Xi'an Xianyang Airport (XIY): the arrival guide
Arrival essentials · Verified 2026-09-28 · Rules change — confirm entry specifics with the National Immigration Administration before you fly
The short answer
Xi'an's single international gateway, 30-40 km northwest of the city: since February 2025 every international and Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan flight uses the new Terminal 5, with metro Line 14 into town.
What happens at immigration?
T5 was purpose-built for the inbound flow - all international and Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan arrivals moved here when the terminal opened in February 2025 - so visa-free and 240-hour-transit checks happen in one modern hall with complete English signage and arrival-card kiosks before the booths. T3's old international hall is closed; don't let a driver talk you into 'T3' without confirming your terminal. The official entry, visa-free and 240-hour transit lists live at the National Immigration Administration — check your nationality against our visa checker before you book.
How do you get connected and paid on landing?
Operator counters sit in the T5 arrivals hall with passport-based SIM registration; hours cover the main evening banks but not the deepest overnight ones. As everywhere in China, an eSIM activated before you fly is the zero-queue option. For the full comparison of eSIM vs roaming (and what stays blocked), see our internet & eSIM guide. Alipay/WeChat Pay with a linked foreign card work across T5's shops, the taxi queues and the metro gates; ATMs and currency exchange sit near arrivals as fallback. The complete playbook, including what to do when verification fails, is in payments in China and our rescue cards.
What is the best way into town?
Metro Line 14 runs from the T5 station (opened February 2025) to Xi'an North railway station in 30-35 minutes - the first train toward the city leaves at 06:04 and the last at 22:24 - then Line 2 continues to the Bell Tower; the full run costs 8 yuan and takes 60-70 minutes. A free inter-terminal shuttle links T5 with the older T2/T3 complex for domestic connections. Metered taxis cover the 30-40 km for 100-160 yuan, more with the late-night surcharge. Note: many 2024-era guides still route international arrivals to T3 - out of date.
Landing late? Where should you sleep?
Line 14 stops at 22:24, earlier than most China airport metros. After that, metered taxis (100-160 yuan) are the realistic option; deep-night landings pair best with an airport-zone hotel or a pre-booked pick-up. Airport-adjacent rooms trade convenience for distance from the sights — right call after 23:00, wrong call otherwise.
Where should you spend the first night?
Bell Tower / Muslim Quarter - Line 2 at your feet from Xi'an North and the food streets at the door. The old quarter runs loud late; ask for a courtyard-facing room. South Gate is the quieter boutique alternative.
Two scenario bases, editor-researched with honest trade-offs: