Didn't see anything in the existing threads on Xi'an, but a wider online search seems to indicate that Xi'an can also be subject to dust storms off the Gobi in the Spring. However I didn't find much as to how severe they might be. I would think that given Xi'an is south of Beijing and Lanzhou, they might not be as bad.

I do know that there have been occasions where the storms were so bad that remnants actually made it to the US West, but that doesn't seem common.

Any FTers experience this if you visited in the Spring? We have a trip planned for the second week in April 2009. Thanks.