Delhi to Xi'an flights — no non-stop; best 1-stop via a Chinese hub or Bangkok, fares, Xianyang (XIY) airport and the China tourist visa Indians need.
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Quick answer: Delhi to Xi'an flights take about ≈ 9–14h (1-stop, including layover), operated by China Eastern, Air China, Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, IndiGo (all 1-stop), No non-stop — daily 1-stop options via a Chinese hub or Bangkok. Indian passport holders should check the visa requirement summarised below. Use the live search above to compare today's cheapest DEL–XIY fare across every airline, OTA and travel agent in one place.
Last reviewed July 2026 by the FlightGPT flights desk · route facts cross-checked against DGCA and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) · how we collect fares · editorial policy · fact-checking · fares are live — verify the final price in search before booking.
Looking for cheap flights from Delhi to Xi'an? FlightGPT compares live DEL to XIY fares across every connected source — Indian carriers, Gulf hubs, OTAs and trusted travel agents — and shows the cheapest options side by side. Whether you want a Delhi to Xi'an non-stop tomorrow, a last-minute weekend deal or the lowest price three months out, every active Delhi-Xi'an fare is one search away.
There is no non-stop, so the choice is the connecting hub. A common pattern is via a mainland Chinese hub on China Eastern or Air China — routing through Kunming, Chengdu or Guangzhou, then a domestic sector into Xi'an. The other efficient option is via Bangkok, where a Delhi–Bangkok leg connects to a Thai AirAsia or Thai Lion Air service to Xi'an. IndiGo also sells connecting fares through a partner. For protected connections and through-checked bags, book the whole DEL–XIY journey on a single ticket; a self-connection that mixes unaffiliated carriers risks missed-connection and re-check hassles at the hub.
Demand to Xi'an peaks over China's Golden Week (early October) and Lunar New Year (late January–February), the northern summer and the Indian holiday periods, when these connecting fares are dearest. The cheaper windows are typically the shoulder months — spring (March–April, outside festivals) and autumn after Golden Week. As of May 2026, indicative round-trip economy fares from Delhi run very roughly ₹35,000–65,000 depending on routing and season — prices swing with the limited China connectivity. Because every option connects, weigh total journey time against price. Book peak dates 2–3 months ahead. Indicative only — check live in the FlightGPT chat.
The quickest single-stop journeys run about 9 to 11 hours total. Via Bangkok, a ~4.5h Delhi–Bangkok leg connects to a ~4.5h sector on to Xi'an; via a Chinese hub, a Delhi–Kunming/Chengdu leg connects to a short domestic hop. Less convenient routings can stretch to 14 hours or more. Great-circle distance is roughly 3,057 km, though connections fly farther. Xi'an is 2h 30m ahead of India, so an evening departure from Delhi typically lands in Xi'an the next morning. If your routing transits a Chinese hub, China's visa-free transit rules may apply at the connecting city — but you still need a full visa to enter Xi'an.
On these 1-stop fares, allowances vary by carrier. Full-service economy on China Eastern or Air China typically includes a checked allowance of around 23–30 kg (often piece-based on some fares), while low-cost legs on Thai AirAsia or Thai Lion Air usually sell baggage as a paid add-on — cheaper pre-booked online than at the counter. The catch is consistency: a booking mixing a full-service fare with a separate budget ticket can apply the most restrictive rule, with bags re-checked at the hub. Book through on one ticket where you can so baggage transfers. Request a vegetarian meal in advance on full-service sectors.
Delhi (DEL) — international flights depart Terminal 3, about 16 km from the city. Your connection is normally a Chinese hub (Kunming, Chengdu or Guangzhou) or Bangkok, where you should allow time to transfer — and note that a connection through mainland China may involve a security re-screen. Xi'an Xianyang International (XIY) is a large, modern airport about 40 km north-west of the city, linked by airport buses and a metro/intercity rail connection; it has multiple terminals, so check which one your arrival uses. From XIY it is roughly an hour into the walled old city. Allow around three hours at DEL for international check-in, immigration and security.
