Xining Airport (XNN), officially Xining Caojiabao International Airport, is the main airport of Qinghai province in north-west China. It stands in Huzhu Tu Autonomous County, part of Haidong, about 25 to 30 km east of central Xining. Two terminals take passengers at the moment. T3 handles every domestic flight, while T1 handles international flights and services to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

The airport is a regional hub on the Tibetan Plateau, and at more than 2,000 m above sea level it is one of China's high-altitude airports. Some travellers feel the thin, dry air when they land, so take the walk to your bus or car slowly. You may also see the name written as Caojiapu, the local reading of the same Chinese characters. Official Chinese sources use Caojiabao in English. The airport is run by Qinghai Airport Co., Ltd., part of the Western Airport Group, and it posts its notices on WeChat rather than on a website.

Terminals at Xining Airport

Xining Caojiabao splits passengers by type of flight, not by airline. The airport publishes no airline directory, so this guide does not place any carrier in a terminal. Your e-ticket shows which terminal you need, and it is worth a look before you set off because assignments can change.

T3 (domestic)

T3 is the newest building at XNN and takes all domestic arrivals and departures within mainland China. It opens at 04:30 and closes once the last flight of the day has left.

T1 (international, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan)

T1 serves international routes as well as flights to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. If your trip to Singapore connects through another Chinese city, remember that the first leg is a domestic flight and leaves from T3.

T2 (temporarily out of use)

T2 has been suspended since T3 opened, and all of its domestic flights moved to T3. The closure is described as temporary, and some older guides and airline pages still mention T2. Go by the terminal on your booking.

The airport has not published how passengers transfer between T1 and T3. If you are connecting from a domestic flight to an international one, leave plenty of time and ask your airline how the transfer works.

Getting to and from Xining Airport

Ground transport at XNN is gathered at the Ground Transportation Centre, signposted as GTC from arrivals. The operator does not publish journey times into Xining, and the road trip covers 25 to 30 km, so give yourself a generous margin before an early departure. Fares are shown at the counter or in the app.

Airport bus

Airport buses leave from the GTC. Qinghai Airport Co. lists the current stops on its WeChat account, so check there for the stop closest to where you are staying.

Taxi, ride-hailing and private car

Taxis and ride-hailing cars pick up at the GTC as well. If someone is dropping you off for a domestic flight, set the navigation to "T3 (domestic departures)" so you reach the right building.

Parking

Drivers can use the East and West parking buildings at the GTC. The airport does not publish a short-term or long-term split, and rates change, so check them at the car park.

Opening hours at Xining Airport

Xining Airport is not open 24 hours. T3 opens at 04:30 each day and closes after the day's last flight. There is no overnight wait inside the terminal, so on a very early departure, time your arrival for after it opens.

Tips for flying from Xining Airport

For a domestic flight, the airport suggests arriving about 2 hours before departure. At T3, check-in and bag drop close 35 minutes before the scheduled departure, and boarding gates close 15 minutes before. After those cut-offs the airline may refuse to carry you, so build the drive from the city into your plan.

For international flights and flights to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, the airport says its cut-off times are unchanged but does not state them. Your airline sets the deadline, and it appears on your booking. Entry requirements are set by governments, not the airport, so read the official guidance for your passport well before you travel. To follow a flight on the day, open the Traveloka flight status page.

Flights and flight schedule from Xining Airport

The fare cards on this page give fares from Xining to popular destinations. Below them, the schedule tables list upcoming departures and arrivals at XNN by date, with the airline and scheduled times. The tables carry a selection of services rather than the full timetable, so treat them as a starting point. Choose a route, compare airlines and times for your dates, then note whether your flight uses T3 or T1. If the fare is not right yet, set a Price Alert.

Popular routes from Xining Airport:

• Xining to Shanghai flights
• Xining to Singapore flights
• Xining to Yushu flights

Planning a trip to Qinghai? Compare flights to and from Xining on Traveloka and book the one that fits your dates.