Route at a glance
- From: Beijing West
- To: Xi'an North
- Distance: 1,216 km
- Fastest: 4h 10m
- Frequency: Frequent (multiple per day)
High-speed rail · 1,216 km
Beijing to Xi'an by high-speed rail
The standard way to pair the Forbidden City with the Terracotta Army. Fastest trains run about 4h 10m, and Xi'an North (西安北) is a 20-minute metro ride from the city wall. Fastest 4h 10m, around US$85 second class on Trip.com (sampled 2026-06-02).
Fare (second class, sampled)
US$85
on the fastest service, via Trip.com. Their USD price includes fees and FX — not the 12306 face fare. Live price and other classes on Trip.com. Snapshot 2026-06-02.
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Tips for the Beijing–Xi'an ride
- Departs Beijing West (北京西), not Beijing South — they are different stations on opposite sides of the city.
- From Xi'an North, Metro Line 2 runs straight to the Bell Tower / city-wall core.
- Book a morning G-train so you arrive with daylight for the Muslim Quarter.
Booking as a foreigner
China HSR accepts foreign passports, but the official 12306 platform is awkward with non-Chinese cards. Trip.com is the practical English option — see our guides before you book.
On a 240-hour transit?
If you're riding this leg as part of a China visa-free transit, your route, ports, and stay window all have to line up. Run it through the checker before you commit to the booking.
Popular high-speed rail routes
- Shanghai to Beijing — 4h 24m, from US$98
- Xi'an to Chengdu — 3h 7m, from US$44
- Chengdu to Chongqing — 1h 15m, from US$19
- Shanghai to Hangzhou — 45m, from US$13
- Shanghai to Suzhou — 23m, from US$6
- Guangzhou to Hong Kong — 48m