Shanghai to Xining flights
Xining lies 1,910 km (1,187 mi) north-west of Shanghai, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 3 h 12 min gate to gate, based on the distance and typical cruise speed with taxi and climb allowed for; connecting itineraries add the layover on top.
| Shanghai | Xining | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | China | China |
| Population | 24.9 million | 2.5 million |
| Elevation | 12 m (39 ft) | 2,275 m (7,464 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+8 (Asia/Shanghai) | UTC+8 (Asia/Shanghai) |
| Nearest large airport | SHA, 12 km out | XNN, 27 km out |
| Postal codes | 200000 | 810000 |
Airports at each end
Leaving Shanghai
Shanghai is served by 3 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA), 12 km (7 mi) from the centre, whose 11,154-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft. The alternatives are Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG, 34 km), Jiaxing Nanhu Airport (JNH, 96 km).
Arriving in Xining
Xining is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Xining Caojiabao International Airport (XNN), 27 km (17 mi) from the centre, whose 12,467-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft.
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xining Caojiabao International Airport | XNN | 27 km (17 mi) | 12,467 ft | 7,119 ft |
Book a flight to Xining
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Flights are sold here by AirOrSeaTravel through our booking partner, Nuitée, which takes the payment; the ticket is issued by the airline. How this works.
Staying in Xining
Our booking partner lists 48 places to stay in Xining. Of the 42 with a star rating, the largest group is 3-star (25), and 2 are five-star. Guests have left 278 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Xining
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Xining from Shanghai?
1,910 km (1,187 mi) in a straight line, north-west of Shanghai.
How long does it take to get from Shanghai to Xining by air?
About 3 h 12 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Shanghai and Xining?
No, both are on Asia/Shanghai at the moment.
Which airports are used for Shanghai to Xining flights?
Typically Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) to Xining Caojiabao International Airport (XNN).
Where can I stay in Xining?
Our booking partner lists 48 places to stay in Xining, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.