Travel
The workshop will be held virtually due to the impossibility of overseas travel, the internal control policy, and the recent covid situation in Xi’an.
By Plane:
Xi’an Xianyang International Airport (IATA: XIY) is located 40 km (25 mi) northwest of the city centre. Flights are available to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, HongKong, Macau, etc, all major cities of China. International flights are available to 26 countries, including cities of Helsinki, San Francisco, Los Angles, London, Paris, Madrid, Prague, Istanbul, Seoul, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, as well as Nagoya, Fukuoka, Niigata, Tokyo and Hiroshima in Japan. As Xi’an is located in the heartland of China, it takes no more than 2 hours to fly to most major Chinese cities.
By Train:
Being located in central China, Xi’an is also well connected with the major cities in different directions of China by railways. There are three main railway stations operated in Xi’an, including Xi’an North Railway Station, Xi’an Railway Station and Xi’an South Railway Station. Among the three railway stations, Xi’an North Railway Station is the station operating high speed trains, and it is also one of the largest railway stations in China which covers an area of 533,000 square meters. Again because Xi’an is geographically located in the heart of China, Xi’an North Railway Station always acts as the most important transportation hubs of high speed rail network. Xi’an Railway Station operates other normal trains (general trains, non-stop express and fast trains) only, and Xi’an South Railway Station just operates some fast trains.
Transportation
Subway:
Xi’an operates 8 metro lines, which are Metro Line 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10 and 14 (Airport Line). More lines are also under construction. Subway is always preferred by independent travellers because it is fast with a reasonable price (usually CNY 2-6 per person). The four metro lines now cover most attractions in the downtown such as the Ancient City Wall, Bell Tower, Muslim Quarter, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, and the major transportation hub Xian North Railway Station and Xian Railway Station.
City Bus:
Other than the subway, Xi’an also has an extensive network of city buses that can be used to explore the entire city. Other than the urban area, there are also several buses that operate in the suburbs, offering an excellent alternative for those who prefer to take the bus. The bus fare is about CNY 2 per regular trip. Some of the most popular tourist attractions can be reached easily through these buses.
Tax:
The easiest means of getting around in Xi’an is by taking taxi. There are more than 12,000 taxis running in the city. The rate for the normal taxis is CYN 6 for the first 2 kilometer and then CNY 1.5 for every additional kilometer.