For many first-time visitors to Lanzhou, the most confusing part is not the attractions — it is the railway stations. Many travelers see “Lanzhou” and “Lanzhou West” while booking tickets and assume they are simply different sections of the same station. In reality, Lanzhou West mainly serves high-speed rail routes, while Lanzhou Railway Station handles most conventional trains, and the two stations are located far apart. Things become even more stressful for travelers arriving on late-night flights, carrying large luggage, or trying to continue toward Dunhuang, Xining, Jiayuguan, or Xinjiang on the same day. Since the opening of the new T3 Terminal, transportation connections at Zhongchuan Airport have become much smoother, but understanding the differences between Lanzhou Airport, Lanzhou West Railway Station, and Lanzhou Railway Station is still an important part of planning a trip across northwest China.
Air-Rail Transfer and Air Route Network at Zhongchuan Airport
Zhongchuan Airport East Station is located on B2 floor underground of Terminal 3, and it takes 5 to 7 minutes to walk to the entrance. The station code is ZRJ, with a total of 62 trains passing through, including 13 originating, 13 terminating and 36 passing trains.
Intercity Train Services
Zhongchuan Airport East Station offers direct trains to Lanzhou West Railway Station and Lanzhou Railway Station:
- To Lanzhou West Railway Station: C4272 (departs at 11:00, arrives at 11:46), C4274 (departs at 14:36, arrives at 15:21), C4276 (departs at 19:20, arrives at 20:05), C606 (departs at 15:25, arrives at 16:13). The whole journey takes about 45-48 minutes, second-class seat 17-20 CNY. Return trip C627 (departs at 15:36, arrives at 16:20).
- To Lanzhou Railway Station: C602 (departs at 08:38, arrives at 09:36), C604 (departs at 11:39, arrives at 12:50), C608 (departs at 18:01, arrives at 19:01), C610 (departs at 21:09, arrives at 22:05). The whole journey takes 56-71 minutes, second-class seat 21.5-30 CNY. About 11 trains daily.
Reverse trains: C603 (departs from Lanzhou Railway Station at 10:00, arrives at 10:57), C607 (departs from Lanzhou West Railway Station at 16:33, arrives at 17:15), C8502 (departs from Zhongchuan Airport at 10:06, arrives at Lanzhou Railway Station at 11:10, stops at Lanzhou New Area, Fuliqu, Lanzhou West). The fastest travel time from West Station to the airport is 33 minutes.
Terminal 3
Terminal 3 was put into operation on March 20, 2025, and all flights operate here. It has a designed annual passenger throughput of 38 million, integrating railway, rail transit, long-distance passenger transport, bus, taxi and other modes of transportation.
Airport Shuttle Bus Routes
Fare: 30 CNY (50 CNY for Line 5).
Line 1 (Chengguan Line): departs from the airport to the urban area every 20 minutes, terminal near Lanzhou Railway Station; return trips from urban area 04:30-23:00.
Line 2 (Shengli Hotel Line): 10:00-21:00, stops at Zhongshan Bridge.
Line 3 (Anning/West Railway Station Line): 09:30 to next day 01:00, terminal at Lanzhou West Railway Station.
Line 5 direct to Yantan. There is also a long-distance bus to Xining, fare 30 CNY.
Luggage Storage and Overnight Services
Terminal 3 is equipped with self-service luggage lockers and SF Service Point, supporting luggage packing, temporary storage and delivery. The waiting hall is open 24 hours. Passengers with overnight transfers (8-24 hours) can apply for free accommodation (same-gender shared accommodation, free shuttle service), and need to call 13669336855 to make an appointment 4 hours in advance.
Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport
Transportation Connection Between Zhongchuan Airport, Lanzhou Railway Station and Lanzhou West Railway Station
Take intercity trains from Zhongchuan Airport East Station to Lanzhou West Railway Station or Lanzhou Railway Station. A taxi to the urban area costs about 120-180 CNY. Airport shuttles also go directly to the two stations.
Important Tips
- To Lanzhou West Railway Station: suitable for transferring to high-speed trains to Xining, Xi’an, Jiayuguan and other places; journey time 35-48 minutes.
- To Lanzhou Railway Station: suitable for going to Chengguan District or transferring to ordinary-speed trains; journey time 50-65 minutes.
- Confirm the station name as “Zhongchuan Airport East Station”to “Lanzhou West Railway Station”or “Lanzhou Railway Station”when purchasing tickets.
Lanzhou West Railway Station Waiting Hall
High-Speed Rail Routes and Accessible Cities at Lanzhou West Railway Station
Lanzhou West Railway Station is located in Qilihe District, the main high-speed rail hub in Gansu, China.
Main Routes
- Longhai High-Speed Railway
Tianshui South about 1.5 hours; Xi’an North bullet train about 6 hours 10 minutes (second-class seat 420 CNY), high-speed train about 2.5 hours (175 CNY); Zhengzhou East about 4 hours 50 minutes; Shanghai Hongqiao about 10 hours 6 minutes (1071 CNY), passing through Xi’an, Zhengzhou, Nanjing and other cities.
- Lanzhou-Xinjiang High-Speed Railway
Xining about 1 hour (58 CNY); Zhangye West 2.5-3 hours (120 CNY); Jiayuguan South about 4.5 hours; Urumqi about 10 hours.
- Baotou-Yinchuan/Yinchuan-Lanzhou High-Speed Railway
To Yinchuan via Zhongwei South. D2646 (departs at 09:30, arrives at Xi’an North at 15:40) stops at Baiyin South, Zhongwei South and other stations. The fastest travel time from Lanzhou to Beijing is 6 hours 22 minutes.
