Travel from Beijing to Xining 2024 | Beijing to Xining Flights & Trains

Beijing, the capital of China, is frequently chosen as the first city to start a China trip as you can easily get there with multiple international flights from most cities in the world and then you can further explore other parts of China from Beijing conveniently either by flight or train. If you want to explore the plateau scenery with snow-capped mountains, crystal clear lakes and herds of yak, Qinghai in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is a good choice. To get to Qinghai, you need to get to Xining first. Beijing operates both direct flights (2.5h) and trains (19-22.5h) to Xining. Here is more specific information about how to travel from Beijing to Xining for you to better plan a Beijing Xining trip.

Recommended Beijing & Xining Tours: 3 Days Beijing Essential Short Stay Tour | 3 Days Qinghai Short Stay Tour

Beijing to Xining Distance

Beijing is located in the north of China while Xining in Qinghai Province is in the northwestern inland. The distance between Beijing and Xining is about 1650 km (1025 miles) away. Flights and normal trains are available between them.

Beijing to Xining Travel Map

Option 1: Beijing to Xining Fight - Most Effecient Way

Travel Time: 2h 15m ~ 2h 40m

Frequency: about 9 flights per day

Airports: Beijing Capital International Airport (北京首都国际机场) / Beijing Daxing International Airport (北京大兴国际机场) → Xining Caojiabao International Airport (西宁曹家堡国际机场)

There are about 9 daily nonstop flights flying from Beijing Capital International Airport or Beijing Daxing International Airport to Xining Caojiabao International Airport. The whole journey takes about 2.5 hours only. Booking a tour with China Discovery, you will be picked up at the airport and escorted to your hotel or the attractions listed in the itinerary directly. Contact us now >

✈ Beijing Capital International Airport (北京首都国际机场 IATA: PEK)

Location: Jichang West Rd, Chaoyang District, Beijing 北京朝阳区机场西路

Beijing Capital Airport is about 25 km away from Tiananmen Square, the center of Beijing. As one of the largest and busiest international airport in the world, it serves numerous international/regional flights which connect China with almost every continent in the world. There are also lots of domestic flights from/to every provincial capital city and other major cities in China. Airport shuttle buses and express (subway) can take you from the airport to downtown conveniently. Check more about Beijing Capital International Airport>

✈ Beijing Daxing International Airport (北京大兴国际机场 IATA: PKX)

Location: Daxing District, Beijing & Guangyang District, Langfang City, Hebei北京市大兴区礼贤镇、榆垡镇及廊坊市广阳区交汇处

Beijing Daxing International Airport is Beijing’s second international airport. It’s much bigger in scale and highly advanced in techniques. It will be linked with northern China’s other modes of transportation, such as high speed rail, highway, subway, etc. There are 82 boarding gates, but it takes less than 8 minutes for passengers to get to each boarding gate by walking from the departure hall. Check more about Beijing Daxing International Airport>

✈ Xining Caojiabao International Airport (西宁曹家堡国际机场 IATA: XNN)

Location: Huzhu Tu Autonomous County, Haidong, Qinghai 青海省海东市互助土族自治县

Xining Caojiabao International Airport has two terminals: T1 is for international and regional (Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) flights and T2 is for domestic flights. As of October 2019, Xining has 62 airlines connecting 48 cities at home (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xian, Chengdu, Chongqing, Lhasa and most major cities) and abroad (Bangkok in Thailand, Tokyo in Japan, Seoul in South Korea…). Shuttle bus is available to take you from the airport to Xining downtown. Check more about Xining Caojiabao International Airport>

Beijing Capital International Airport

Beijing Daxing International Airport

Xining Caojiabao International Airport

Option 2: Beijing to Xining Train

It is also available to travel from Beijing to Xining by train but it is not very recommended. There are about 3 daily normal trains running from Beijing West Railway Station to Xining Railway Station. The train journey takes 19-22.5 hours and you need to spend a night on the train.

From	To	Frequency	Duration	Real-time Schedule
Beijing	Xining	3	19~22.5 hrs	Beijing to Xining Train Schedule
Xining	Beijing	3	18.5~24 hrs	Xining to Beijing Train Schedule

Please Note: Train information is subject to final confirmation due to the delay of data occasionally.

