Route guide · High-speed rail
Lanzhou to Xi'an by High-Speed Train (2026)
575 km from Lanzhou to Xi'an — about 2h 28m on the fastest G-train, with around 89 departures a day.
China for Travelers EditorialUpdated Rail data refreshed monthly
- 2nd class
- ¥118 – ¥238
- what everyone buys
- Frequency
- 89/day
- 03:56–20:30
- Train types
- G
- G = fastest
- Flight
- 1h 30m
- train wins
Train wins vs flying — door-to-door about 3h 28m by train vs 4h 30m flying. Train is direct and downtown-to-downtown — comfortably wins.
The route at a glance
The Lanzhou to Xi'an corridor is 575 km of G-class high-speed rail. Trains run from Lanzhou West Railway Station to Xi'an North Railway Station, with the fastest service taking 2h 28m and most in the 2h 28m – 3h 50m range. Second-class seats start at ¥118 – ¥238. Train is direct and downtown-to-downtown — comfortably wins.
Train vs flight
Both stations are in town, so the train is door-to-door; the flight adds airport transfers and security each end. Here is the trade on this corridor:
| High-speed train | Flight | |
|---|---|---|
| Fastest | 2h 28m | 1h 30m in the air |
| Door-to-door | ~3h 28m | ~4h 30m |
| Price | ¥118 – ¥238 | ¥500 – ¥1100 |
Editor: Train is direct and downtown-to-downtown — comfortably wins.
Classes and price
Fares are dynamically priced — peak departures trend to the high end of each band, the cheapest seats go to off-peak mid-week trains. The seat is identical across trains in the same class.
| Class | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Second classmost buy | ¥118 – ¥238 | 3+2 seating, a tray table and power at every seat. |
| First class | ¥331 – ¥381 | 2+2 seating, wider and quieter — worth it on a longer ride. |
| Business class | ¥776 – ¥915 | Lie-flat / deep-recline pods at the front of the train. |
Stations on this route
- Departing fromLanzhou West Railway StationLanzhou · G/D-class · ~25 min to city centre
Silk Road gateway. Transfer here for Xining (Qinghai Lake) or Dunhuang.
- Arriving atXi'an North Railway StationXi'an · G/D-class · ~30 min to city centre
Asia's largest rail station building. Metro Line 2 takes 30 min to the Bell Tower.
How to book with a foreign passport
12306 English app — the official China Railway channel, straight from the source at face-value fares. The trade-off is hassle — passport registration must be approved before you can buy (often slow), and customer service is Chinese-first and limited if a booking goes wrong.
Trip.com ↗ — the same China Railway seats, booked in English with a foreign Visa or Mastercard, no verification wait and 24/7 multilingual support. It sells at the same 12306 face fare with no booking fee, and new-customer promotions can bring a first trip below face price. You can also add hotels, attraction tickets and tours to the same trip. See the booking walkthrough.
Still deciding? Read the full 12306 vs Trip.com comparison. Tickets open exactly 15 days before departure, and the good daytime slots sell first.
Book on Trip.comNASDAQ: TCOM
One of the few platforms selling real China Railway tickets in English, to a foreign passport and card. (Is it legit? — 12306 vs Trip.com )
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Lanzhou to Xi'an train?
The fastest high-speed train covers the 575 km in 2h 28m, with most services in the 2h 28m–3h 50m range. Trains are G-class.
How much is a Lanzhou to Xi'an train ticket?
Second class is ¥118 – ¥238, first class ¥331 – ¥381, business class ¥776 – ¥915. Fares are dynamically priced — peak departures trend to the high end of each band.
How many trains run from Lanzhou to Xi'an each day?
About 89 trains a day each way, with the first around 03:56 and the last around 20:30.
Is the train or the flight better for Lanzhou to Xi'an?
Train is direct and downtown-to-downtown — comfortably wins. Door-to-door the train is ~3h 28m vs ~4h 30m flying.
How do I book Lanzhou to Xi'an tickets with a foreign passport?
Two ways: the official 12306 English app (face price, passport-bound account, no booking fee) or Trip.com (English UI, foreign cards accepted, 24/7 multilingual support; the same face fare as 12306, with new-customer promos often dropping a first trip below it). Tickets open exactly 15 days before departure.
Once you reach Xi'an
The train is the easy part — here’s what to do at the other end.
Sources
Checked August 2026 · Written from our own first-hand travel in China.