Where to Stay in Xian
Plan your Xian tour? Xian is a very compact and walkable city, so no matter where you are going to stay you will easily get to the major attractions and shopping areas in Xian.
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 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.
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 or the exhibition center in the south. The Xian airport shuttle has one stop here in front of Xian Melody Hotel where you may get off or get on the shuttle bus to start or finish your Xian trip.
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 Quarters.
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: Grand Metro Park Xian
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 strart to work. Forest of Stone Tablets is also located to the east of the south gate.
West Avenue Area
The West Street is rebuilt in a Tang Dynasty architecture style. This is the most beautiful streat, especially sparkling in the evening.
North Avenue Area
The North Avenue is the least commercial street of the four streets where Xian's office buildings and government buidlings are dotted here and there around the North Avenue.
Suggested hotels: 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.
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
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