Xining Caojiabao International Airport is 30 kilometres from the city centre, with flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Lhasa, Guangzhou, and other major Chinese cities. A direct high-speed rail service from Lanzhou takes about one hour; trains from Xi'an take about four hours. Xining Railway Station is also the eastern terminus for the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, with trains to Lhasa taking 21 to 24 hours. The station is in the southern part of the city and is connected to the centre by bus and taxi.
The airport is served by shuttle buses to the city centre (around 25 yuan, 45 minutes) and by taxis (around 80 yuan). Didi (the Chinese ride-hailing app) works reliably in Xining.