▶ Beijing West Railway Station (北京西站)

Location: No.118, East Lianhuachi Road, Fengtai District, Western Beijing 北京市丰台区莲花池东路118号

Beijing West Railway Station is one of the main train stations of Beijing, which runs both high speed trains and normal trains. Besides, it is the second most important high speed train station of Beijing and the starting point of Beijing Guangzhou (High Speed) Railway and Beijing Kowloon (Hong Kong) Railway. Every day, it delivers about 300 daily trains to other cities, and about 200 of them are high speed trains (G trains) to Xian, Chengdu, Chongqing, Taiyuan, Kunming, Lanzhou, Wuhan, Zhengzhou, Changsha and couples of D trains to Shenzhen... Read more about Beijing Railway Stations>

Beijing West Railway Station

▶ Xininig Railway Station (西宁站)

Location: NO. 128 Huzhu Middle Road, Chengdong District, Xining City, Qinghai Province 青海省西宁市城东区互助中路128号.

Xining Railway Station (西宁站) was firstly built in 1958 and has been expanded for several times. Now it serves both high-speed trains and normal trains, becoming the largest railway terminal in Qinghai-Tibet plateau and an essential part for further completion of the high speed railway network to connect Chengdu, Qamdo, Kunming and more places in western China. It now mainly serves Qinghai-Tibet Railway, Lanzhou-Xining Railway and Lanzhou-Urumqi High-speed Railway. There are a dozen bus routes to transfer you between the railway station and Xining downtown. Read more about Xining Railway Stations>

Xininig Railway Station

How to Plan a Beijing Xining Trip

Usually, a classic Beijing Xining tour needs about 4 ~ 6 days. All the essences of the two cities can be covered.

You are suggested to spend 2 ~ 4 days visiting the landmarks of Beijing such as the world-famous manmade wonder - the Great Wall, magnificent Forbidden City, spacious royal garden Summer Palace, and lively Beijing Hutongs. Then take a plane or train to Xining.

☛ 3 Days Beijing Essential Short Stay Tour
☛ 4 Days Classic Beijing Tour Package

To explore the cultural and natural highlights of Xining, 2 ~ 3 days are needed. Qinghai Lake which is not far away from Xining is a must-see. You can spend a whole day here appreciating the water scenery, hiking along the lake or taking a lake cruise (cruise is only available from May to October). Main attractions in Xining city such as Taer Monastery, the birthplace of the Tibetan Buddhism master - Tsongkhapapay, and Dongguan Great Mosque, one of the "Four Greatest Mosques in China" are also worth a go. If you have more days, you can expand your Beijing Xining trip to more destinations in Qinghai such as Chaka Salt Lake - Mirror of the Sky.

☛ 3 Days Qinghai Short Stay Tour
☛ 4 Days Qinghai Lake Chaka Lake Tour from Xining

Tourists also prefer an extensive trip to the Silk Road to appreciate Dunhuang Mogao Caves and Zhangye Danxia Landform, head to the Bardain Jaran Desert for desert landscape and activities, or reach the roof of the world in Tibet. You can also contact us to customize a trip according to your own itinerary and interests. Just tell us your needs and we will take care of everything!

☛ 7 Days Miraculous Land Tour from Dunhuang to Zhangye Xining
☛ 7 Days Qinghai Lake Zhangye Danxia Badain Jaran Desert Wonders Tour

Mutianyu Great Wall in Beijing

Beautiful Qinghai Lake

Badain Jaran Desert Jeep

Travel with China Discovery

In order to get a better Beijing Xining tour, It is strongly recommended to travel with China Discovery. Our local travel guide and driver will pick you up at the airport or train station with an air-conditioned and non-smoking vehicle, and then escort you to your hotel or every attraction listed in your itinerary. Great freedom will be given to you whenever you need to stop for sightseeing and photograph. You are sure to enjoy a comfortable, safe and efficient experience.

Far more than that, China Discovery is professional to provide high-quality customizable tour. Before your tour, our travel expert will communicate with you one to one and make an itinerary according your own interest, need and budget. Every detail - transfer, hotels, attractions, etc. will be arranged well for you and you just need to focus on sightseeing. Feel free to contact us to start your worry-free private tour now!

China Discovery Private Transfer

Keep Reading

Recommended Xining Tours

Top 3 Xining tours chosen by most customers to explore Xining in the best way. Check the detailed itinerary, or tailor your own trip now with us.

4 Days Enchanting Qinghai Lake Chaka Salt Lake Tour

Xining / Qinghai Lake / Chaka Lake / Xining

6 Days Qinghai Lake Zhangye Danxia Rainbow Mountains Dramatic Tour

Xining - Qinghai Lake - Chaka Lake - Zhangye

4 Days Qinghai Lake Landscape Tour Plus Tongren Authentic Tibetan Culture and Art Exploration

Xining / Qinghai Lake / Tongren / Xining

Start planning your tailor-made holiday to China by contacting one of our specialists. Once inquired, you’ll get a response within 0.5~23.5 hours.

Customize a Trip