Short answer
The Beijing–Xi'an high-speed service runs Beijing West (北京西) to Xi'an North (西安北) — about 1,216 km — in roughly 4 hours 10 minutes on the fastest G-train. Most trains take 4h 10m to 6h 05m depending on stops. This is the single most popular leg for first-time visitors: the Forbidden City to the Terracotta Army, with the day's travel spent looking out of a window rather than sitting in an airport.
Second class costs roughly ¥480–¥595 one way. Published ranges differ because fares float with the train and the date — TravelChinaGuide cites ¥480–593 and China for Travelers ¥515–578. The number of daily departures also varies by source: China for Travelers counts about 32 a day, TravelChinaGuide about 23 pairs of G-trains, and some listings 20+. Assume a comfortable choice of departures from early morning to around 20:40, and confirm on 12306.
Book on 12306 with your passport and pay via Alipay or WeChat Pay. Your passport is your ticket — there is nothing to collect. Xi'an North is about 12–15 km north of the walled city and sits on Metro Lines 2, 4 and 14, with Line 2 running straight to the Bell Tower in about 30 minutes.
The route at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Distance | About 1,216 km |
| Stations | Beijing West (北京西) → Xi'an North (西安北) |
| Fastest G-train | About 4h 10m |
| Typical journey | 4h 10m – 6h 05m, depending on intermediate stops |
| Departures | Roughly 20–32 a day depending on the source; the bulk leave from Beijing West |
| Second class fare | Roughly ¥480–¥595 one way; check the exact price for your train on 12306 |
| Flight comparison | About 2h 10m in the air — the train usually wins door to door |
| Overnight alternative | A small number of overnight D-trains; longer, but they save a hotel night |
Figures cross-checked against TravelChinaGuide and China for Travelers route data, both indicative. Fares and departure counts are set by China Railway and change with the timetable.
Which station at the Beijing end
This is where most travellers get caught out. Xi'an-bound trains do not leave from Beijing South, and they do not leave from Beijing Capital or Daxing airports. The overwhelming majority use Beijing West, on the west side of the city centre.
| Station | Role on this route | Metro |
|---|---|---|
| Beijing West 北京西 | The main departure point — roughly three-quarters of daily Xi'an departures | Lines 7 and 9 |
| Beijing Fengtai 北京丰台 | A minority of services | Line 10 and others |
| Beijing Qinghe 清河 | A few services, mostly heading west and north-west | Line 13 and Changping line |
| Beijing South 北京南 | No Xi'an service — that is the Shanghai line | Lines 4 and 14 |
At the Xi'an end: Xi'an North
Essentially every high-speed train on this route arrives at Xi'an North (西安北), in the Weiyang district about 12–15 km north of the walled centre. It is one of the largest stations in Asia, and the internal walk from the platform to the metro concourse is long, budget 30 to 45 minutes from stepping off the train to reaching a hotel inside the city wall.
| From Xi'an North | Metro | Destination |
|---|---|---|
| Line 2 | Boards inside the station concourse | Bell Tower (钟楼) in the walled centre, about 30 minutes |
| Line 4 | Boards inside the station concourse | South toward the Big Wild Goose Pagoda area |
| Line 14 | Also serves the station | Airport and eastern connections |
There is also the older, more central Xi'an Railway Station (西安站) near the north-east corner of the City Wall. It handles conventional trains and a few high-speed services, and it is far more convenient for the Bell Tower, but do not assume your ticket uses it. On 12306, Xi'anbei is North and Xi'an is the central station.
How to book
- Register on 12306 before you travelUse
12306.cn/enor the 12306 app. Both have an English interface and accept foreign passports. - Match your passport name exactlyThe booking name must match the machine-readable zone character for character. This is the most common reason a gate rejects a passenger.
- Add yourself as a passengerPassport number and expiry date are required for the passenger profile, separately from your account.
- Pay with Alipay or WeChat Pay12306 does not accept foreign credit cards directly. Both Chinese wallets take foreign-issued Visa and Mastercard after verification.
- Book early in holiday periodsThis is one of the busiest tourist corridors in the country. The release window runs in weeks, not months, and Golden Week and Chinese New Year sell out fast.
- Use the waitlist if your train is fullThe waitlist (候补) is free, fills automatically from cancellations, and only charges you when a seat is confirmed.
Step-by-step detail on registration, payment and third-party alternatives is in our guide to buying train tickets in China as a foreigner.
Boarding: what happens at the gate
- Security screeningBags through the X-ray, you through the metal detector, at the station entrance.
- Passport scanYour passport is your ticket. Large stations have gates that read foreign passports; if yours fails, go to a staffed lane rather than retrying.
- Departure hallFind your train on the board, note the gate, and sit near it. Beijing West and Xi'an North are both very large.
- Board when the gate opensThe gate opens for a window before departure and closes before the train leaves. Departure time is not boarding time.
- Second scan at the platform gateExpect another passport scan before you go down to the platform.
Train or plane to Xi'an?
The flight is about 2 hours 10 minutes in the air, but Xi'an Xianyang Airport is a long way outside the city and both airport transfers eat the difference. The train leaves from Beijing West, roughly 30 minutes from Tiananmen on Metro Lines 7 and 9, and arrives on the Xi'an metro network. It is also far less exposed to weather delays, and the middle of the route, through the Taihang and Zhongtiao ranges, is genuinely worth watching.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Beijing to Xi'an high-speed train?
About 4 hours 10 minutes on the fastest G-train, with most services running 4h 10m to 6h 05m. The route is roughly 1,216 km.
Which stations does it use?
Beijing West (北京西) to Xi'an North (西安北) for the overwhelming majority of trains. A minority of Beijing departures use Beijing Fengtai or Beijing Qinghe. There is no Xi'an service from Beijing South.
How much is a second class ticket?
Roughly ¥480–¥595 one way. TravelChinaGuide cites ¥480–593 and China for Travelers ¥515–578; fares float with the train and the date, so confirm the price for your departure in the 12306 app.
How many trains run each day?
Sources disagree, which reflects how often the timetable is revised: China for Travelers counts about 32 departures a day, TravelChinaGuide about 23 pairs of G-trains, and some listings 20+. Check 12306 for your date rather than relying on any published count.
How do I get from Xi'an North to the city centre?
Metro Line 2 from inside the station concourse reaches the Bell Tower in about 30 minutes. Line 4 heads south toward the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The station is 12–15 km north of the walled centre, and the internal walk out of the building is long, so allow 30–45 minutes door to door.
Can I use Beijing South station for the Xi'an train?
No. Beijing South serves the Shanghai corridor. Xi'an trains use Beijing West, on the other side of the city. They are roughly 40 minutes apart by metro.
Do I need to print a ticket?
No. Your passport is your ticket. You scan it at the entrance, at the departure gate and sometimes again at the platform gate.
Is the train better than flying to Xi'an?
Usually, door to door. The flight is around 2h 10m in the air, but Xi'an Xianyang Airport is well outside the city. The train runs between two metro-connected stations and is less prone to weather delays.
Related reading
Route length, station pairs, journey times, fare ranges and departure counts cross-checked against TravelChinaGuide and China for Travelers route guides (checked 2026); Beijing West and Xi'an North metro line data from station records and China for Travelers station guides. Fares, release windows and timetables are set by China Railway and change, treat every figure here as indicative and confirm your specific journey in the 12306 app.