Is there a direct train from Zhangjiajie to Xi’an?
Yes. Since July 2025 there has been one direct high-speed train a day in each direction. It takes about 9.5–10 hours because it goes via Chongqing and Chengdu; second class costs CNY 683. One change of train can save up to about 1.5 hours. Flights take about 1.5 hours, but flights from Zhangjiajie to Xi’an leave late in the evening.
Zhangjiajie, in north-west Hunan, and Xi’an, in Shaanxi, are far apart, and many trips to China include both. This page sets out the direct train, trains with one change, and flights, with the times we found when we checked on 28 September 2026. We check again for your dates. It is the same journey as on our 10-day private tour of Beijing, Xi’an and Zhangjiajie.
1. The direct train, and why it takes over nine hours
The direct train, G3764 from Zhangjiajie and G3763 from Xi’an, started in July 2025 and runs once a day each way. It is a long-distance train between Xi’an and Changsha, and Zhangjiajie West is one of its stops. It goes via Chongqing and Chengdu rather than straight across, so the journey takes about 9.5–10 hours.
| Train | Departs | Arrives | Journey time |
|---|---|---|---|
| G3764 (Zhangjiajie to Xi’an) | Zhangjiajie West 12:07 | Xi’an North 21:56 | 9 h 49 min |
| G3763 (Xi’an to Zhangjiajie) | Xi’an North 08:02 | Zhangjiajie West 17:35 | 9 h 33 min |
- Older guides may say there is no direct train between Zhangjiajie and Xi’an. That changed in July 2025.
- A second-class seat costs CNY 683, as listed on 12306, China Railway’s official booking site, on 28 September 2026.
- There is one train a day in each direction, so book early.
- Zhangjiajie West and Xi’an North are high-speed stations, not the old city-centre stations. From Zhangjiajie West it is about 30–40 minutes by road to Wulingyuan, the area around Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.
- The direct train’s advantage is that you stay in the same seat all the way: no change of train, which helps if you have heavy luggage.
2. One change of train is usually quicker
A journey with one change of train can be up to about 1.5 hours quicker than the direct train, and gives you more departure times to choose from. From Zhangjiajie, changing at Chengdu East leaves 2 hours 12 minutes earlier and arrives at Xi’an North at 18:16, 3 hours 40 minutes before the direct train. From Xi’an, changing at Changsha South gets you to Zhangjiajie West at 16:51.
Zhangjiajie to Xi’an: change at Chengdu East
Take G2450 from Zhangjiajie West at 09:55 to Chengdu East, arriving at 14:19. Change to G324 at 15:02 in the same station, and arrive at Xi’an North at 18:16. The whole journey takes 8 hours 21 minutes, 1 hour 28 minutes less than the direct train, with 43 minutes to change.
Xi’an to Zhangjiajie: change at Changsha South
Take G412 from Xi’an East at 07:54 to Changsha South, arriving at 12:32. Change to G6051 at 13:42 in the same station, and arrive at Zhangjiajie West at 16:51. The whole journey takes about 9 hours (8 hours 57 minutes), with 1 hour 10 minutes to change. The saving on this pairing is smaller, about 36 minutes, but you stay in one station. Pairings that save more time mean moving between Changsha’s two stations.
- Xi’an has two high-speed stations for this trip: Xi’an North and Xi’an East. Xi’an East opened with the new high-speed line in June 2026, and some quicker trains to Changsha now stop there: G412 leaves Xi’an North at 07:25 and Xi’an East at 07:54, and boarding at Xi’an East saves about half an hour. Check which station is on your ticket.
- Changsha has two stations too: Changsha South and Changsha. Some quicker pairings arrive at one and leave from the other, which means crossing the city with your luggage. On a private tour we handle that transfer for you.
- The train times on this page are for trains on 29 and 30 September 2026. Tickets for the direct train from Zhangjiajie on 10 October were not yet on sale when we checked, and timetables can change, so times after early October may differ. We check the trains again for your date.
3. Flights: about 1.5 hours, at set times of day
Flights between Zhangjiajie and Xi’an take about 1.5 hours, but the times differ by direction. From Zhangjiajie there are two late-evening flights, at 22:00 and 23:00, landing in Xi’an at 23:45 and 00:20. From Xi’an there is a morning flight at 08:50, landing in Zhangjiajie at 10:20, and two evening flights.
| Direction | Departs | Arrives |
|---|---|---|
| Zhangjiajie to Xi’an | 22:00 | 23:45 |
| Zhangjiajie to Xi’an | 23:00 | 00:20 the next day |
| Xi’an to Zhangjiajie | 08:50 | 10:20 |
| Xi’an to Zhangjiajie | Two evening flights | Times vary with the day of the week |
- This route is seasonal. In both the 2024 and 2025 winter seasons, Zhangjiajie airport announced Xi’an as a new route, and in winter 2024–25 there were only two or three flights a week. Winter flight schedules start in late October, and the flights can change or stop. We check them for your date.
- You may see the 23:00 flight sold under several airline names. It is one flight shared between airlines, so there are two flights that evening, not five or six.
