Xi’an East Station at a Glance
Xi’an East Railway Station (西安东站, Xi’andong Station) is Xi’an’s brand-new mega hub, expected to open in June 2026. Jack’ve been tracking this station’s construction since 2022, and if you’re planning to visit Xi’an after mid-2026, you need to know which station your train will use.
- Chinese name: 西安东站 (Xiandong)
- Location: Wanzi Village, Baqiao District, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province (西安市灞桥区湾子村)
- Expected opening: June 2026 (alongside the Xi’an–Shiyan and Xi’an–Ankang high-speed railways)
- Platforms: 13 platforms, 27 tracks (expandable to 17 platforms, 35 tracks in the long term)
- Annual capacity: 36.5 million passengers (planned)
Xi’an East (Xiandong Station) sits about 15 km southeast of the city center.
Why this station matters: Before Xi’an East, every single high-speed train in and out of Xi’an used Xi’an North Station (Xianbei Station). With annual traffic approaching 100 million passengers, Xi’an North was bursting at the seams. Xi’an East relieves that pressure.
Metro & How to Get to the City
Metro Line 5 (Opening with the Station)
Xi’an Metro Line 5 has been operating since 2020, but the Xi’an East Station terminus stop will open simultaneously with the station in June 2026. The metro station sits directly beneath the HSR station on the B2 level — follow signs for “地铁5号线” and you’ll be on the platform within minutes of exiting your train.
| Metro Line | Status | Key Connections |
|---|---|---|
| Line 5 | In operation (East Station stop opens June 2026) | Transfers to Lines 2, 3, 4, 6 at various stations for city-wide access |
| Line 12 | Planned (future) | North-south express line through eastern Xi’an |
| Line 15 (Phase 2) | Planned (future) | Shares a reserved island platform with Line 5 |
| Line 21 | Long-term planning | Additional east-west corridor |
Travel Times to Key Destinations
| Destination | Route | Approx. Time | Approx. Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bell Tower / Muslim Quarter (钟楼/回民街) | Line 5 → transfer to Line 2 at Nanshaomen → Zhonglou | ~45 min | |
| City Wall – Yongning Gate (永宁门) | Line 5 → transfer to Line 2 at Nanshaomen → Yongningmen | ~40 min | |
| Giant Wild Goose Pagoda / Great Tang All Day Mall (大雁塔/大唐不夜城) | Line 5 → transfer to Line 3 at Qinglongsi → Dayanta | ~50 min | |
| Xi’an North Railway Station (西安北站) | Line 5 → transfer to Line 2 at Nanshaomen → Xi’an Beizhan | ~70 min | |
| Xi’an Xianyang Airport (XIY) | Line 5 → transfer to Line 2 at Nanshaomen→ Xi’an Beizhan → Airport Intercity Line | ~100 min |
Taxi & Ride-Hailing
- To Bell Tower / city center: ~30-40 min, approximately ¥50-70 by DiDi or taxi.
- To Terracotta Warriors: ~50-60 min, approximately ¥100-150. See the attractions section below for the public transit option.
- To Xi’an North Station: ~40-50 min, approximately ¥60-80.
- To Airport (XIY): ~50-60 min, approximately ¥120-150.
High-Speed Rail Routes from Xi’an East
Xi’an East will be the primary station for trains heading south, southeast, and to parts of Shaanxi Province. Here’s exactly what will run from here:
Route Map
| HSR Line | Status | Design Speed | Key Destinations | Fastest Journey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xi’an–Yan’an HSR (西延高铁) | ✅ Opened Dec 26, 2025 | 350 km/h | Fuping, Tongchuan, Huangling, Yan’an | Xi’an → Yan’an: ~68 min |
| Xi’an–Shiyan HSR (西十高铁) | 🔶 Opening June 2026 | 350 km/h | Lantian, Shangluo, Shiyan → connects to Wuhan | Xi’an → Shiyan: ~1 hr; Xi’an → Wuhan: ~2.5-3 hrs |
| Xi’an–Ankang HSR (西康高铁) | 🔶 Opening June 2026 | 350 km/h | Zhashui, Zhen’an, Ankang | Xi’an → Ankang: ~1 hr |
| Xi’an–Chongqing HSR (西渝高铁) | 🔴 Xi’an–Ankang section: June 2026; Ankang–Chongqing: ~2028 | 350 km/h | Ankang, Dazhou, Guang’an, Chongqing | Xi’an → Chongqing: ~2.5 hrs (from 2028) |
| Xi’an–Ankang Railway (西康铁路) | ✅ Existing conventional rail | 160 km/h | Conventional trains to Ankang and beyond | Slower, budget option |
What This Means for Travelers
Once Xi’an East opens in June 2026, the route map changes significantly:
- Xi’an ↔ Wuhan: No more detour via Zhengzhou. The new Xi’an–Shiyan line connects to the Wuhan–Shiyan HSR, cutting the journey from ~4.5 hours to ~2.5-3 hours.
