The main airport servicing the city of Xi`An is the Xi`An Xianyang International Airport located 25 miles northwest of the city center. If you have not booked a private transfer with us then you have a few options for transportation at the airport including rental cars, taxis, and buses.

Taxis are available at the airport and can be found at the Ground Transportation Center, follow the signs for taxis as you exit the arrivals. Regular taxis are green and more expensive luxury taxis are black. A taxi far from the airport to the city center will cost between ¥100 - ¥120. The prices increase by ¥0.03 for every 0.62 miles from 11 pm until 6 am and the journey to the city center takes about an hour.

Airport buses are available at the airport and connect passenger to Xi`an and Xianyang city with six different routes available. Make your way to the Ground Transportation Center where the bus stops are located. Tickets can be purchased at the Passenger Service Center and at the Ground Transportation Center. The buses depart every 30 minutes from 6 am until 6 pm. The cost is approximately ¥25 and the journey takes about an hour.

Rental cars are also available at the airport, make your way to the Ground Transportation Center for more information on the companies offered and pricing.

There are two main railway stations in Xi`An city, Xi`An Railway Station which is located on Jiefang Road to the northeast corner of the City Wall, this station is the largest railway hub in western China servicing regular trains to and from major cities in the country. The Xi`An North Railway Station is located 6 miles north of Xi`An`s north gate servicing high-speed trains that can connect passengers to Beijing from Xi`An in 5 hours. There is the subway station, buses and taxis can be found outside of the stations for further transportation to your hotel.

The city of Xi`An is one of the most convenient and important transportation hubs in central and western China with many forms of transportation that connect to the major cities in the country.

The metro is the most recent addition to the city`s transportation and is still developing, currently lines 1,2 and 3 are in full operation with several other lines under construction. The metro provides visitors with access to major attractions in the city including Banpo Station on Line 1, the Drum and Bell Towers, the City Wall and Shaanxi History Museum on Line 2 and Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Qinglong Temple on Line 3. Line 1 runs east to west and line 2 runs north to south. When all the lines are completed the metro will cover 150 miles around the city.

The easiest and most convenient way to get around the city is by taxi, taxis are plentiful and can be found outside the main stations (metro, bus, train) as well as on the streets and at major tourist attractions. The general cost for a journey within the city walls with cost around ¥10 and trips to attractions outside the city walls will cost between ¥12-20.

Buses run all over the city with bus stops located at all the major tourist attractions and the downtown area. A bus provides visitors with a cheap and convenient transportation option. Bus fares cost around ¥1 - ¥2 (carry the exact change as no change is provided on the bus) and one of the popular lines for tourists is #610 which connects the railway station with the Bell Tower, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, and the Xi`an Museum along with other popular attractions. Head to the Tourism Office Center located near the Bell Tower for a free map of the city which shows the bus lines available in the city.

Trains are also available to transport passengers to other cities in China.

The city is full of taxi`s, over 12,000 currently run in Xi`an city, most are green in color and easy to hail from the street or find outside of the major attractions and stations in the city. They may be harder to come by during rush hour from 7:30 am until 9:00 am and 5:30 pm until 7:00 pm. Taxi fares start out around ¥6 and go up ¥1.5 every 0.62 miles, taxis at night (11 pm until 6 am) start around ¥8 and go up ¥1.8 every 0.62 miles.

Xi`An city center is very compact and easy to navigate on foot, set up in a grid layout inside the city walls where the Bell Tower and Drum Tower situated in the center as a navigational point and landmark marking the center of the city. There are four main streets that run from the center and go north, east, south, and west connecting to the attractions, shopping, and restaurants. The city wall lights up at night providing a great ambiance to the city and making it perfect for an evening stroll around the base of the walls. There is a park that surrounds the wall with a moat along with many other attractions that are great for exploring on foot.

