Xi'an Airport, Xi'an

When you get out of the airport, go straight out the doors and you will see the transit busses in front of you.

Its only 25rmb to town and takes about 50 mins

The drop off point is in front of the melody hotel in the city centre by the bell tower.

BE AWARE Taxi touts will try and get you to go with them, they can get aggressive.

The bus goes from 7am in the morning to like 11pm at night 1/2 hourly

The return journey to the airport is from the drop off point.

Anne and I were surprised to find China Southern Airlines to be a hassle free experience.
You often hear horror stories about air travel within China and I must admit that I was dreading the entire experience.
Apart from the standard check in at the airport, which was painfully slow, the rest of the experience was excellent.
The flight departed on time, the aircraft was modern, the crew were friendly, a meal was served, the plane landed on time and our luggage arrived with the same plane....SHEER LUXURY!
I would recommend them to anyone

No se si es que era temporada alta o si existe todo el año pero pudimos volar directo desde Xian a Jiuzhai Gou por 540 Yuan incluyendo la comisión de la agencia
El autobús que va a la estación sale del Hotel Melody , muy cerca de la Torre del tambor y tarda una hora aproximadamente , depende del tráfico (25 Yuan )


We do not know if because the high season or if they have all year around , but we were able to to get a direct fly from Xian to Jiuzhai Gou for 540 Yuan including the agency commission
The bus to the station leaves from the Melody Hotel , very near the Drum Tower and takes about one hour depending on the traffic (25 Yuan)

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Try www.elong.com for China domestic flights schedules and prices.

Some flights are discounted. Sometimes 50% or more! In China, the flights are usually discounted closer to the date of departure.

Last year (May 2007) I flew from Xi'an to Shanghai for 50% off for a total of 760 rmb including all taxes and fees, about $99.00 at that time. It would be over $100 with today's exchange rates.

I have other information and web site as a China travel tip at the below location.

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/9e4cc/5a0/9/

When you land at Xi'an airport walk straight out of the airport and you will see the airport buses lined up. Bus line 1 will take you to the Bell Tower (stops infront of Melody Hotel) in the middle of the city. The cost is 25 RMB and takes about 50 minutes. You can get the tickets just before you get on the bus.

The bus conductors were helpful in giving some information on how to reach your hotel from the bus stop. Once you get off the bus at the Melody hotel becareful of taxi louts waiting for the arrival of the bus as well as pick pockets and souvenir hawkers.

You can catch the bus back to the airport from the same location infront of the Melody Hotel. Once on the bus show your airplane ticket the the conductor and they will inform you which terminal to get off.

when you arrive in Xi'an.... as you walk straight out of arrivals hall, you will only see black taxis....
these want to charge you between 150-170 rmb.... if you can afford it fine.
If not, don't bother... instead of walking straight, as soon as you go out the glass doors, make a left and walk 250-400 meters... out in the boondocks... you shall see the green taxis who will charge between 90-100rmb (well bargained).....

it is obvious the airport owners or someone own the black taxis and the airport shuttle (which charges 25rmb ... more than in Beijing!!!)....
and that is called MAFIA... price tampering and not giving customers the opportunity to choose from different prices...

*the same goes with taxi drivers in the city.... for short/easy rides... the take the longer route and claim the road is under construction, etc....

Cheaper option to the city (25yuan, approx. 1hour). Can't miss it, as the buses are just right outside the airport. We told the bus conductors where we wanted to go, and they directed us to the correct bus, and where we ought to alight.

We took the bus in which its last stop is at the Melody Hotel (West street), very near the Bell Tower. Once down from the bus, be skeptical of the taxi drivers who tries to rip off newcomers to the city.

Xi'an Xianyang International Airport covers 500 hectares and is the largest airport in China's northwest. The airport was the hub for China Northwest Airlines until the company was merged into China Eastern Airlines in 2002. Currently, the airport connects to 79 other cities domestically and internationally. Most people use taxicabs or the airport bus to reach town from the airport however I made some friends with some Chinese on the plane and got a ride into town.