Getting There

By Air
Xian Xianyang International Airport is about 50 km (about 30 miles) to the northwest from downtown. As one of the five most important airports in China, Xianyang International Airport owns more than domestic flights from almost every major Chinese city. International airlines from Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand and other Asian cities were established services of this airport many years ago. In 2005, there opened 7 new international airline routs from Germany, France, Britain, America and Canada via transfers in Beijing. In 2006, other 8 international airline routs from Europe, America and Asian are opening via transfers in Shanghai. International air connections with Hong Kong and Macao are also available depending on the airline schedule. Presently, with a total of 25 international air routs, Xian has become the city with most international connections in Western China.

There are shuttle buses between the airport and the urban area with a 25 yuan fare per person. Alternatively, at a price of 100 - 120 yuan the journey can be made by taxi.

By Train
Xi'an has the largest train station in central China to the Northwest part of China. Xi'an Train Station is ranked as Class A by the nation standard with all the modern facilities. Every year there are more than 10.5 million passengers taking advantage of its convenience with 37 trains starting from Xi'an and 34 trains passing by. The main four train routes have been all electronized totalling 795m(1270km) extending in 13 lines with provincial boundary. The railroad network has connected Xi'an with all major cities in China and made Xi'an the traffic switch center between northwestern China and its other parts. Trains' speed has been lifted recently shortening the journey from Xi'an to Beijing or vice versa not more than 14 hours.
Buses leading to the railway station can be found on every main street, but it will be crowed and slow. If you choose to travel by taxi, it will take you 10-30 minutes there in the normal traffic time.
Purchasing train tickets can be troublesome for foreigners, as the ticket windows are usually crowded and have few English-speaking staff. One solution to such a problem is to ask for the ticket-booking service at any star hotel or a travel service office. You'd better buy your train tickets one week in advance of travel, especially during the peak travel seasons.

By Long Distance Bus
Xi'an is located in the traffic center adjoining East China to Northwest and Southwest of China. The highway transportation to Xi'an extends in all direction. Long-distance buses are arranged between Xi'an and many large cities, covering 18 provinces and over 300 cities and counties. The Xi'an long-distance bus line terminal, which ranks one of the highest class bus stations in the whole nation, lies to the southwest of the railway station. People usually buy bus tickets on the same day of travel. Generally speaking, though the price is much more economical, foreigners are not encouraged to take the long-distance busses due to general hardship and fatigue. If at all possible, the plane and train are better choices.

Getting Around

Taxi
Taxis can be hailed in Xi'an's streets and lanes. They are mostly green in color. The flag-down rate of Citroen ZX, Jetta, Santana, and Santana 2000 is 6 Yuan for the first 2 km (about 1.2 miles) and 1.5 Yuan for every additional kilometer (about 0.6 miles). If you take a taxi at night after 11 pm, the flag-down rate will increase to 7 Yuan and then 1.8 Yuan for an extra kilometer. Besides, every waiting time of five minutes adds an additional charge to the passenger fee of one kilometer. The superior taxis, including Hongqi, Zhonghua, Oriental Son and Passat will charge 8 Yuan for the first 2 km and 2.4 Yuan for every extra km. Drivers use the meter in town, but for the longer distance destinations (such as the Terra-cotta Warrior Museum, airport etc) you will need to agree a price prior to departure. It is a good idea to write down your destination in Chinese since taxi drivers in Xian often do not speak English.

Public City Bus
Like most big cities, Xian has a convenient commuter system in the city. The public buses are the main means of daily transportation. Most buses are self-service, so remember to prepare some small change prior to boarding. Usually the ticket charge is 1 - 2 Yuan per person. There are also many mini-buses, with the price generally ranging from 0.5 - 4 Yuan according to the distance of the journey. Take good care of your belongings, as pickpockets operate in these areas targeting both residents and tourists alike.
A good bus line for tourists is the No.610 bus. It starts at the railway station and travels past famous spots such as the Revolution Park,Bell Tower , Drum Tower , Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Daxingshan Temple, Shaanxi Provincial History Museum ,and Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Tang Paradise ,Qujiang Ocean World. The price of a ticket is 1 Yuan per person, and the bus stops near the main entrances of these tourist spots. Tour line 5 is another important line for tourists. It run between railway station and Terra Cotta Warriors, Mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang is a pass-by stop (5 Yuan for one way and 8 Yuan for round-trip ticket).

Anther important bus route worthy to mention is Bus 306. You can take a 306 bus from the train starion to go to The First Qin Emperor's Mausoleum and the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum in Lingtong District of the city.