One of the absolute best ways to explore the city is on a bicycle, especially taking a ride on top of the ancient city wall that runs for 8.5 miles, which is the longest city wall in the world. Here visitors will find attractions such as the Drum Tower and the Bell Tower which are centrally located within the walls and easily accessible. Many of the tourist attractions in Xi`An are located within a close range making walking or biking to them easy and fun. Bicycle rentals are available in the city especially around the city wall and many hotels in the city also offer bikes and the roads are bicycle friendly, flat and easy to navigate. Renting a bicycle from one of the stations situated along the city wall with cost approximately ¥45 for 120 minutes or ¥90 for 120 minutes on a two-person bike, you can hire from one station and return to any other station along the city wall. The journey along the entire wall will take approximately 2 - 3 hours on a bicycle with plenty of scenic spots along the way to stop and enjoy a picnic and birds eye views of the inner city.

The city of Xi`An is a safe place to visit, like any other major city in the world there are a few things we recommend to watch out for on your travel. Be aware of pickpockets which are not uncommon in crowded areas especially on board public transportation like the metro and in and around popular tourist attractions. Keep your belongings secure at all times. Use your street smarts especially at night and do not wander into unpopulated areas, keep to the main streets and well-lit areas at night if you are walking, or better yet take a taxi back to your hotel.

The city of Xi`An is famous for its reproduction of the Terracotta Army Figurines and wooden Buddhas which can be found in shops and markets all over the city. There are a few malls, outlets and department stores situated in and around the city, but the city mostly consists of small markets and local souvenir shops that specialize in antiques, tricolored pottery, paintings, and handicrafts. Check out the Bazaar Area which is situated behind the Drum Tower in the Muslim Quarter a great place to purchase souvenirs at bargain prices and knock off jewelry, watches, and clothes, make sure you brush up on your bargaining skills.

The units of currency in Xi`An is the Renminbi (RMB or CNY). US dollars are not accepted. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand or be prepared to exchange your dollars for pounds upon arrival. Currency exchanged desks can be found at the airport and many locations throughout the city.

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Xi`An`s location in central China makes it a well-known city to visit and a renowned destination for delicious Chinese, Cantonese and Sichuan cuisine and local snacks. From braising to frying, steaming or stir-frying the food here is cooked up in many unique ways. Using salt, vinegar, capsicum, and garlic to make the distinct savory flavors sour, spicy and fragrant that make up the Shaanxi cuisine, Xi`An has earned its title as `the capital of table delicacies` with excellent culinary achievement. There are dumplings, barbequed meat, and ribs, noodles and sandwiches on offer at local restaurants and street food vendors. Some of the favored street snacks include cold rice noodles, Rou Jian Mo (sandwich) and Yang Rou Pao Mo (bread soaked in a mutton stew). The Muslim Quarter is by far the best location to get your snack on, this vibrant, bustling neighborhood is celebrated for its tasty street snacks and local restaurants that fill the ancient streets.

When it comes to nightlife in the city, Xi`An is filled with plenty of memorable experiences including the Qin Opera, the Tang Dynasty Dinner shows and Shaanxi Song and Dance Theatre where visitors can enjoy a traditional Chinese evening with food, music, poems, and dance. Travelers can also indulge in the city`s bar scene with local bars, clubs and karaoke bars filled with drinks and dancing that are open until the wee hours.

Strolling the streets around the Bell Tower and along the ancient City Walls at night provide visitors with a great variety of options for the evening including dining, shopping, bars, clubs along romantic evening walks and a relaxing quiet drink in a romantic setting can all be found around this stunning area which is vibrantly lit up at night.

The Song of Everlasting Sorrow is a historical drama adapted from a poem dating back to the Tang Dynasty, the show is held at the Huaqing Hot Springs from April to October. The performance is a tragic love story about an emperor and his concubine which includes music, dance, costumes and lights set in a beautiful tranquil outdoor setting at the base of the mountains.

The official language spoken in Xi`An is Mandarin. The English language is taught in schools in China and many Chinese people can speak some English, especially the younger generation and those working in the service industry. We suggest you get a good English-Chinese guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1 - 10.

In case of an emergency dial 110 for the police, 120 for an ambulance and 119 for a fire.

Hospitals:

People`s Hospital of Shaanxi Province tel. 86-29-8525-1331

Xi`an Gaoxin Hospital tel. 86-29-8833-0120

Xi`an No.4 Hospital tel. 86-29-8742-0006

Xi`an First Hospital tel. 86-29-8763-0800