Xining Railway Stations | Xining High Speed Railway Station
Xining is the transportation hub of Qinghai Province and an important gateway city to Gansu, Xinjiang and Tibet. With the Qinghai-Tibet Railway and Lanzhou-Urumqi High-speed Railway, you can travel northwestern China conveniently and the scenery on the way is also fantastic. Xining Railway Station is the only high speed train station in Xining and is also the most chosen one. Check more information about the railway stations in Xining and the main train schedules between Xining and major cities in China to better plan your Xining trip.
Three Railway Stations in Xining
There are 3 railway stations in Xining serving passengers, namely Xining Railway Station (西宁站), Huangyuan Railway Station (湟源站) and Datongxi Railway Station (大通西站). Among them, Xining Railway Station is the most frequently used one because it is closet to downtown and has the most train schedules (including high-speed trains and normal trains) connecting other cities in China. Both Huangyuan and Datong are subordinate counties in Xining. Huangyuan Railway Station operates about 6 trains a day to Golmud, Xining and Mahai. Datongxi Railway Station operates about 7 trains a day to Lanzhou, Jiayuguan, Urumqi, Xining and Menyuan.
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Xining Railway Stations Map (click to enlarge)
Xining Railway Station - High Speed Train & Normal Train
Address: 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, about 6 km (20 min by car, 40 min by bus) to downtown, 28 km (40 minutes’ drive) to Xining Caojiabao International Airport.
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.
Connected Cities (high speed train): Xian (4-5h), Lanzhou (70min-2.5h), Zhangye (2h), Jiayuguan (3-3.5h), Dunhuang (6h), Turpan (8-9h), Urumqi (9-10h), etc.
Luggage Storage: Tourists can leave their luggage at the railway station with a fee of about CNY 5 for a small bag and CNY 10 for a big one (for reference only). It is at the entrance of the station, if you can not find it, please consult the staff at the station.
High Speed Train Arriving at Xining Railway Station
High Speed Trains to/off Xining Railway Station
Xining Railway Station operates high speed trains with cities on the Lanzhou-Wulumuqi High-speed Railway, including Xian (4-5h), Lanzhou (70min-2.5h), Zhangye (2h), Jiayuguan (3-3.5h), Dunhuang (6h), Turpan (8-9h), Urumqi (9-10h)… It is very convenient for tourists to taka an ancient Silk Road trip. Check detailed train information below or read more about Xining high speed trains.
| Route | Train Types | Duration | Frequency (per day) | Check Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xian ↔ Xining | D Trains | about 4-5 hrs | about 15 | Xian to Xining Train Schedule > Xining to Xian Train Schedule > |
| Lanzhou ↔ Xining | D Trains | 70min-2.5hrs | about 25 | Lanzhou to Xining Train Schedule > Xining to Lanzhou Train Schedule > |
| Zhangye ↔ Xining | D Trains | about 2 hrs | about 13 | Zhangye to Xining Train Schedule > Xining to Zhangye Train Schedule > |
| Jiayuguan ↔ Xining | D Trains | about 3-3.5 hrs | about 12 | Jiayuguan to Xining Train Schedule > Xining to Jiayuguan Train Schedule > |
| Dunhuang ↔ Xining | D Trains | about 6 hrs | 2 | Dunhuang to Xining Train Schedule > Xining to Dunhuang Train Schedule > |
| Turpan ↔ Xining | D Trains | about 8-9 hrs | 4 | Turpan to Xining Train Schedule > Xining to Turpan Train Schedule > |
| Urumqi ↔ Xining | D Trains | about 9-10 hrs | 4 | Urumqi to Xining Train Schedule > Xining to Urumqi Train Schedule > |
*The train schedules change from time to time and they are only provided for your reference, please do not hesitate to contact us for the updated info!