Station Services
There are luggage storage and “Light Travel”self-service lockers on B1 floor and waiting floor. Air-rail counters B6-B7 provide early check-in for Zhongchuan Airport.
Ordinary-Speed Rail Routes and Accessible Cities at Lanzhou Railway Station
Lanzhou Railway Station is located in Chengguan District, mainly operating ordinary-speed trains.
Main Routes
- Hexi Corridor direction: K9661 (departs at 21:52, arrives at Jiayuguan at 08:00 next day), hard seat 102 CNY; K858 (departs at 19:22, arrives at Emei at 09:18 next day), passing through Weiyuan, Longnan, Chengdu and other cities.
- East China direction: K417 (departs at 08:33, arrives at Yangzhou at 14:04 next day), passing through 24 stations including Tianshui, Xi’an, Zhengzhou, Xuzhou.
- North China direction: 2636 ordinary-speed train (departs at 16:15, arrives at Hohhot at 10:28 next day), passing through 11 stations including Baiyin West, Zhongwei, Yinchuan, Baotou.
Station Services
There are about 9-10 intercity trains daily from Lanzhou Railway Station to Zhongchuan Airport (about 55 minutes). There are luggage storage facilities at the exit and waiting hall, small items 5-10 CNY per day, large items 10-20 CNY per day, with self-service luggage lockers. Exit C of Subway Line 2 is on the east side of the square after exiting the station.
Differences Between Lanzhou West Railway Station and Lanzhou Railway Station and Transfer Methods
Main Differences
- Lanzhou West Railway Station: high-speed rail hub, G/D prefix trains to Xi’an, Shanghai, Urumqi and other cities.
- Lanzhou Railway Station: ordinary-speed rail hub, K/T/Z prefix trains to Beijing, Chengdu, Hohhot, Jiayuguan and other cities.
Station Transfers
The two stations are 10 kilometers apart. Subway: take Line 2 from Lanzhou Railway Station to Dongfanghong Square, transfer to Line 1 to North Square of Lanzhou West Railway Station, about 30 minutes. Taxi takes about 30-40 minutes, 30-40 CNY. It is recommended to reserve 2 hours for cross-station transfer. The two stations are not connected, and trains are not interchangeable.
FAQs About Lanzhou Airport and Railway Stations
Q: How to buy high-speed train tickets from Zhongchuan Airport to railway stations?
A: Tickets can be purchased at self-service ticket machines or manual windows next to the entrance of Zhongchuan Airport East Station. Select departure station “Zhongchuan Airport East”and arrival station “Lanzhou West”or “Lanzhou”.
Q: Can passengers without checked luggage travel faster from the airport to the high-speed rail station?
A: Yes. Passengers without checked luggage can take the fast channel directly to the platform.
Q: Is it convenient to carry large suitcases on intercity trains?
A: Yes. The carriages are equipped with luggage racks and large luggage storage areas.
Q: Can luggage be stored overnight at Lanzhou Railway Station?
A: Yes. Official storage: small items 5-10 CNY per day, large items 10-20 CNY per day. There are also storage points outside the station and self-service lockers inside the station.
Q: Are the facilities at Lanzhou West Railway Station convenient?
A: The waiting hall has catering, convenience stores, free charging and dining areas. There are restaurants 10 minutes’ walk from the exit. Luggage storage is available on B1 floor and waiting floor.
Q: How long does it take by subway from Lanzhou Railway Station to Lanzhou West Railway Station?
A: About 30 minutes.
Q: What to do if there is only one hour between flight arrival and the last intercity train?
A: Pick up luggage quickly and go to the railway station, buy tickets at self-service ticket machines or manual windows. Take the fast channel if without checked luggage. Take the last airport shuttle if you miss the train.
Q: Is it safe for the elderly or children to take intercity trains alone from the airport to railway stations?
A: The whole journey is connected indoors, with monitoring and guides. The air-rail counters at Lanzhou West Railway Station provide waiting and check-in services, and the station offers one-on-one assistance for priority passengers.
Practical Travel Tips for Lanzhou Airport and Railway Stations
- Confirm the station name on the train ticket in advance. Check clearly “Lanzhou West”or “Lanzhou”, the two stations are 10 kilometers apart and not connected.
- Reserve sufficient transfer time. Reserve at least 2 hours for cross-station transfer.
- Control the number of carry-on luggage. Check seats and luggage racks before getting on and off the train. Use the packing and delivery service at Terminal 3 if you have a lot of luggage.
- Confirm terminal information. All flights use Terminal 3.
- Passengers traveling with the elderly or children should arrange time reasonably. Rest areas are available at the stations.
Many First-Time Visitors to Lanzhou Confuse the Railway Stations
A lot of travelers only realize after arriving in Lanzhou that Lanzhou Railway Station and Lanzhou West Railway Station are completely different places. This is especially common among visitors heading toward Dunhuang, Xining, or Xinjiang for the first time. Many people focus on booking train tickets but forget to double-check which station their train actually departs from. By the time they land at Zhongchuan Airport and start figuring out transfers, airport trains, or station locations, the schedule can quickly become stressful.
Transportation connections in Lanzhou are much better today than they were a few years ago, especially after the opening of the T3 Terminal and the airport railway station. Still, travel across northwest China involves long distances, overnight trains, and multiple transportation hubs, so station planning often matters more than travelers expect. During peak travel seasons or late-night arrivals, choosing the right station area and hotel location in advance can make the rest of the trip significantly smoother. China Dragon Travel has extensive experience arranging transportation and Silk Road itineraries across Gansu and the Hexi Corridor, helping travelers navigate Lanzhou and continue toward destinations such as Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, Zhangye, and Xinjiang more comfortably.