- Xi’an Xianyang airport has several terminals. China Eastern, Sichuan Airlines, China Southern and Xiamen Airlines use T5; Fuzhou Airlines uses T3. If you go to the wrong one, there is a free shuttle between terminals.
- Flights from Zhangjiajie land in Xi’an close to midnight, after the airport metro has stopped for the night. We arrange your airport pickup.
- The morning flight from Xi’an lands at 10:20. Zhangjiajie Hehua airport is about 6 km from the city, so the afternoon is free for Tianmen Mountain or the drive to Wulingyuan.
- Air fares change from day to day, so we check them for your dates.
4. Buying train tickets as a foreign visitor
You can buy tickets on 12306, China Railway’s official website and app, with your passport, but you must pass an identity check first. A manual check can take a few working days, so register well before your trip, not the day before you travel. Foreign bank cards are accepted, and you enter the station with the passport you booked with.
- Enter your name exactly as it appears in your passport.
- On a private tour with us, we book the train tickets for you.
- For stations, seat classes and luggage, see our China high-speed train guide.
Travelling between Zhangjiajie and Xi’an? Send us your dates and we will check the trains and flights for that day and plan the transfers at both ends.
5. Train or flight: how to choose
From Xi’an to Zhangjiajie, the morning flight is quicker when it runs on your date: you land at 10:20. From Zhangjiajie to Xi’an, it depends on whether you want a last full day in Zhangjiajie. If you do, take a late flight and arrive in Xi’an around midnight. Otherwise, take the train with one change at Chengdu East and arrive at 18:16.
- Zhangjiajie to Xi’an by day: the change at Chengdu East leaves at 09:55 and arrives in the early evening. The direct train leaves later, at 12:07, and arrives at 21:56.
- Zhangjiajie to Xi’an by night: you can spend the morning at Tianmen Mountain (see how long Tianmen Mountain takes) and fly in the evening. The late arrival is tiring, so for older travellers and young children we usually suggest the daytime train.
- Xi’an to Zhangjiajie by train: choose the change at Changsha South from Xi’an East for an afternoon arrival, or the direct train from Xi’an North if you would rather not change.
- The direct train suits travellers with heavy luggage or anyone who would rather not change trains.
Plan the day between Zhangjiajie and Xi’an with us
The travel day between Zhangjiajie and Xi’an is easier when the train or flight, the station or airport transfers, the hotel and the luggage are planned together. Tell us your dates and how many days you want in each city, and we will check the trains and flights for your day and plan the rest around them.
For the other ways into Zhangjiajie, see how to get to Zhangjiajie. For complete trips, see our 10-day Beijing, Xi’an and Zhangjiajie private tour and our Zhangjiajie private tours.
Plan your trip with us, or send us your dates on WhatsApp.
FAQ
Is there a direct train from Zhangjiajie to Xi’an?
Yes. Since July 2025 there has been one direct high-speed train a day in each direction. G3764 leaves Zhangjiajie West at 12:07 and arrives at Xi’an North at 21:56; G3763 leaves Xi’an North at 08:02 and arrives at Zhangjiajie West at 17:35. It takes about 9.5–10 hours because it goes via Chongqing and Chengdu.
How much is the train from Zhangjiajie to Xi’an?
A second-class seat on the direct train costs CNY 683, as listed on 12306, China Railway’s official booking site, on 28 September 2026. There is one direct train a day in each direction, so book early. On a private tour with us, we book the train tickets for you.
How long does it take from Xi’an to Zhangjiajie?
The morning flight takes about 1.5 hours: it leaves Xi’an at 08:50 and lands in Zhangjiajie at 10:20. By train, the direct G3763 takes 9 hours 33 minutes. Changing once at Changsha South, from Xi’an East at 07:54, takes about 9 hours and arrives at Zhangjiajie West at 16:51.
How long is the flight from Zhangjiajie to Xi’an?
About 1.5 hours. Flights from Zhangjiajie to Xi’an leave late in the evening, at 22:00 and 23:00, and land at 23:45 and 00:20. The route is seasonal, and winter schedules from late October can change. We arrange your airport pickup in Xi’an.
Should I take the train or fly between Zhangjiajie and Xi’an?
From Xi’an to Zhangjiajie, the morning flight is quicker when it runs on your date: you land at 10:20. From Zhangjiajie to Xi’an, take a late flight if you want a last full day in Zhangjiajie, or the train with one change at Chengdu East to arrive at 18:16.
Can foreigners buy high-speed train tickets on 12306?
Yes. You can register on 12306’s website or app with your passport, but you must pass an identity check first, and a manual check can take a few working days. Foreign bank cards are accepted, and you enter the station with the passport you booked with. On a private tour, we book the tickets for you.
Sources and data notes
Checked on 28 September 2026. Train times and the second-class fare come from 12306, China Railway’s official booking site, for trains on 29 and 30 September 2026. Flight times come from a Chinese booking platform, for flights on 13 October 2026. Train timetables can change from early October, and winter flight schedules start in late October, so times after those dates may differ; we will check again and update this page. Before you travel, we check the trains and flights again for your dates.