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Where to Stay in Xian

Friday, April 27th, 2012

Plan your Xian tour? The city center of Xian is a very compact and walkable, and most of the places of interests are just a breeze from where you stay in the walled city.

As an ancient capital in China, Xian now still keeps the fortifications built in Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644), one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls. You may stay within the city wall or outside the city wall. But most traveler prefer to stay inside the old city wall. The wall measures 14 km in circumference, 12m in height, and 15–18m in width at the base.

The city layout within Xian City Wall is based on a grid pattern centrally denoted by the grand Bell Tower (钟楼), which levels out four main avenues clockwise: East avenue (Dong Dajie 东大街), South Avenue ( Nan Dajie 南大街), West Avenue (Xi Dajie 西大街) and North Aevenue (Bei Dajie 北大街). Xian Railway Station is just located on the northeast corner of Xian city wall while Xian Airport is located 40km northwest of Xian.

Best for Romance and City Core: Bell Tower Area
Bell Tower Area is the most central part of Xian with four main streets merged here. Under the Bell Tower, a newly completed Subway line 02 takes you to Xian North Railway Station ( 10 km north of the city center) or the exhibition center in the south.

To the northwest of Bell Tower, there is a Starbucks (Bell Tower Shop). Walk westward from the Starbucks, you will see some local famous restaurants providing Xian dumplings and Yangrou Paomo (Bread and Mutton Soup).

Further west, you come across Drum Tower. North of Drum Tower is the famous Muslim Quarter.

Suggested hotels around Bell Tower:

Melody Hotel Xian,
Citadines Xi’an Central

Bell Tower Hotel Xian

Ibis Hotel Xi’an.
Xi’an Century Landscape Hotel
Ramada Bells Tower
Skytel Xi’an

Best for Mixing with the Common People in Xian: East Avenue Area
The East Avenue used to the most commercial street in Xian. Now its popularity is fading with its position having graduated taken by South Avenue and West Avenue. Outside the east gate of Xian City Wall is Shaanxi Song & Dance Theatre which puts on Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show every day.

Suggested hotels around East Avenue:

Grand Metro Park Xian

Grand Metropark Hotel Xi’an

Grand Noble Hotel Xi’an

Canaan International Hotel
Super 8 Hotel Xi’an He Ping GateS

Best for Designer Shopping: South Avenue Area.
The South Avenue is the shortest avenues of the four with its southern tip meets the South Gate of Xian City Wall. The South Avenue is lined with high end and upstart shopping malls.Its city wall south gate is often used as a tourist spot where people start to work. Forest of Stone Tablets is also located to the east of the south gate.

Union Alliance Atravis Executive Hotel
Skytel Xi’an (Formerly Prince International Hotel)

Best for Renovated Charming Streets: West Avenue Area
The West Street is rebuilt in a Tang Dynasty architecture style. This is the most beautiful street, especially sparkling in the evening.

Suggested hotels around West Avenue:

West Capital International Hotel

Rongmin International Hotel Xi’an
Meihua-Goldentang International Hotel

Best for Business Travel: North Avenue Area
The North Avenue is the least commercial street of the four streets where Xian’s office buildings and government buildings are dotted here and there around the North Avenue.

Suggested hotels around north avenue:

Sofitel Xian on Renmin Square

Mercure on Renmin Square Xian

Huashan Mountain International Hotel

Aurum International Hotel

Xian colorful hotel apartment

Days Inn City Centre Xian

Xian Railway Station Area
Xian Railway Station is located on the northeast corner of the city wall. It is a very bustling and commecial area. On the east square of the train station, there are directly buses going to Terra-cotta Army and Huaqing Hotspring.

Suggested hotels around Xian Railway Station:

Grand Soluxe International Hotel Xi’An

Hilton Xi’an
Jinjiang Inn (Xi’an Jiefang Road)

South of Xian City Wall Area

The area outside the City Wall in the south is quite with some walkable attractions like Big Goose Pagoda and Shaanxi Museum.

