Why Xuzhou Is Easy to Navigate
Xuzhou is a major national transport hub, sitting at the strategic intersection of the north–south Beijing–Shanghai axis and the east–west Land Bridge corridor. For a visitor, that reputation translates into something very practical: the city is well connected to the rest of China, and once you are here, a compact metro system, cheap buses and plentiful taxis make getting around straightforward.
Arriving by Train
Xuzhou is a major rail hub and very easy to reach by train. It sits roughly halfway between Beijing and Shanghai on the Beijing–Shanghai route, and it is also connected westward toward the northwestern frontier and beyond via the line to Xinjiang.
Two stations matter most to visitors, and it pays to know which one you want before you book:
- Xuzhou Railway Station (徐州站) — the older station, just east of downtown. It handles conventional trains and some D-class services, reaches more smaller cities and towns, and offers slower and overnight sleeper options. Facilities are more basic. It is also a metro interchange.
- Xuzhou East Railway Station (徐州东站) — on the eastern outskirts, this is where the high-speed trains go. It is the main high-speed hub, with a modern station building offering waiting rooms, shops, restaurants and charging stations.
On arrival at Xuzhou Station, ascend the steps, show your ticket and exit. Outside you will find a KFC, a McDonald's, and a queue of taxis on the left.
A caution worth repeating: many foreign travellers intending to reach Xuzhou have accidentally bought tickets to Suzhou (苏州, near Shanghai) instead, because the names sound so similar. Showing the Chinese characters for Xuzhou (徐州) is a highly useful way to avoid the phonetic confusion at the ticket office.
For tickets, you can use 12306.cn (which requires a Chinese ID) or a booking platform such as Trip.com, then collect physical tickets at the station with your passport. As a rule of thumb, allow 30–60 minutes at the station before a high-speed departure, and collect your physical rail tickets in advance.
Getting Around by Metro
Xuzhou's metro is the simplest way for a visitor to cross the city. The first line opened in 2019, running east to west and stopping at both railway stations; further lines have since followed, and the network now includes Lines 1, 2, 3 and 6.
Trains generally run from 6:00 AM to 10:30 PM, with Line 3 running slightly later, to 10:43 PM.
The main rail transfer points are the two stations:
- Xuzhou Railway Station — interchange between Lines 1 and 3.
- Xuzhoudong (East) Railway Station — interchange between Lines 1 and 6, and the high-speed rail station.
Other useful interchanges include Pengchengguangchang (Lines 1 and 2), Huaita (Lines 2 and 3), Yuquanhe (Lines 3 and 6) and the Municipal Administrative Center (Lines 2 and 6).
What the lines put within reach:
- Line 1 runs between Luwo and Xuzhoudong Railway Station, passing Pengchengguangchang and Xuzhou Railway Station. It serves Fuguo Street (a food street, lively at night), Xingshi Community (local street food) and the 18 Night Market (barbecue and late-night snacks).
- Line 2 runs between Keyunbei Station and Xinchengqudong, passing Pengchengguangchang, Hubushan, Jiangsu Normal University's Yunlong campus and the Municipal Administrative Center. It is the line for sightseeing: Xuzhou Museum (Han dynasty culture, local history and archaeology), the Qianlong Imperial Lodge (a Qing dynasty site tied to Emperor Qianlong's southern tours), Hubu Mountain's historic district of traditional houses and old streets, Xinghua Temple, Ximatai (associated with Xiang Yu and Chu–Han culture), the Yunlong Lake Scenic Area (lakeside recreation, cycling, walking and sunsets), the Huilongwo Historic Block (restored buildings with cafés and shops) and the 18 Night Market.
- Line 3 runs between Zhenxingdadao and Yinshan, passing Xuzhou Railway Station, Huaita, the CUMT Wenchang campus, Jiangsu Normal University and Wumingshan Park. It serves Baolian Temple, a major Buddhist temple.
- Line 6 runs between Xuzhou Tongshan District Hospital of TCM and Xuzhoudong Railway Station, passing Yuquanhe, the Municipal Administrative Center, the Xuzhou Olympic Sports Center and the Huaihai International Expo Center.
A zoomable high-definition metro map is available through the metro guide source page, which is worth saving to your phone before you travel.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Urban buses are cheap, regular and easy to figure out within the city, making them a good fallback for anywhere the metro does not reach. There are also minibuses that travel outside the city to neighbouring rural towns.
For longer journeys within the region, long-distance buses run from multiple bus stations and connect to towns and cities across Jiangsu province and into neighbouring regions. They are slower than rail but serve destinations the trains do not cover.
Note that Xuzhou is inland: there are no sea or cruise ports and no passenger ferry services. The Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal passes through Xuzhou but is used mainly for industrial cargo rather than passengers, and boating on Yunlong Lake is a local recreational activity rather than a transport option.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are readily available, including a queue outside Xuzhou Railway Station. Ride-hailing is also an option: DiDi works in Xuzhou and can be booked through its app.
Self-driving is generally not advisable for short-term visitors. International Driving Permits are not recognised in mainland China, and obtaining a temporary Chinese permit is difficult and rarely pursued by tourists. Roads are generally well maintained, but urban traffic is congested and chaotic.
Walkability
Walking works best in and around the central sights rather than as a way to cross the whole city. The Yunlong Lake Scenic Area is well suited to walking and cycling, and the historic districts — Hubu Mountain's old streets and the restored Huilongwo Historic Block with its cafés and shops — are natural places to explore on foot. For longer hops between districts, the metro and buses are the practical choice.
From the Airport into the City
Xuzhou Guanyin International Airport (XUZ) lies southeast of the city centre and serves domestic routes as well as limited international flights, mainly to other Asian cities; international connections typically route via Shanghai (PVG), Beijing (PEK) or Guangzhou (CAN).
Your options for reaching the city:
- Airport shuttle bus — runs to the train stations and central bus stops, with a journey of about an hour.
- Taxi — available outside the terminal, metered, with a fare of roughly ¥100–150 to the city centre.
- DiDi ride-hailing — available via the app.
- Car rental — desks are located outside the terminal, though the licensing rules above make this impractical for most visitors.
The terminal itself is basic but functional, with check-in, security, baggage claim, limited retail and dining, and Wi-Fi. Car rental desks and taxi stands are outside the terminal.
For planning your departure: arrive 2–3 hours before an international flight and 1.5–2 hours before a domestic one. There is no separate departure tax for international flights, as it is included in the airfare. Wi-Fi is generally available at major transport hubs. Flight prices rise seasonally around Lunar New Year, National Day and the summer holidays, so book early if you are travelling in those periods.
Practical Summary
- Use the metro for cross-city trips and the buses for local gaps; both are cheap and easy to use.
- Know which station you need: Xuzhou East for high-speed rail, Xuzhou Station for conventional trains and a downtown location.
- Show the characters 徐州 when buying tickets to avoid the Suzhou mix-up.
- From the airport, the shuttle bus or a metered taxi are the straightforward choices.
- Save a metro map offline before you arrive, and carry your passport for ticket collection.