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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
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 travellers 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.
Check outXian City Layout for information.
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 (East Street 东大街), South Avenue ( South Street 南大街), West Avenue (West Street 西大街) and North Avenue (North Street 北大街).
Xian Railway Station is located outside the northeast corner of Xian city wall. Xian North Railway Station is 12km north of Bell Tower; Xian Airport is located 40km northwest of Xian city center. Terracotta Warriors Museum is located 30km to the east of Xian city center.
Bell Tower Area is the most central part of Xian with four main streets merged here. Under the Bell Tower, the 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 CentralBell Tower Hotel XianIbis Hotel Xi’an. Xi’an Century Landscape Hotel Ramada Bells Tower Skytel Xi’an
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 ofXian City Wallis Shaanxi Song & Dance Theatre which puts on Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show every day.
Suggested hotels around East Avenue: Grand Metropark Hotel Xi’an Grand Noble Hotel Xi’an Canaan International Hotel Super 8 Hotel Xi’an He Ping GateS
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)
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
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 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 Armyand Huaqing Hotspring.
Suggested hotels around Xian Railway Station: Grand Soluxe International Hotel Xi’An Hilton Xi’an Jinjiang Inn (Xi’an Jiefang Road)
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 Shangri-la Hotel Xian
Useful Xian Hotel Links
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