RHAPSODY IN TIFFANY BLUE: A XIANEASE GUIDE TO LINE 4

Article by XIANEASE

Line 4 of the Xi’an Metro is now open! While not quite as expansive as, say, Line 3, any new subway line is a good (and highly convenient) thing. The addition of the aquamarine-colored line also means we might even be able to start calling it a subway “system.” Excitement abounds. So, what’s going on along Line 4? Read on to find out.

TL;DR VERSION

Line 4 runs from Beikezhan (the high-speed rail station) in the north to Hang Tian Xin Cheng (whatever that is) in the south. While a stop at Beikezhan is super convenient, Hang Tian Xin Cheng joins the roster of other subway terminuses like Baoshuiqu and Houweizhai and Weiqunan as being places you will literally never go. The big revolution that Line 4 will bring is that it connects every line, and additionally will make some worthwhile destinations in the central/eastern parts of the city easily accessible.

Transfer stations for existing lines are as follows:

Line 4 runs from Beikezhan (the high-speed rail station) in the north to Hang Tian Xin Cheng (whatever that is) in the south. While a stop at Beikezhan is super convenient, Hang Tian Xin Cheng joins the roster of other subway terminuses like Baoshuiqu and Houweizhai and Weiqunan as being places you will literally never go. The big revolution that Line 4 will bring is that it connects every line, and additionally will make some worthwhile destinations in the central/eastern parts of the city easily accessible.

Transfer stations for existing lines are as follows:

Line 1 – Wu Lu Kou
Line 2 – Beikezhan (shared terminus) / Xing Zheng Zhong Xin
Line 3 – Da Yan Ta

8 STOPS WORTH KNOWING (from north to south)

Bei Ke Zhan (Bei Guang Chang)
(北客站 (北广场))

Where is it?
Way, way up north.

What’s there?
Beikezhan is, as previously mentioned, the Xi’an North Railway Station, which is the only place in town to get a high-speed train—rather important if you’re trying to get the hell out of dodge for a while.

Anything else?
If you live on Line 4’s route then congratulations, you’ve got a new, highly convenient way to get to the train station. Everyone else will likely have to keep their routine as usual. Beikezhan is also technically a transfer station, but if you’re taking Line 2 or Line 4 all the way north to make a transfer, it’s likely you’ve made a mistake.

Yuan Shuo Lu (元朔路)
Feng Cheng 12 Lu (凤城十二路)
Feng Cheng 9 Lu (凤城九路)
Wen Jing Lu (文景路)

Xing Zheng Zhong Xin
(行政中心)

Where is it?
Also way up north, just not as way up as Beikezhan.

What’s there?
Just a short walk from the station are some places of interest, like a couple of malls and the City Sports Park, the latter of which is perfect for playing sports during this smoggy, chilly time of year.

Anything else?
This is a transfer station shared with Line 2, so you might already be familiar with Xin Zheng Zhong Xin. If you weren’t, now you kind of are.

Shi Zhong Yi Yi Yuan (市中医医院)
Chang Qing Lu (常青路)
Bai Hua Cun (百花村)
Yu Jia Zhai (余家寨)
Da Ming Gong Bei (大明宫北)

Da Ming Gong (大明宫)

Where is it?
Just to the northeast of the city walls.

What’s there?
Da Ming Palace is a cultural heritage site and an enormous public park.

Anything else?
There are two new stations that go to Da Ming Palace, the normal station and “Da Ming Palace North,” and which you get off at depends on what you’re trying to do in the area. If you’re looking to go to one of the big events they occasionally have there, such as the Strawberry Music Festival, the normal stop will be fine. No more going to An Yuan Gate station and haggling with tuktuk drivers!

Han Yuan Dian (含元殿)
Huo Che Zhan (火车站)
Wu Lu Kou (五路口)

Da Chai Shi (大差市)

Where is it?
Near the East Gate.

What’s there?
Your typical downtown kind of stuff, but also Yongxing Square, a food street/night market chockablock with local snacks and delicacies.

Anything else?
It’s best to check out the food street at night, and among the many delicacies you can find there you should definitely check out Shuai Wan Jiu, a bowl of Chinese liquor that you down and then, according to tradition, you must smash the bowl on the ground.

Jianzhukejidaxue·Lijiacun (建筑科技大学·李家村)

Where is it?
Let’s just say Yanta North Road.

What’s there?
Everything? The Yanta North Road corridor is often overlooked by anyone who doesn’t live around there, but between the Wanda Plaza, the two electronics markets (SAGA and Bai Nao Hui) and all of the restaurants and things around, you can easily spend an afternoon getting productive on your errands list.

Anything else?
This entry is for two different stations, but they’re both in the same general area. Go to Heping Gate if you need to be closer to downtown, go to Lijiacun if you need something done at one of the electronics markets or want to hang around the Architecture University or something.

Da Yan Ta (大雁塔)

Where is it?
Next to the Dayanta

What’s there?
The Dayanta; also, hamburgers and beer (Xian Brewery and Westhouse, though there are many other kinds of restaurants around).

Anything else?
PAGODA. This station is a transfer with Line 3. Always keep it in the back of your mind that around holidays or other times when there’s potential for a people mountain people sea in Xi’an this station is usually closed, so plan accordingly.

Da Tang Fu Rong Yuan (大唐芙蓉园)

Where is it?
Southeast of the Dayanta.

What’s there?
A surprising amount. Besides the park itself, highlights include the Gran Melia hotel and the Qujiang Bookstore. There’s a lot of work being done to this area and new bars and restaurants are popping up all the time.

Anything else?
Nah, not really. That’s the gist of it.

Qu Jiang Chi  Xi (曲江池西)
Jin Hu Tuo (金滹沱)
Hangtian Da Dao (航天大道)
Feitian Lu (飞天路)
Dong Chang An Jie (东长安街)

Shenzhou Da Dao (神州大道)

Where is it?
Way down in Chang’an County, on the border between Chang’an County and Qujiang.

What’s there?
If you love towers but hate crowds, the tower and surrounding park down here makes for a great off-the-beaten-path day trip.

Anything else?
Nope.

Hangtian Dong Lu (航天东路)
Hangtian Xin Cheng (航天新城)