Suggested hotels: Tangcheng Hotel Xian and Shangri-la Hotel Xian

Useful Xian Hotel Links

Top 10 Xian Luxury & Boutique Hotels

Top 10 Xian Budget Hotels, Top Budget Hotels in Xian

Top 10 Hostels in Xian, Xian Youth Hostels

Tip: Hassle-free Xian Guided Tours
If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for Xian guided tours:

Xian City Day Tour from US$69
Xian Terracotta Warriors Day Tour A from US$85
Terracotta Army and Song of Everlasting Performance from US$135

Xian 2 Day Tour Package from US$170 p/p
Xian 3 Day Tour Package from US$235 p/p

Terracotta Army Join-in Escorted Bus Tour RMB 480 p/p
Terracotta Army Escorted Private Tour US$ $125 P/P

Further Readings

Beijing Xian High Speed Train Experience
Top 10 Attractions in Xian
Tips for Visiting Muslim Quarter in Xian
Tips for Visiting Xian City Wall
Tips for Visiting Shaanxi History Museum
Tips for Visiting Xian Bell Tower
How Visit Terracotta Army
How to Visit Daming Palace National Heritage Park
Top 10 Photography Spots in Xian
The Night View of Great Tang All Day Mall
Tips for Visiting Hanyang Tombs Xian
The Song of Everlasting Sorrow Show in Xian
Tips for Visiting Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Tips for Visiting Huaqing Hot Springs in Xian
How to Visit Mount Huashan
Top 10 Hostels in Xian
Best Time to Visit Xian

Any questions, just drop a line.

Tags: the best area to stay in Beijing, The best place to stay in Xian
Posted in Xian Attractions & Tips, Xian Hotels | 2 Comments »

Top 10 Xian Luxury & Boutique Hotels

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

Although Boutique Hotels are still a new concept in Xian, more and more boutique hotels are popping up and there are a few posh properties that the discerning traveler will enjoy taking advantage of. If you’re looking for a more intimate experience than large chain hotels, something a little more personal during your Xian Tour, please follow me to explore the top 10 Boutique Hotels in Xian.

Xian Walker Boutique Hotel
Xian Walker Boutique Hotel is located on the Zhuque Street of Xian’s Xiaozhai business district, adjacent to the provincial industrial exhibition hall, International Exhibition Center, the provincial stadium, provincial library, the surrounding environment is elegant and the transportation is convenient. The hotel has 137 guest rooms of various types, designed in Chinese and Western style, they are warm and comfortable, sophisticated and simple.

Add: 250 Zhuque Street South Xian
Tel: 86 29 62630000
Web: walkerhotels.com.cn/en/main.htm

Sofitel Xian on Renmin Square
Sofitel Xian on Renmin Square is located on the grounds of Renmin Square and is a grand hotel that adheres to the local Chinese 5-star platinum standards, making it the most luxurious hotel in the region. The hotel incorporates several heritage buildings of historic importance and features 432 rooms, 4 restaurants and 2 bars.

For business travelers, the hotel serves WIFI wireless, Internet access, business center with assistance, Internet connectivity, and so on.

Add: 319 Dongxin Street, Xian
Tel: (+86)29/87928888
Web: www.sofitel.com/gb/hotel-5949-sofitel-xian-on-renmin-square/index.shtml

Xian Belltower Hotel
Bell Tower Hotel Xian, a four star business and tourism hotel Xian built according to five star hotels standard, opened in 1983 and refurbished in 2003. If you have chance to go to Xian, you can stay there.

Bell Tower Hotel Xian offers 300 guest rooms with variety. Each room is equipped with TV, air-conditioning, bathroom, and other necessary facilities. Chinese & Western style restaurants, newly decorated, can offer a wide range of Canton cuisine and European buffet.

Add: No.110 South Avenue, Beilin District, Xian
Tel: (029)87600000
Web: www.belltowerhotelxian.cn/

Sheraton Xian Hotel
Sheraton Xian Hotel is conveniently located near the 600-year-old City Wall, adjacent to the West Second Ring Road. The leisure facilities include a comprehensive Health and Fitness Centre equipped with gymnasium, sauna, steam room, in-door heated swimming pool, Jacuzzi, and table tennis. The 13 meeting rooms can accommodate all types of functions and events.

Add: 262 Fenghao East Road Xian Shaanxi
Tel: (86)(29) 8426 1888
Web: www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/index.html

Grand Noble Hotel
Grand Nobel Hotel Xian is a new luxurious property offering comprehensive facilities and services for leisure and business stays. It is conveniently located in the commercial center, shopping and entertainment area of Xian’s downtown, neighboring a lot of popular tourist attractions. Only 40 minutes away from Xian Yang International Airport and 5 minutes away from Xian Railway Station.

