Beijing to Xian by train

The best way to travel between Beijing & Xian is by train, using a time-effective sleeper train.

Beijing ► Xian

Xian ► Beijing

Train number:

T41

T231

T43 **

Z19 *

Z53 *

Train number

T232

T42

Z54 *

Z20 *

T44 **

Beijing (West)

depart

15:52

16:55

20:48

19:57

20:03

day 1

Xian

depart

18:32

18:20

19:21

19:30

19:00

day 1

Xian

arrive

05:34

06:46

09:00

07:50

08:10

day 2

Beijing (West)

arrive

06:28

09:02

08:24

08:18

08:12

day 2

* recommended trains, see the photos below.  These superb 'Z' category trains have top-quality air-conditioned sleeping-cars, far superior to any flight and saves time over flying, too.  Hard sleepers, 4-berth soft class sleepers, 2-berth deluxe soft sleepers (on Z19/Z20 only), restaurant car (with menu in Chinese and English, beer a reasonable RMB15, the crispy fried prawns are recommended!) and bar.  It is reported that the on-board staff are helpful and speak some English, and the berths are even fitted with small TV screens.

** Trains T44 & T43 have 2-berth deluxe sleepers with private toilet as well as normal 4-berth soft sleepers, hard class sleepers & restaurant car.

Beijing to Xian is 1,200 km (750 miles).  All trains shown are daily.  Other trains are also available, only the best options are shown here.  Beijing metro map.  Street map of Beijing showing stations.

The Terracotta warriors are 40-45 minutes from Xian station by bus 306 or 307, fare about 7 RMB.  Minibuses & taxis are also available.

Fares
Beijing-Xian one-way per person	Hard sleeper	Soft sleeper	Deluxe Soft sleeper
Bought at reservations office in China:	RMB 290 ($40)	RMB 442 ($62)	RMB 816 ($110)
Booked in advance at www.chinatripadvisor.com:	$50	$80	$135
Booked in advance at www.china-train-ticket.com:	$105	$130	$175

Children under 120cm tall travel free, 120-150cm tall travel for half fare, over 150cm tall pay full fare (140cm was changed to 150cm in Dec 2008, and 110cm to 120cm in Dec 2010)

The sleeper fares shown here are for lower berths.  Upper berths (and middle berths in hard sleeper) are a fraction cheaper.

How to buy tickets

Traveller Graham Dawes reports (April 2009):  "I successfully used "English Spoken" booking hall window (which appears to change so look carefully over booking hall windows for the sign) in Beijing Xizahn (West) to book return tickets to Xian on the Z19/Z20 last week for travel this week.  Soft sleeper in a 4 berth cabin cost Y417 each way.  Only cash accepted at window, no credit cards. Lower berths seem slightly longer (about 2 metres) if you are tall.  Pillow and duvet provided in each berth.  Travelled both ways (solo) and shared with Chinese ladies and men and had entertaining conversations in adequate English. Train crew attendants also spoke some English and recorded announcements on board made in English as well as Chinese.  Slept reasonably well and train ran punctually to the minute both ways.  Excellent value, even the toilets were fine at the end of the trips.  No sign of individual berth TV's in the coaches in which I travelled.  In both stations used the Soft Class Waiting Lounges where there are excellent electronic display boards (in English & Chinese) for departures.  You leave this lounge to board the train via a ticket inspection.  Retain tickets for inspection at arrival stations."

What are the Z19 / Z20 Beijing-Xian trains like?

'Z' category trains are the fastest and most modern long distance trains in China, running on routes such as Beijing-Xian, though now superseded by D-category sleeper trains on the Beijing-Shanghai route.  They are composed of the very latest air-conditioned sleepers, plus bar and restaurant.  Traveller Jim McCorry reports: "The train journey was exceptionally good; the sleeping accommodation was first class as was the service.  We also had the opportunity to meet and enjoy conversations, sometimes only in written form I may say, with a number of Chinese people sharing our compartment both going and returning.  Booking in Beijing was relatively painless as they have a special booking office for foreigners."

Above:  Each coach proudly carries a destination plate, in Chinese and English... Photo courtesy of Bas de Graaff		Above:  Upper & lower berths in a soft class sleeper, complete with individual TV screens... Photo courtesy of Bas de Graaff

Above:  2-berth deluxe soft sleepers have upper & lower berths on one side of the compartment, a wardrobe and armchair on the other side... Both photos courtesy of Bas de Graaff		Above:  2-berth deluxe sleepers have a private toilet & washroom.

There are more photos of the excellent 'Z' trains here.