Xi'an for First-Time Visitors: Airport, Metro, Payments & Tickets (2026)

Short answer: Book the Terracotta Warriors online with your passport before you go; your passport is the ticket, and holiday dates sell out. Ignore anyone near the car park saying the pits are closed.

Visa-free entry and 240-hour transit

Xi'an's airport is a designated port for 240-hour visa-free transit. If you fly on to a third country or region, you can stay up to 10 days and travel across the 24 permitted provinces (Tibet, Xinjiang and a few other regions are not included).

Not sure which rule applies to you? Check your passport in 10 seconds or see rules by country.

Airport to the city

Xi'an Xianyang (XIY)

Option	Time	Cost
Metro Line 14 + Line 2 Change at Xi'an North Railway Station	1–1.25 h to the Bell Tower	~¥8–10
Airport bus	70–90 min	~¥25
Taxi / Didi Plus tolls; more after 23:00	45–75 min	~¥100–150

Landing late, with luggage or kids? A pre-booked car meets you in arrivals with a name sign, at a fixed price: Xi'an Xianyang (XIY) transfer. (affiliate links)

Times and fares change. Check Amap or the airport's official site on the day. First time landing in China? Read arriving in China step by step.

Metro and taxis

Metro: Pay with Alipay's metro QR code. Foreign card tap-in had not been announced as of October 2026. Set up Alipay with your foreign card before you fly as a backup.

Didi: Didi works well. Inside the old city walls, walking or a shared bike is often faster. See how to use Didi as a foreigner.

Hotels in Xi'an

Check in with your passport: hotels register foreign guests with the police automatically at check-in, so there's nothing else to do. Compare hotels in Xi'an on Trip.com (affiliate link): the site is in English, shows prices in your currency and takes foreign cards. Save the hotel's address in Chinese characters to show taxi drivers.

Top sights: do you need to book?

Terracotta Warriors (Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum)Booking: Real-name online booking, up to 7 days ahead; sells out on holidaysPassport: Yes, bring the originalHow: Your passport is scanned at the gate. About 1 h from the city by bus or car · Book tickets

Shaanxi History MuseumBooking: Real-name reservation required, released days ahead and gone fastPassport: Yes, bring the originalHow: Museum's official channels

City WallBooking: Ticket at the gate or online; no advance booking neededPassport: Yes, bring the originalHow: South Gate (Yongning Gate) is the main entrance; rent a bike on top

Muslim QuarterBooking: Free, no bookingPassport: Not neededHow: Walk from the Bell Tower

"Book tickets" links are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Day trips from Xi'an

Terracotta Warriors and Huaqing Palace: About 1 h by tourist bus or car; combine both in one day
Mount Hua (Huashan): High-speed train to Huashan North, about 30–40 min, then shuttle bus

Where to go next

Beijing: 4.5–6 h by high-speed train
Chengdu: 3–4 h by high-speed train

Booking trains: how to book China's high-speed trains as a foreigner. All cities: China city guides.

Next steps for your trip

1. Fill in the arrival cardOnline, free, within 72h before landing 2. Set up AlipayLink your Visa or Mastercard before you fly 3. Get a China eSIMGoogle, WhatsApp & Instagram keep working · affiliate link Stuck? Ask a real personWhatsApp / WeChat · paid help from $15

FAQ

Can I use 240-hour visa-free transit in Xi'an?

Yes. Xi'an Xianyang airport is a designated port. If you fly on to a third country or region, you can stay up to 10 days and travel across the 24 permitted provinces.

How far ahead should I book the Terracotta Warriors?

Book as soon as your date is fixed: tickets open up to 7 days ahead and are real-name. On Chinese holidays they sell out. Your passport is scanned at the gate.

Can I use a foreign card on the Xi'an metro?

Not reliably. Set up Alipay before you arrive and use its metro QR code.

Last verified 24 October 2026. Sources: [1] [2] [3] . Rules, fares and booking windows change often — confirm on official channels before you travel.