Where to stay in Xi'an so you can catch your train without worry? | A blogger's personal review of affordable accommodations within 2 kilometers of 4 major transportation hubs, avoiding common pitfall
Last autumn, to catch my 7:00 AM high-speed train at Xi'an North Railway Station, I stayed at a highly-rated hotel near the Bell Tower. However, I got stuck in traffic on the South Second Ring Road during rush hour and ended up dragging my suitcase around the station, almost missing my train. Since then, my overnight choices in Xi'an have changed: when my priority is getting somewhere quickly, I first consider the area within a 2-kilometer radius of transportation hubs, then the tourist attractions. This article compiles my personally tested accommodation areas for four types of transportation hubs: high-speed rail stations, airports, passenger transport centers, and major transfer subway stations. It's suitable for those transferring, taking early morning flights, or arriving at night, and also warns of some common pitfalls.
Xi'an North High-Speed Railway Station: South Square, Wenjing Road and Yuanshuo Road Area
Xi'an North Railway Station itself is very spacious, and the building density in front of the station is low. Many people think there is nowhere to stay nearby, but in fact, there are many chain apartments and business hotels concentrated in the Wenjing Road and Yuanshuo Road area outside the South Square. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to walk from the hotel to the entrance, or 5 to 8 minutes by taxi or ride-hailing service. In rainy or snowy weather or when you have a lot of luggage, the starting fare can solve the problem.
Regarding the subway, Xi'an North Station is the intersection of Lines 2, 4, and 14. The first train heading towards the city center usually departs around 6:00 AM, and the last train departs around 11:30 PM, with delays on holidays. It's important to note that if you're catching an early high-speed train from the city center, don't expect the subway to run much earlier. The first Xi'an subway train typically departs after 6:00 AM, making late arrivals very risky.
This area is ideal for those catching early morning high-speed trains or arriving at night and heading to the airport or Terracotta Warriors early the next morning. A word of caution: some apartment buildings around the North Station face the station directly, and you can still hear track maintenance and train noise late at night. When booking, be sure to request a south-facing room that is not adjacent to the tracks or a high-floor room facing away from the tracks. When exiting the station in the early morning, try to use the taxi queue area or designated ride-hailing pick-up points; avoid negotiating fares with touts on electric motorcycles in the plaza.
Xi'an Xianyang International Airport: Bianfang Village, Airport New City, with airport shuttle service area
Xi'an Xianyang International Airport is 30 to 40 kilometers from downtown Xi'an. If you have an early morning flight the next day, staying near the Bell Tower means you'll be sleeping on the road. I personally found that a more convenient way is to choose a hotel within 2 kilometers of the airport, such as the Airport New City or Bianfang Village. Many budget hotels and guesthouses offer free airport shuttles. After landing at night, you can get a ride with just a phone call, and the taxi ride only takes five to eight minutes.
The first subway train from Airport West Station on Metro Line 14 towards the city center departs around 6:00 AM, and the last train departs around 10:30 PM to 11:00 PM. Although the airport shuttle bus for night flights ends later, there is basically no subway service available before early morning flights, so hotel airport transfers are crucial. This is suitable for people arriving late at night, those with early morning flights, or those who have a one-night layover in Xi'an.
Tips to avoid: Some guesthouses in villages near the airport have poor soundproofing. Avoid rooms near the airport expressway or under the approach runway, otherwise you'll hear low-frequency noise all night. Before booking, be sure to confirm whether the airport transfer is free and available 24 hours a day. Some only offer drop-off service and not pick-up. If your flight is delayed, notify the hotel in advance to avoid being caught unprepared in the middle of the night if the transfer is canceled.
West Bus Station, Passenger Transport Center: Local Living Area at Hancheng Road and Daqing Road
Xi'an has more than one highway passenger transport hub. If you arrive by overnight bus from Baoji, Xianyang, or Yangling in the west, there are easily overlooked affordable places to stay within a 2-kilometer radius of the West Bus Station. The area around Hancheng Road, Zaoyuan East Road, and Daqing Road is mainly composed of established hotels and chain hotels. It's about a 3-8 minute walk to Hancheng Road Station on Metro Line 1, and about a 20-minute walk to the Bell Tower.
The first train on Metro Line 1 towards Fangzhicheng departs around 6:00 AM, and the last train departs around 11:20 PM; the last train towards Fenghe Forest Park departs a little later. This area is suitable for people transferring in Xi'an from western cities and counties, arriving at night and not wanting to drag their suitcases into the city, as well as those heading to western Xi'an or Xianyang the next day.
Avoid these scams: There are often touts soliciting customers for accommodation near bus stations in the early morning. They'll immediately offer cheap rooms, but end up leading you to tiny, cramped hotels without elevators, leaving you exhausted from carrying your luggage. Always choose reputable hotels with elevators and located near main roads. Don't be tempted by cheap prices and end up in back alleys, especially if you're a woman traveling alone.
Core interchange with Beidajie subway station: Lianhu Road and Tangfang Street old town living area
If you plan to use the subway throughout the day but don't want to pay the tourist premium for the Bell Tower, Beidajie Station is an interchange station for Line 1 and Line 2. It's quieter than the Bell Tower and more down-to-earth than Xiaozhai. Within a 2-kilometer radius, Lianhu Road, Qingnian Road, and Tangfang Street are home to many established hotels and boutique chain stores, all within a 3-6 minute walk of the subway entrance. The Bell Tower is just one subway stop away, and Xi'an North Railway Station is about a 30-minute direct subway ride away.
First and last train reference: Line 1, first train around 6:00 AM, last train around 11:20 PM; Line 2, first train around 6:00 AM, last train around 11:50 PM. This is suitable for urban travelers who rely heavily on the subway and commute early in the morning and late at night, as well as those who need to travel back and forth between the Bell Tower, Daming Palace, and Longshouyuan.
Tips to avoid pitfalls: Rooms facing the street on Lianhu Road are noisy in the mornings and evenings, so try to choose rooms facing away from the main road or on higher ground. Also, some guesthouses on the edge of the Muslim Quarter are hidden in narrow alleys, which is very inconvenient when returning home at night with luggage. Don't be misled by a few hundred meters in a straight line; check the map first to see if there is an entrance accessible by vehicle.
Blogger's Summary and Practical Tips
These four areas are not the most popular places to visit in Xi'an, but they are the safest bets to stay in when you're on the go. If you're only staying one night for a layover, prioritize the North Railway Station and the airport; if you're staying one or two days and exploring by subway, stay at Beidajie; if you arrive at night by the West Line Bus, stay at the West Bus Station.
Tip 1: The first and last trains of each Xi'an Metro line are different. Before catching an early high-speed train or early flight, be sure to check the real-time first and last train times in advance, and do not rely solely on timetables circulating online.
Tip 2: Before checking into any of the recommended areas, confirm three things: whether it is near a railway or main road, whether there is an elevator, and whether airport pick-up and drop-off is included, especially for airports and the North Station.
Tip 3: If you arrive at the North Station or West Bus Station in the early morning, prioritize using a ride-hailing platform to call a car and ignore people soliciting passengers on the roadside.
Tip 4: Rain, snow, and smog in Xi'an during winter may affect ground transportation. Staying closer to transportation hubs is more effective than any late-night alarm clock.