The hotel has 428 well-appointed guestrooms and suites，a full range of dining, recreational and conference facilities.

Add: No. 334 Dong Da Jie (East Street), Xian
Tel: 86 29 87690000
Web: www.gnhotel.com/

Shangri-la Hotel, Xian
The only deluxe Xian hotel located in the Gaoxin hi-tech development zone, Shangri-La Hotel, Xian brings modern luxury and legendary Shangri-La hospitality to China’s eternal city.

With a minimum room size of 40 square metres, the hotel will provide guests with the full array of Shangri-La amenities, including 24-hour room service, same day laundry and valet service, satellite TV, and data ports and broadband Internet services.

Add: 38B Keji Road, Xian
Tel: (86 29) 8875 8888
Web: www.shangri-la.com/en/property/xian/shangrila

Xian Titan Times Hotel
The 23-storey TITAN TIMES HOTEL covers a total business area of 50,000 square meters. The main building with spacious lobby exudes the charm of a five-star hotel.

By virtue of its original design concept, it provides guests with elegant and comfort living space: Exquisite comfort defines standard suites, low-profile luxury executive suite offers convenient and carefree private space for the morning, noble and graceful deluxe suite evokes the feeling of sumptuous palace, graceful ladies floor provides modern women with a romantic private paradise.

Add: No 360 West City Ring Road, Xian
Tel: 029-88626666
Web: www.titantimeshotel.com/

Kempinski Hotel Xian
Kempinski Hotel Xian, the newest five-star “Business hotel in Xian with a Resort feeling” and designated hotel for the EURO-ASIA Economic Forum, is located in the Northeast of Xian within the new Chanba Ecological District.

This Xian Kempinski hotel boasts of state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and technology in its 1,400 square-meter pillar-less ballroom, which also includes simultaneous interpretation and audiovisual systems.

Add: 1 Chanba Avenue, Chanba Ecological Development Zone, Xian
Tel: 86 29 83550000
Web: www.kempinski.com/en/xian/Pages/Welcome.aspx

Hyatt Regency Xian
Hyatt Regency Xian Hotel in China is ideally located within the ancient walls of historic Xian city centre. The hotel is close to the Xian Provincial Government Offices, Xian’s central business district and the major entertainment, shopping and nightlife areas, making them easily accessible on foot or by a short taxi ride. Xian Xianyang International Airport is 43 kilometres from the hotel. The Hyatt Regency Xian Hotel is also host to Club Zen Spa, a sanctuary of tranquillity in Xian, China.

Add: 158 Dong Da Jie, Xian
Tel: +86 29 8769 1234
Web: xian.regency.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp?null

Jinshi International Hotel, Xian
The Jinshi International Hotel is located in the middle of the Chang’an and Wild Goose Pagoda Road’s overpass in the South Second Ring Road, next to the northern crossing of Cuihua Road.

There are 270 sets of various rooms in the Hotel. All rooms are equipped with air-conditionings and data transmission facilities adjusted independently, free broadband Internet access, hotel exclusive intellectual TV, private bathroom / shower, private safe, hair dryer, satellite TV channels, mini-bar, direct international call.

Add: No.398, the Eastern Section of the South Second Ring, Xian
Tel: +86-29-8313 3666

Add on:

Top 10 Hostels in Xian
Top 10 Budget Hotels in Xian

Any questions, just drop a line.

Tags: Top Boutique Hotels, Top Xian Luxury Hotels
Posted in Xian Hotels | No Comments »

Top 10 Souvenirs in Xian

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

Plan your Xian Tour? Xian is one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China. There are many exotic and unusual things to buy in Xian which make wonderful souvenirs and gifts for relatives and friends back home. If you are wondering what to buy during your Xian Tour, the flowing is a listing of top 10 souvenirs of Xian for your reference.

Terracotta Warrior Replicas 西安兵马俑纪念品
Terracotta Army is a clay army of more than 8,000 life-size terra cotta figures of soldiers and horses discovered in 1974 in Xian, Shaanxi after they were buried underground for more than 2200 years.

