Xi'an Transportation Tips by walterwu

To Beijing by Train Train Review

Managed to booked 5 soft sleepers on the train from Xi'an to Beijing. My wife shared rooms with 3 ladies while me and kids take a whole compartment with 4 soft sleepers.

This new train is an all soft sleepers at 417RMB for lower level and 408RMB for upper level. No hard sleepers, soft seats or hard seats.

Available on the same train in a single carriage, is the Executive Soft Sleeper with 2 soft sleeper with attached toilet and a sofa. Price about 700RMB.

The journey was very smooth and the toilet was clean.

Each soft sleeper comes complete with a LCD TV. i.e. 4 LCD per compartment.

Best to book the tickets 2 days in advance.

Train Station is on the north side of the City wall and next to the Bus Station. Taxi fare to the Train Station should be in the region of 6-10RMB (pending distance). 6RMB is departing from North Main Street.

Train departs about 7:30pm and getting a cab at about 5:00pm (during office rush hours) is a problem. Advised from locals - catch a cab from the north bound traffic on the North Main Street if you are staying in the vicinity of the Bell Tower.

Mode: TO

Type: Train

Taxi

On arrival at Xi'an domestic airport, looked around for a Taxi and couldn't locate even a single taxi.

Ended up paying 110RMB for a private taxi to take us to City Centre. On the way to the carpark at the airport, noticed all the taxis were waiting at the departure building (yes, departure building - not level) next block.

Why are all the taxis waiting at the departure building, I have no idea.

Anyway, within the City, a taxi by meter should not cost more than 10RMB.

On another day, tried to bargain down a single trip from Terracotta Warriors back to City at 40RMB. No go. The taxi driver politely pointed to the area to take the public bus (Big Green 306 Bus).

No problem getting a taxi to Banpo village at 30RMB. Should have bargain down further. Took a bus back to ChangLe XiLu.

Going to train station by taxi. Make a mistake by waiting for a taxi on the South Main Street. Was advised by locals to hail a cab on the North Main Street (i.e. North of Bell Tower) during the evening rush hours.

Mode: AROUND

Type: Car/Motor Home

Big Green 306 Bus

Going to the Bus Station (next to the Train Station) was a nightmare. Lots of touts who would follow you around and try to persuade you to take their transportation at 10RMB (round trip) which is comparable with the Big Green Bus 306.

Best way to get rid of them is to say that you have had visited those terracotta warriors, etc.

On the way to the Terracotta Warriors, my wife decided to take up their offer and we ended up going from tourist shops to tourist shops. After 2 tourist shops stopover, I told them to take us direct to Terrracotta which they obliged but I paid 10RMB each.

Took a Big Green 306 Bus from the parking lot at the Terracotta Warriors site and the journey was smooth and pleasant.

Remember, avoid any offer and head straight for the Big Green 306 Bus.

Mode: AROUND

Type: Bus