Normal Trains to/off Xining Railway Station
Many people take a train to Tibet to enjoy the beautiful scenery along Qinghai-Tibet Railway. This 1956 km railway with 85 stops starts from Xining City, passes through Golmud, Kunlun Mountain, Tuotuo River, crosses Tanggula Pass, enters Amdo, Naqu, Damxung, Yangbajing and ends at Lhasa. On the way you can see lakes and mountains, rivers and grasslands, quite a once-in-a-lifetime experience. For cities on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway like Lhasa (20-22h), Golmud (6.5-10h), Delingha (4-6h) and other relatively far cities in China such as Beijing (19-22.5h), Chengdu (12.5-15h), Chongqing (13.5h), Taiyuan (14.5-20h), Jinan (23h)… Xining Railway Station only operates normal trains between them. Check detailed train information below:
Note: If you do not want to take such a long-time train trip, you can also fly to Xining to save your time. Check Xining Airport and Flights to Xining >
*Since the train schedules change from time to time and they are only provided for your reference, please do not hesitate to contact us for the updated info!
Xining Railway Station to Main Attractions
The main attractions in Xining city include Taer Monastery, Dongguan Mosque, Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum, etc. But Xining is always traveled with attractions around it such as Qinghai Lake and Chaka Salt Lake, which are also the highlights of Qinghai. It is most recommended to visit the attractions by charting a car so that you will have a more flexible trip.
- To Qinghai Lake: about 150 km, 2 hours’ drive.
- To Chaka Salt Lake: about 300 km, 4 hours’ drive.
- To Taer Monastery: about 34 km, 50 minutes’ drive.
- To Dongguan Mosque: about 2.5 km, 10 minutes’ drive.
- To Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum: about 12 km, 30 minutes’ drive.
Qinghai Lake
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How to Plan a Xining Trip
How to Get to Xining: You can fly to Xining from Beijing (2.5h), Shanghai (3h), Guangzhou (3h15min), Lhasa (2-3.5h), Xian (1.5h), etc. or take a bullet train to Xining from Xian (4-5h), Lanzhou (1h10min-1.5h), Zhangye (2h), Jiayuguan (3.3.5h), Dunhuang (6h), etc.
Best Time to Visit Xining: Months from May to October are the best because the temperature is moderate and comfortable.
Where to Stay in Xining: Xining downtown is most recommended. If you are going to visit Qinghai Lake or Chaka Salt Lake, you can also choose the hotels nearby.
Xining is the starting point and transfer center for a Qinghai tour. It’s suitable to spend 1 day discovering the top attractions in Xining, including the Kumbum Monastery, Dongguan Mosque, Tibetan Medicine & Tibet Culture Museum. The vast and beautiful Qinghai Lake, about 2.5 hours’ drive from Xining is the No.1 must-visit attraction. You can spend one day here appreciating the water scenery, hiking or biking along the lake or taking a Qinghai Lake cruise (cruise is only available from May to October). With one more day, you can expand trip to the Chaka Salt Lake, known as Mirror of the Sky for its stunning reflected natural landscape on the salt lake. Another day is needed. Usually, people take 3~4 days to visit the three destinations together to explore the cultural and natural highlights of Qinghai.
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With short driving distance, there are a few less-known but incredible destinations you can visit, such as the Tongren with authentic Amdo Tibetan Buddhist culture and famous Regong Arts, Kanbula National Forest Park with magnificent Yellow River and Danxia landform. If you’re interested and have more time, you can continue the Buddhist cultural trip to Xiahe (Labrang Monastery) and Linxia (Bingling Temple) in southern Gansu.
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Northwest and southwest China are mysterious lands full of natural beauty and cultural charms. Tourists often make a long trip from Qinghai to neighboring Zhangye (Rainbow Mountains), Jiayuguan, Dunhuang (Mogao Caves) of Gansu along the Silk Road, or make a Sky Train trip to “Roof of the World” - Tibet, visit Potala Palace, Mount Everest, Namtso Lake..., or explore Badain Jaran Desert in Western Inner Mongolia, go further to Urumqi, Turpan and more destinations in Xinjiang and travel land to Jiuzhaigou, Ruo’ergai of Sichuan.
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You can choose from our most popular Qinghai tour packages covering excellent sightseeing and the best local experiences. As an experienced and professional China travel agency, China Discovery also offers customized tour service to help you design a unique trip on your own. Just contact us, tell us your schedule and preferences, we will create a memorable China Qinghai tour for you.
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