If you’ve always wanted to see the Terracotta Army, here’s a quick way to get there: Chinese 5-star carrier Hainan Airlines offers incredibly cheap nonstop roundtrips from Los Angeles to Xi’an in China, home of the world famous sight. Fares start at $385 for a roundtrip and include Hainan Airlines’ excellent board service and two checked bags up to 23kg.
A Hainan Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft will host you on your transpacific flight. Flight times are longer than twelve hours in each direction.
Search & Book
Flights at such high value are generally hard to find – a bit of trickery and a bit of luck is necessary. While Google Flights gives you clues on how to find these connections, it will usually display prices around $540. Still, it is the best way to search suiting travel dates (instructions). Afterwards, you can enter these dates in our flight search and directly with Hainan Airlines. Not every flight from Google will translate into the $385, but some will do.
To narrow your search, fare rules state that these prices only show up for flights within the following travel period:
- August 26 through December 13, 2019
- December 23, 2019 through May 8, 2020
Your minimum stay has to be at least three days long, while maximum stays are restricted to six months.
Mileage
Hainan Airlines issues these tickets in booking class Q. While this is an discounted economy fare, the sheer length of the trip will generate at least a little bit of award mileage:
- 6,812 Miles on Alaska Mileage Plan
- 4,088 Award Miles on Etihad Guest
- Customize Calculation
Hainan Airlines
Hainan Airlines is China’s largest privately owned airline. It derives its name from the Island of Hainan, but has developed a large network on mainland China as well. It operates over 200 modern, exclusevily Western manifactured aircraft and is one of only ten airlines worldwide to carry the prestigous title of “Skytrax 5-Star Airline”.
Information & Tips for China
China offers a wide range of sights, from historical landmarks like the Great Wall, the Terracotta Army, and the Forbidden City to modern cities like Shanghai and scenic areas such as Zhangjiajie and Guilin. The currency is the Chinese yuan (CNY), and mobile payments via apps like Alipay and WeChat Pay are widely used, though cash is still accepted. Prices vary—major cities can be moderate to expensive, while rural areas are generally more affordable. Weather conditions differ greatly by region, with cold winters in the north, hot, humid summers in the south, and a generally best travel period in spring or autumn.
China has a highly developed transport system, especially in urban and coastal areas. Most major cities have extensive metro networks that are cheap, efficient, and easy to navigate with English signage. For travel between cities, the high-speed rail network is one of the most advanced in the world, connecting even distant regions quickly and reliably. In rural or less-developed areas, transport options can be more limited and slower, but basic bus or train connections are usually available.
We’ve compared various eSIM providers, such as eSIM4Travel, RedteaGo, and Textr. To see which plan is best for your travel needs, and which network offers the best coverage, feel free to read our detailed guide:
The Best eSIM Plans for China 🇨🇳 Compared
→ All Dealz for China
Information & Tips for Xi’An
Xi’an was once known to the world as Chang’an and stands as one of the great ancient capitals of China. While modern hubs like Beijing and Shanghai now hold the political and economic spotlight, Xi’an possesses a historical gravitas that is arguably unmatched. It served as the imperial seat for numerous powerful dynasties and was the eastern terminus of the legendary Silk Road, a legacy far deeper than any modern skyline. The local currency is the Chinese yuan (CNY), with mobile payments like Alipay and WeChat Pay being the standard, although cash is still widely accepted. The city offers great value, with famously delicious and inexpensive street food and reasonably priced accommodations. Xi’an has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons: hot summers and cold winters, so it’s wise to pack in layers, especially for the cooler spring and autumn months which are ideal for visiting.
We’ve compared various eSIM providers, such as eSIM4Travel, RedteaGo, and Textr. To see which plan is best for your travel needs, and which network offers the best coverage, feel free to read our detailed guide:
The Best eSIM Plans for China 🇨🇳 Compared
→ All Dealz for Xi’An
Cover Picture: Thanks to pixabay user artemtation