Indian passport holders need a visa for China before travel — for tourism this is the L (tourist) visa. You apply through the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC) in Delhi, Mumbai or Kolkata, submitting an online form, photos, your passport (valid six months with blank pages), confirmed flights and hotel bookings, and supporting documents; fingerprints/biometrics are generally required. Processing typically takes about 4–6 working days. A separate visa is needed even if your route transits another Chinese city, unless a specific visa-free transit scheme applies at that hub. Apply in good time before booking non-refundable travel. Full guidance is in the Visas guide.
Xi'an is most comfortable in spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October), with mild, drier weather ideal for the Terracotta Army, the city walls and the Muslim Quarter — though avoid the Golden Week crush in early October. Summer (June–August) is hot and can be humid, while winter (December–February) is cold and grey, with the busy Lunar New Year period. The shoulder months balance pleasant temperatures with thinner crowds at the big sights. Whenever you go, start the Terracotta Warriors early to beat tour groups. For trip ideas, see the destinations guide.
There is no non-stop. The quickest 1-stop journeys run about 9 to 11 hours total - via Bangkok (a ~4.5h leg plus a ~4.5h sector) or via a Chinese hub like Kunming or Chengdu with a short domestic hop. Less convenient routings can stretch to 14 hours or more.
No airline flies it non-stop. Common 1-stop options route via a mainland Chinese hub (Kunming, Chengdu or Guangzhou) on China Eastern or Air China, or via Bangkok on Thai AirAsia or Thai Lion Air. IndiGo also sells connecting fares through a partner.
As of May 2026, indicative round-trip economy fares run very roughly ₹35,000-65,000 by routing and season, swinging with the limited India-China connectivity. Book peak dates 2-3 months ahead. Indicative only - check live fares in the FlightGPT chat.
Yes. Indian passport holders need a China tourist (L) visa before travel, applied for through the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in Delhi, Mumbai or Kolkata with an online form, photos, flights, hotel bookings and usually biometrics. Processing takes about 4-6 working days. See /visas.
No. The 2026 India-China direct services link Delhi with Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou - not Xi'an - so every Delhi-Xi'an itinerary connects, via a Chinese hub like Kunming or Chengdu, or via Bangkok. The fastest routings total around 9 to 11 hours.
Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) are best, with mild, drier weather for the Terracotta Army and city walls - though avoid the Golden Week crush in early October. Summer is hot, and winter is cold and grey with the busy Lunar New Year period.
FlightGPT is a natural-language flight search: ask the way you'd ask a friend, and it compares live DEL–XIY fares across every airline, OTA and travel agent. Try one:
There is no single "cheapest day" to fly Delhi to Xi'an — the lowest fare is the one you find by comparing live. Open the search above to line up Delhi–Xi'an prices across China Eastern, Air China, Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, IndiGo (all 1-stop); booking ahead and avoiding peak weekends typically trims 25–40 percent off the walk-up fare.
Flying Delhi to Xi'an at short notice doesn't always mean overpaying. Off-peak departures and unsold seats on China Eastern, Air China, Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, IndiGo (all 1-stop) can surface real same-week deals. Put your date into the FlightGPT search above and we'll show every available DEL–XIY fare side by side in seconds.
There is currently no non-stop service between Delhi and Xi'an — itineraries connect via a hub, with a typical journey of ≈ 9–14h (1-stop, including layover). Comparing hubs side by side often saves 15-30 percent. FlightGPT lets you filter by "Direct only" or compare both side by side — useful when you want the cheapest Delhi Xi'an ticket but are open to a layover.
Delhi–Xi'an pricing rewards comparison over loyalty: the best value rotates between low-cost and full-service carriers depending on the date. FlightGPT's grid surfaces every Delhi Xi'an fare with baggage and meals counted in, so the genuinely cheapest all-in ticket is the one that rises to the top.