Travel Info
Xi'an, located in
central-northwest China, records the great changes of the country
just like a living history book. Called Chang'an (meaning the
eternal city) in ancient times, it is one of the birthplaces of the
ancient Chinese civilization in the Yellow River Basin area. As the
eastern terminal of the Silk Road and the site of the famous
Terracotta Warriors of the Qin Dynasty, the city has won a
reputation all over the world. More than 3,000 years of history
including over 1,100 years as the capital city of ancient dynasties,
have endowed the city with an amazing historical heritage. Travelers
marvel at the numerous historical sites and cultural relics in the
city.
Must-go Attractions in Xi’an
Xi’an boasts a lot of historic relics, such as Terra Cotta Army,
City Wall, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Bell Tower and Drum Tower.
Except Terracotta Army, which is 40 km (25 mi) northeast of
downtown, almost all the sites can be reached by metro.
Xi'an Weather
Xi'an weather is mild with four distinct seasons - a warm but
variable spring, a torrid summer, a cool autumn, and a dry and
chilly winter. The highest temperature occurs in July, 35 – 40 C (95
– 104 F); while the coldest month is January, with the temperature
low to -10 – -5 C (14 – 23 F). There is a moderate rainfall caused
by frequent summer storms and a succession of overcast and rainy
days in autumn.
Best Time to Visit Xi'an
Xi'an climate in spring is usually warm and pleasant, and March to
May is the best time of a year to pay a visit. Early autumn running
through September and October is also a good season for travel.
Transportation
By Air
Located 47 kilometers (about 29 miles) to the northwest of the city
center, Xi'an Xianyang International Airport is one of the top ten
airports and one of the eight hub-airports in China. It operates
around 350 air lines to about 120 cities / regions at home and
abroad. Starting here, passengers can fly to major cities in
midwestern China within one hour like Chengdu, Chongqing, Wuhan,
Zhengzhou, Lanzhou, Xining and Yinchuan; to 70% of China’s territory
within 2 hours; and all of China’s capital cities and major tourism
cities within 3 hours. There are 14 shuttle bus lines between the
airport and downtown Xi'an and 2 shuttle bus lines between the
airport and Xianyang city. The facilities and services here like
left luggage, restaurants, smoking room and others make one’s
departure and arrival easy and pleasant.
By Train
There are three passenger railway stations in the city: Xi'an
Railway Station, North Railway Station and Xi'an South Railway
Station. The Xi'an Railway Station is the largest rail hub in
western China and a vital station along the Eurasian Continental
Bridge. It mainly services regular trains to / from most major
cities in China like Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Chengdu, and
Guangzhou, etc. The trains to / from Lhasa of Tibet also stop here.
The Xi'an - Beijing, Xi'an - Shanghai, Xi'an to Pingyao and Xi'an -
Zhengzhou high speed trains are available in the North Railway
Station. Besides, the bullet trains to/from Wuhan, Shanghai, and
Guangzhou are operated here.
By Metro
There are nine metro lines being operated in Xi'an. In the near
future, other 6 metro lines will be built with a traffic mileage of
243 kilometers (150 miles).
Line 1: Fenghe Forest Park - Fangzhicheng, including major stops at
North Street and Kangfu Road.
Line 2: Beikezhan (North Railway Station) - Huizhanzhongxin
(Conference & Exhibition Center), including major stops at the
famous Bell Tower in the city center and Xiaozhai commercial area.
Line 3: Yuhuazhai - Baoshuiqu, passing scenic spots like Giant Wild
Goose Pagoda and Qinglong Temple.
Line 4: North Railway Station - Hangtian Xincheng, covering several
attractions in the city, such as Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Tang
Paradise.
Line 5: Matengkong – Innovation Harbour
Line 6: International Medical Central Hospital – Northwestern
Polytechnical University
Line 9: Fangzhicheng – Qinling West
Line 14: Heshao – Airport West (T1/T2/T3)
Airport Line: North Railway Station – Airport West (T1/T2/T3)