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China · Qinghai

Xining: how to get there and around

Airports, stations, ports, where the hotels are and what the numbers say, from public data rather than a brochure.

OverviewFlightsHotelsTrainsBusesCar rentalTours

Xining is a city of 2.5 million people in China (Qinghai), 2,275 m (7,464 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is Xining Caojiabao International Airport (XNN), 27 km (17 mi) from the centre. It has 4 railway stations on record, including Xining railway station. Our booking partner lists 48 places to stay.

Key facts

Population2.5 million
Elevation2,275 m (7,464 ft)
Area7,607 km²
Time zoneAsia/Shanghai (UTC+8 now)
CurrencyYuan Renminbi (CNY)
Dialling code+86
Driving sideRight
Plug typesAS/NZS 3112, Euro, NEMA 1-15
Postal codes810000
UN/LOCODECNXNN
Coordinates36.626, 101.757
Xining

Open Xining in Google Maps

Daylight in Xining runs from about 9 h 42 min a day in late December to 14 h 43 min in late June (computed for 36.63° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.

Getting there

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.

Flights to Xining: every airport, routes and times

By rail: stations on record include Xining railway station, Xining West railway station, Datongxi Railway Station, Xining East railway station. Trains to Xining

Buses to Xining · Driving and car hire

Where to stay

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.

Hotels in Xining: the full picture, and book

Nearby cities, and how to get between them

Twin towns and sister cities: Izhevsk.

Common questions

Which airport serves Xining?

Xining Caojiabao International Airport (XNN), 27 km (17 mi) from the centre.

How big is Xining?

About 2.5 million people live in Xining, across 7,607 km² (GeoNames and Wikidata).

What time zone is Xining in?

Asia/Shanghai, currently UTC+8.

What currency is used in Xining?

The Yuan Renminbi (CNY). Traffic drives on the right.

How many hotels are there in Xining?

Our booking partner lists 48 places to stay in Xining, bookable on this site.

Which cities are near Xining?

Lanzhou (197 km), Zhongwei (320 km), Wuwei (164 km), Zhangye (281 km), Dingxi (283 km).

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 13 September 2026. Hotel 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.