- Xi’an ↔ Chongqing: The Xi’an–Ankang section (opening June 2026) gives you a 1-hour hop to Ankang. Full 2.5-hour service to Chongqing arrives when the Ankang–Chongqing section opens (~2028). Until then, transfer at Ankang or use Xi’an North for the existing route via Chengdu.
- Xi’an ↔ Yan’an: Already open since December 2025. 68 minutes. ¥132 (Second Class). Some trains use Xi’an North temporarily until Xi’an East opens — check your ticket carefully.
- Xi’an ↔ Shangluo / Shiyan: Entirely new service. Shangluo (商洛), a scenic mountain city in southern Shaanxi, becomes a feasible day trip from Xi’an.
Check Live Train Schedule
| Xi’an to Luoyang Train | Xi’an to Zhangjiajie Train | Xi’an to Chongqing Train |
| Xi’an to Beijing Train | Xi’an to Shanghai Train | Xi’an to Chengdu Train |
| Search all Xi’an trains at www.trip.com/trains/china/ | ||
Xi’an East vs. Xi’an North: Which Station Should You Use?
This is the single most important question for anyone traveling through Xi’an after mid-2026. Here’s the breakdown:
| Xi’an East (西安东站) — NEW | Xi’an North (西安北站) | |
|---|---|---|
| Opened | June 2026 | 2011 |
| Scale | 13 platforms, 27 tracks | 18 platforms, 34 tracks |
| Direction served | South, southeast, north (Shaanxi) | East, west, north, northwest |
| Key routes | Wuhan (Shiyan), Chongqing (Ankang), Yan’an | Beijing, Zhengzhou, Shanghai, Chengdu, Lanzhou, Yinchuan, Taiyuan |
| Metro to city center | Line 5, ~45 min to Bell Tower | Line 2, ~35 min to Bell Tower |
| Metro to Terracotta Warriors | ~1.5 hrs (Line 5 → transfer → Bus 306) | ~1.5 hrs (Line 2 → transfer → Bus 306) |
| Area around station | New “High-Speed Rail East City” — still developing | Mature area with hotels, malls, established infrastructure |
Rule of Thumb
- Your ticket will tell you: Always check your ticket for the station name. “西安东” = Xiandong = Xi’an East, “西安北” = Xianbei = Xi’an North.
- Going to Wuhan, Shiyan, Ankang, Yan’an → EXPECT Xi’an East.
- Going to Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Lanzhou, Zhengzhou → EXPECT Xi’an North.
- The two stations are connected by a dedicated HSR link (郭北联络线) — this means trains can be rerouted between the two hubs if needed. The link started dynamic testing on May 2, 2026, enabling the two stations to “shake hands” operationally.
- Transferring between the two stations: Currently requires metro Line 5 → Line 2, ~70 minutes. A direct express connection is likely to come with future metro expansion, but isn’t available at opening.
Getting to Xi’an’s Attractions from Xi’an East
Terracotta Warriors (兵马俑)
The Terracotta Warriors are not directly reachable by metro. The standard route from Xi’an East:
- Step 1: Metro Line 5 from Xi’an East → transfer to Line 4 → get to Xi’an Railway Station (西安站, the old city-center station, not Xi’an North).
- Step 2: From Xi’an Railway Station East Square (火车站东广场), take the Tour Bus 5 (游5路 / 306路) — this is the official tourism bus. Fare: ¥5.5-7. Journey: ~60 minutes.
Other Major Attractions
| Attraction | Route from Xi’an East | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bell Tower & Muslim Quarter | Line 5 → Line 2 to Zhonglou | ~45 min | Heart of the city. Muslim Quarter street food is a must — try 羊肉泡馍 (lamb paomo) and 肉夹馍 (roujiamo). |
| City Wall (永宁门) | Line 5 → Line 2 to Yongningmen | ~40 min | Rent a bike on the wall (~¥45) — it takes about 90 minutes to circle the full 13.7 km. Go late afternoon for golden light. |
| Giant Wild Goose Pagoda & Great Tang All Day Mall | Line 5 → Line 3 to Dayanta | ~50 min | The Tang Dynasty-themed pedestrian street is most impressive after dark. Free entry to the street area; pagoda entry costs extra. |
Navigating the Station
- Signage: As a new station, English signage should be standard — but it’s a brand-new facility, so some signs may be inconsistent in the opening weeks. Have the Chinese name “西安东站” on your phone to show staff if needed.
- Metro connection: Follow signs for “地铁5号线” (Metro Line 5) to the B2 level. The transfer is inside the station building.
- Ticket pickup for foreigners: As with all Chinese HSR stations, if you booked via Trip.com or 12306 English, bring your passport to the ticket counter for manual collection if the e-ticket gates don’t read your passport.
Trusted Online Ticket Agents:
Option 1: Trip.com is an internatioal brand owned by Ctrip Group, China's largest online travel booking platform. Trip.com offers booking service for flight, train, hotel, activities, etc
Option 2: China Highlights is a reliable online agency for China train ticketing. They get positive reviews on TripAdvisor & Trustpilot. Sharon and her team help you buy tickets & plan rail routes even deliver tickets to your hotels with a service fee.
