By Air
Xining airport is located 29 kilometers (18 miles) from the city center. Formally called Xining Caojiabao Airport (XNN), it entered service in 1991 and handles domestic daily flights to Beijing, Shenzhen, Xian and Chengdu. There are also scheduled flights to Shanghai, Qingdao, and Guangzhou, Lhasa and Golmud; however, there is no international service in operation at present.
Its runway is 3,000 meters (3280 yards) long and 45 meters (49 yards) wide, and capable of accepting medium sized aircraft. You can catch the regular airport bus service from the air tickets booking office of civil aviation, No.158, Yingze Dajie. The airport bus also can be taken at Mingzhu Hotel, No 7, Huzhu Xilu and the bus ticket is CNY21 per person.
By Train
As the traffic hub of Qinghai Province, in the important northwest region of China, Xining Railway Station possesses two trunk and three feeder railway lines, radiating out in all directions. The world famous Qinghai-Tibet Railway traverses Xining, taking on part of the transportations links between Tibet, Qinghai and Gansu Provinces. The Lanzhou-Qinghai and the Qinghai-Tibet railways meet here, transporting passengers onward to Beijing, Shanghai, Xian and Qingdao, Zhengzhou and Golmud, etc.
Address of Xining Railway Station: Qilian Lu
Telephone Inquiries: 0971-7192222
Tourist special route: Xining-Lhasa, N917, starts from Xining Railway Station at 20:07 and arrives in Lhasa at 22:30 of the next day, stretching 1972 kilometers. You can buy tickets five days before leaving.
The letters of ratification to Tibet, which is issued by the Foreign Affairs Office of Tibet Autonomous Region, is required when foreigners buy tickets. Meanwhile, the letters of ratification to Tibet issued by the Tourism Administration or by the Business Department of Tibet Autonomous Region are also accepted. The later two are also applicable for Taiwanese compatriots.
By Long-Distance Buses
Visiting Xining by long-distance buses will make your trip more convenient, with a majority of passenger and freight being taken by highway. The Xining Bus Terminal has an advanced administrative systems and service establishments. With the investment of the local governments, five main arteries were constructed here. They connect to major cities and counties both within and outside of Qinghai Province.
Every day, before noon, long-distance buses spectacularly depart en rout to Dunhuang and Liujiaxia of Gansu Province, Suide and Xian of Shaanxi Province and Henan Province. As well as the afternoon, there are also buses to some parts of Gansu Province and Yinchuan of Ningxia Province. |
