First train leaves T3 around 06:10, last is near 23:00
Xi'an Metro Line 14 runs directly from Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (T2 and T3) into the city metro network, so if you already know your way around Chinese subways, this is the most predictable option. Trains use standard metro rolling stock, doors level with the platform, and you tap in with a transport card or buy a single ticket at the machines next to the turnstiles.
From T3 station to Beikezhan (North Railway Station) on Line 14, the ride runs about 30–35 minutes with several intermediate stops, and trains generally come every 8–12 minutes in daytime. The airport station sits below the terminal building, signed in English and Chinese, and you follow the "Metro 地铁" signs down one level from the arrivals hall to reach the platforms.
Single-ride tickets on Line 14 cost in the ballpark of ¥7–10 from the airport to Beikezhan, depending on exact distance, and ticket machines accept small denomination RMB notes and coins plus some bank cards. Keep the paper ticket until exit; you feed it into the gate at your destination station, the same way you do on the rest of the Xi'an Metro network.
Once Line 14 drops you at Beikezhan, you can transfer to Line 2 on the same level by following the purple Line 2 signs for about 3–5 minutes of walking. From there, Line 2 runs south through sites like Bell Tower station and Xiaozhai, so the total airport-to-downtown time usually lands around 50–70 minutes depending on wait times between lines.
Step-by-step from T3 arrivals: 1) Walk 150–300 meters following "Metro/地铁" signs to the Line 14 entrance. 2) Use the ticket machines near the gates to buy a ticket to your target station (for central transfers, pick Beikezhan). 3) Pass security screening at the metro entrance; bag x-ray is standard. 4) Ride Line 14 to Beikezhan, about 30 minutes. 5) Follow signs to Line 2 and board the southbound train for Bell Tower or your chosen stop.
One tip: if you land after 22:30 in T3, check the exact last-train time posted on the station boards before heading down, and if it looks tight, grab cash at an airport ATM so you have ¥100–150 ready for a fallback taxi ride into the city.