Hotels and tours in Xian

My wife and I intend visiting Xian in November this year.

Could anyone recommend a decent 3 or 4 star hotel which includes breakfast and taxes in its tariff.

With regard to tours we hope to do a half-day tour to the Terracotta Soldiers. Is a half day enough or should we do a full day ?

Also, we would like to do a half day tour to the City Wall, Great Mosque and the Muslim Quarter.

We have 5 days planned for Xian.

Many thanks

Hotels and tours in Xian

What price range are you looking for? The price difference between 3 and 4 stars could be rather large.

Half a day is enough for the Terracotta Warriors. About 2.5-3 hours for the Terracotta Warriors itself, and about 1 hour each way for transport. Plus about 10-15 mins walk each way from the parking lot to the Terracotta Warriors at the site.

No need for a tour for the city walls, Grand Mosque and Muslim Quarter!

Hotels and tours in Xian

Thank you for the info.

Good question re the accomodation. As long as it is clean, comfortable and fairly close to the city I guess 3 star would be fine.Price wise I would think around AUD$60-70 per night with breakfast.

Do hotels arrange tours or should these be pre- booked through a travel agent ?

Please advise why there is not a need for tours to the City walls, Mosque and Muslim Quarter ?

Thanks again.

The Bell Tower Hotel is right in the centre so has an excellent location. It%26#39;s around your budget.

When I went to the terracotta warriors I just took a taxi there and back. You can hire a guide at the entrance if you want.

It is easy to see the sights in Xi%26#39;an downtown - city walls, Big Goose Pagoda and Muslim quarter - by yourself. Agree no need for a tour.

5 days seems quite long for Xi%26#39;an?

Thanks Drumbrake.

Was breakfast an inclusion in the tariff at the Bell Tower ?

How many days do you recommend in Xian ?

I can%26#39;t remember if we had breakfast or not - we booked through either elong.net or ctrip.com

Most people stay a couple of days in Xi%26#39;an, but it really depends where else you are going and what you like seeing.

Most travellers spend 1.5-2 days in Xi%26#39;an. If you%26#39;re a history buff, and/or want to climb Huashan, you could easily spend 4-6 days there.

Hi , there , Hope this reply is not late for you . Regarding your concerns about the hotel ,your expectation at 60 - 70 USD / night / room is ENOUGH to cover the four star hotel ( but not international brand names like Howard Johnson , Sofitel Mucure..etc.) Having read your post , I realized that you are looking for a hotel of nice location that you may do something at your own leisure . Bell Tower Hotel is the best in terms of location , but the room is no longer good , though it was re-decorated four years ago . the rate is higher than your budget . Instead , there is another one called Golden Tang Hotel ( 4star ) located by the Drum Tower , the room and facilitiy as well as breakfast is very good ( this is the hotel we use when clients come on our tour ) .

I would not recommend you to take the taxi to go to the terra cotta army museum ( it is 38KMs to east of xi%26#39;an ) The taxi fee sounds always a great deal ( but there wiould be shop arranged and being very pushing and anoying) .

I would not recommend the hotel taxi service , or hotel booked tours for you .

But Half day tour to the terra cotta army is surely enough . Regarding your request of getting a half day city tour , Please check my suggestions as below :

Itinerary : Your private guide , driver + van come to meet you in the hotel lobby after breakfast . Excursion to the Terra Cotta warriors %26amp; Horses ( nearly an hour drive) .Entrance fee is 65yuan / each ( in low season as you come) .

Stay in the museum for two and half hours is recommended .

Come back to the downtown for lunch as the food by outside the museum is too touristy . there are some many local restaurants in the city that you may try the authentic Chinese food .

In the afternnon , you may just come to the city wall ( South Gate is the best ) . entrance fee is 40 yuan each . Stay on the wall for usually an hour , or a little more , Rent a bike and enjoy the riding is one of the ';must-do';things .

Drive to the muslim center to visit the Great Mosque ( entrance fee is 25 Yuan / each ) . stay inside for usually an hour ) It is very beautiful and tranquil . The muslim market is just outside ( this Mulsim complex is located 5 minutes aways on foot to the hotel of Golden Tang ) .

By the way , Please use liscensed guide and vehicle for your tour so as to guarantee the quality of your tour .

Regarding the other days in xi%26#39;an . it would be too long , by any way , youmay go to the west of xi%26#39;an to see the tang dynasty mausoleums , treasure house of Fa men temple . or spend another day to east of xi%26#39;an to visit one of the five most sacred mountains : Mount.Hua . If you are comeing /leaving by air . There is the Han Yang Ling Mausoleum en route the airport highway . It is the only museum built underground . you will be amazed by what is buried there inside for the Han Dynasty emperor . Highly recommend . entrance fee is 90 Yuan each . ( not many people in the west know it , because it is newly opened a couple of years ago .)

In the downtown , there are still other highlighted spots such as : Small Wild Goose Pagoda , Big Wild Goose Pagosa , Shann Xi History Museum . Temple of Eight Immortals ( Taosit Temple) . Mueum of Stone Tablet Forset ..etc.

By the way , the local specialty is dumpling . and Mutton soup with pancake ...etc.

There are also hotels around the city center that you may choose .

If there are anything confusing , I will be very happy to make an answer . Thanks for your time

Hi , Bronco :

Thanks for forwarding the warning post and I have read it carefully . The Tang golden hotel IS the Mei Hua Jing Tang Hotel in that post actualy . But i have to say that different clients would always have different opinions on even the same thing they witnessed , or experienced . In comparions with some other hotels , at the budget you prefer . please allow me to say that it is a good hotel . There are also City Hotel Xi%26#39;An which is three star and the location is ideal . Wen Yuan Hotel in Xi%26#39;An of three star . and Bell Tower Hotel of four star . All of them are Chinese-run ones . If you do not mind of walking for about 20 minutes to the city center , Please choose Sofitel Mecure which is four star . ( It is within the city wall area . and the location is not bad ). It is all internationally run .

The other one is Grand New World Hotel which is the property of Marriot . ( But the location is not as good as the Sofitel Mecure ) .

Please understand that I am not arguing anything here , but just trying to make your trip planing easier . Among the Chinese run hotels , The Mei Hua Jin Tang hotel is a littler better in terms of price , as well as the carpet .

But if looking for English-speaking service in the hotel , Please chhose the Bell Tower .

Out of all , please check the Sofitel Mecure hotel , and I believe that there will not be any problems .

Thanks for your time .

Hi , Bronco :

Please allow me to add bit thing heres if it may be helpful . There are many options to find tour packages . But no matter which hotel you stay , Please find liscensed guide ,and vehicle to protect your rights , and avoid the shop hassels . Hotels always have tour booking service , they are the same in the way of operation .

Thanks

Hello tour xian,

Could you please advise me on hotel rates for the Gloria Plaza Hotel and the Orient Hotel. We would need a double room(wife and I) including breakfast and taxes. I need the rates in Australian dollars.

Both these hotels were recommended.

Maybe just 3 nights, as you have suggested.

Thanks.

bebo