Xi'an to Lhasa Flights

Located in the middle of China, Xian is an important birthplace of Chinese civilization and the Chinese nation. Since ancient times, Xian has been the capital of 13 dynasties including Xizhou, Qin, Xihan, Sui, Tang, etc. It's one of the four ancient capitals of China, with six World Heritage sites such as the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum.

Besides, Xian is an important transportation hub. Xian is well-connected with several international cities such as Tokyo, Rome, Sydney, San Francisco, etc., and most major cities in China. It is also one of the main flight hubs for those who are traveling to Tibet.

Xian-Lhasa Flight Facts in Brief

• Flight Duration: 3 hours & 25 minutes.
• Distance: 1,980 kilometers.
• Frequency of Flights: More than 10 direct flights daily
• Major Airlines: Tibet Airlines, Air China, Sichuan Airlines, and Eastern Airlines
• Altitude Change: 405m(Xi'an) - 3,656(Lhasa)
• Airports and IATA Codes: Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY). Lhasa Gonggar International Airport (LXA)

Why Choose the Xi'an-Lhasa Air Route?

Reasons abound as to why you should opt for Xi'an-Lhasa Air Route and here are the convincing reasons why you should:

1. First, at Xi'an, you have plenty of flight options to Tibet, with more than 10 flights to Tibet from Xi'an in peak tourist season.
2. Second, Xi'an is strategically located in the heart of China, and it is reachable by high-speed trains from the major cities of China like Shanghai and Beijing.
3. Third, the city of Xi'an is a legitimate tourist spot. It is one of the ancient cities of China and was once the ancient capital of several important dynasties. There, you'll find the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang along with his famous Terracotta Army, burial mounds and tombs from the Zhou dynasty kings, 800 Han dynasty's royal mausoleums, pagodas, and many more.
4. Tibet is only three hours and twenty-five minutes by plane from Xi'an. Thus, Tibet is conveniently accessible from this city.

Xi'an-Lhasa Flight Info

Due to the relatively shorter flight distance(1,980 kilometers) from Xi'an to Lhasa compared with other major Chinese cities and shorter flight duration(3 hours 25 minutes), a lot of tourists choose Xi'an as their jumping board to Tibet.

Currently, there are more than 10 direct daily flights from Xian to Lhasa and from Lhasa to Xian. The number of flights is much more than that of other domestic cities. Here we just list some major daily flights.

Xian to Lhasa Flights

Lhasa to Xian Flights​

As the flight is highly affected by the weather and climate, the timetable is just for reference. When you plan to book a flight ticket, you can search for the latest information on the internet or contact us. We can offer the ticket booking and permit application.

Necessary Permits for this Travel

Any traveler who wants to travel to Tibet needs to have a Tibet Travel Permit. This permit will be checked as you board the plane to Tibet. If you want to obtain this permit, you can book with a certified tour agency in Tibet then your Tibet travel agency can help process it. Please note that it might take up to 20 days to get a permit according to your destination. Once this permit is issued, your agency will send it to you by post.

You will also need to have a China Visa. This visa is necessary before you can enter China. And it will also be checked before you board a flight or train to Tibet, along with your passport.

Xi'an Xianyang International Airport

The Xian Xianyang International Airport (XIY) is the major airport that serves Xi'an, Shaanxi Province's capital, and the Guanzhong area. It covers around 5 square kilometers and is the largest airport in the northwest region of China. It is a Skytrax 4-star airport.

The Xi'an Xianyang International Airport is the 7th busiest airport in China and the busiest airport in northwest China. In terms of cargo traffic, it is the 14th busiest airport in China. It is situated in Xianyang administrative area; hence, it is called Xianyang International Airport. It is 13 km away from the Xianyang downtown area and 25 km away from downtown Xi'an.

As a transportation hub, you can take a direct flight to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport from the different continents of the world like Europe, Australia, Africa, North America, and other parts of Asia. You can also readily access Xi'an from the different domestic cities of China like Shanghai, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Beijing, Nanjing, Xining, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Lhasa, etc.

From Xi'an, you can take a shuttle bus to the airport. There are shuttle buses that frequently ply the Xi'an-to-Xianyang International Airport route. You can reach the airport from Xi'an within an hour and a half. Moreover, there are 8 airport bus routes that connect Xian and Xianyang cities to the airport. You can also take the Xi'an Metro Airport Line from the Beikezhan (Beiguangchang) station to the airport.

Arrival at Lhasa Gonggar International Airport

After 2.5 hours of air travel, you will arrive at the largest airport called "Lhasa Gonggar International Airport" (LXA). This airport is 62 kilometers from Lhasa and is located in Gonggar County, Shannan Prefecture. It is situated 11,710 ft above sea level and only Boeing 747 and Airbus A340 can lad in this airport.

