your ticket.

Practical guide

Xi'an's railway stations explained

Xi'an has three main passenger stations and they are nowhere near each other. Xi'an North handles almost all high-speed rail; Xi'an (the old central station) handles conventional trains and sits next to the wall; and Xi'an East — which only opened on June 30, 2026 — is the brand-new hub for Wuhan, Yan'an and Ankang. Get the station name right when you book, or you will miss your train.

Practical guide

Getting to Xi'an: flights & XIY airport guide

Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) sits about 40 km northwest of the city. Almost no intercontinental flights land here, so most Western travelers connect through Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong or Seoul — then take metro Line 14 or a ¥100–180 taxi into town.

First time in China?

If payments, eSIMs and the visa rule still feel unclear, start with the arrivals checklist — it walks through the setups in the order you'll actually need them.

Start here