The museum of Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses has produced imitations since 1982. It is not difficult to take the terra-cotta warriors and horses back home. Many different types of replicas are available as souvenirs, from a few inches tall to life-size.

Terracotta Warrior Replicas

Peasant Painting Gallery 西安户县农民画
About 38 kilometers southwest far away to Xian city, there is a county named “Hu” gathering all kinds of peasant paintings. The naissance of this art is a miracle for it has been conquered so many people by its unique charm.

Those paintings show the sweet farm life style – tranquility, simpleness, and gratification. It is a great local treasury in Hu county. You can make a good harvest of Chinese paper-cut, mud models and farmer paintings.

Peasant Painting Gallery

Tri-colored Glazed Pottery 唐三彩
Tang Dynasty tri-colored glazed pottery (Tangsancai) is mostly yellow, brown and green in color. The glaze is made by adding metallic oxides to the basic glaze. During the firing process the chemicals in the glaze create a variegated effect.

This type of pottery was primarily made in Xian and Luoyang, the capital cities of the Tang Dynasty. Although tri-colored glazed pottery was also produced during the Liao and Jin Dynasties, it was not made in large quantities and its quality was not as good as that of the Tang Dynasty.

Tri-colored Glazed Pottery

Dough Sculptures 面塑
The Shaanxi people, famous for their rich variety of dishes made from wheat, aside from making various food with dough, also mold it into various “dough figures” to admire as well as for good luck.

They send them to friends as gifts to extend lotions or pay tribute to gods. The dough figures are therefore also called edible artistic works.

Dough Sculptures

Shaanxi Paper-cuts 陕西剪纸
Paper-cutting is a very distinctive visual art of Chinese handicrafts which serves as window decorations. With bright red paper-cuts of all kinds on snow white window paper, the atmosphere appears a lot more festive.

At the same time, it contains people’s good wishes. Shaanxi paper-cuts are considered to be both bold and unconstrained, brief and exaggerated works of art. Originating in the cradle of ancient Chinese culture, they have been handed down from generation to generation among people.

Yaozhou Porcelain 耀州瓷器
The Yaozhou Kiln was a well-known blue porcelain producer in northern China during the Song Dynasty. At present, the kilns in Yaozhou mainly put out porcelain pieces for daily use decoration. The products maintain the varied textures of the Song Dynasty’s porcelain.

Yaozhou Porcelain

Xian Lacquer Ware 西安漆器
Lacquer is a natural substance obtained from the sap of the lacquer tree, a tree indigenous to China. Up to a few hundred layers of lacquer are applied to an objects surface in order to attain the final thickness of between five and eighteen mm.

While traditional imperial lacquer ware came in the form of chairs, screens, tables and vases, today one can find objects ranging from trays, cup and vases to small decorative boxes. It is being produced in Xian lacquer-ware workshop today.

Xian Lacquer Ware

Xian Jade Carving 西安玉雕
Xian Jade Carvings boast 5,000 year history. Large amounts of jade ornaments have been discovered during the archaeological excavations. Nowadays all kinds of nice-looking and exquisitely-carved jade craftwork articles, such as jade bowls, jade bracelets, jade pendants, etc., are being produced in Xian Jade Carving Factory.

Xian Jade Carving

Qinqiang Opera Mask 秦腔戏曲脸谱
The Shaanxi Opera Masks are made by the facial makeup of Shaanxi Opera. In the opera performance, the different greasepaints colored on the faces of the performers stand for different characters, for instance, red for loyalty; impertinence or intrepidity; yellow for atrocity; blue and green for hotspurs; white for treacherous court officials and baddies.

The Shaanxi Opera Masks are not only kinds of artful and exquisite handicraft articles but the rare data for studying the art of Shaanxi Opera and folk customs and practices.

Qinqiang Opera Mask

Rubbings of the Stone Tablets 西安碑石拓片
Stone tablets bear evidence to ancient records, inscriptions, statues and architectural decorations. Over 3000 stone tablets from the Eastern Han Dynasty through the Qing Dynasty are preserved in the Forest of Stone Tablets in Xian.

Most of the tablets were created by some famous ancient calligraphers. The Shaanxi Relics Management Department had some of the tablets rubbed by experts, but only in small amount. The Applied Art Department has copies of the original tablets made in order to make rubbings in large numbers. As souvenirs, the copies are also well received among tourists.