This airport is serviced only by one international flight from Kathmandu. During peak season, there are one or two daily direct flights that ply the Kathmandu-Lhasa air route. These flights are operated by Sichuan Airlines and Air China.

Being the most important airport in Tibet, the Lhasa Gonggar Airport caters to many domestic flights from other cities of China including Chengdu, Shanghai, Xian, Guangzhou, Kunming, Xining, Chongqing, Shangri-La, and many other domestic cities. Chengdu is one of these domestic cities that offers direct flights to Lhasa.

How to Reach Downtown Lhasa from the Airport?

Since Lhasa Gonggar Airport is around 60km from downtown, you will need to travel from the airport to downtown Lhasa. The travel time from the airport to downtown Lhasa usually takes one to two hours. There are different modes of transport that you can use to reach downtown Lhasa, and here are the modes of transport you can take:

Airport Shuttle

Regular buses ply the Airport-Lhasa route. There are also airport shuttle buses that you can take, and the fare will cost you CNY 35. It usually takes 1.5 hours to reach downtown Lhasa. The downside of riding an airport shuttle is that you have to wait for the bus to be full before the shuttle travels.

Taxis

You can also opt to hail a taxi upon arrival at the Lhasa Gonggar Airport. It may be a bit difficult to hail a taxi at the airport and taxi fares usually cost around CNY 200. A taxi ride from the airport is faster and it usually takes only 1 hour to reach downtown. One caveat when riding a taxi is this—make sure you agree about the fare before you get into a taxi.

Private Transfer Service

If you are traveling to Tibet with the help of a tour agency, they usually would provide you with a private transfer service. Your tour guide and private driver will usually wait for you outside the airport to pick you up. This transfer service is more convenient because it would bring you directly to your hotel.

FAQs

We have collated here some of the frequently asked questions about the Xi'an-Lhasa Flight. These may be your questions too, so it would be good to check them out:

When is the best season to travel from Xi'an to Lhasa?

Spring and autumn are the best seasons to travel to Xi'an if you plan to tour the city. The spring season corresponds to the months of March, April, and May. During this period, the weather is dry and warm with a lot of sunshine. This is also the time for cherry and peach blossoms.

Autumn occurs during the months of September, October, and November. This season lets you witness Xi'an being bedecked with yellow leaves. You would also surely appreciate Xi'an during this season. September is the wettest month in Xi'an.

Lhasa, on the other hand, is best toured from April to October. During these months, you'll enjoy the warm sunshine in Lhasa and the weather is mild. Moreover, during these months, you'll have plenty of flight options from Xi'an to Lhasa. Lhasa, however, is situated at a high altitude. So, it is advisable to take the early morning flight from Xi'an to Lhasa to allow your body to have enough time during the day to acclimate yourself to the high-altitude weather of Lhasa.

Will I experience altitude sickness when I arrive in Lhasa from Xi'an?

Xi'an is 405 meters or 1,329 feet above sea level while Lhasa is 3,656 meters or 11,995 feet above sea level. Since the flight duration is only 3 hours and 25 minutes from Xi'an to Lhasa, you are more likely to experience altitude sickness because of the great difference in the altitudes of both cities. Thus, you need to prepare yourself for the possible onset of altitude sickness. But as long as you are in good physical condition, you can easily overcome the symptoms of altitude sickness.

What documents should I have to make my Xi'an-to-Lhasa flight hassle-free?

Well, you should carry with you your passport, Chinese Visa, and Tibet Travel Permit. You can't travel to China if you don't have your passport and a Chinese Visa. However, you will also need a Tibet Travel Permit if you are going to enter the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Your passport should be valid for more than 6 months. You can process a Chinese Visa in your country of origin, while the Tibet Travel Permit can be processed on your behalf by your chosen travel agency.

When I arrive at Lhasa, what will I ride to reach downtown Lhasa?

The airport of Lhasa is the Lhasa Gonggar Airport. Yet, this airport is located around 65 kilometers from downtown Lhasa. If you have availed of a Tibet tour package, you would likely have a private car provided to you by your travel agency. This car will be waiting for you at the airport exit upon your arrival. With this private car, you can reach downtown Lhasa within an hour.

You can also take a shuttle bus that plies the route between Lhasa and the airport. Shuttle buses usually wait at the airport's exit and leave every thirty minutes. The last shuttle bus is until 9:30 in the evening. Lastly, you can also hail a taxi outside the airport. You'd better haggle first with the taxi driver about the price of the fare before you ride a taxi.