The best hotels in Xi'an

The Bell Tower area is the best base for most visitors. The Muslim Quarter is a 10-minute walk, the city wall is 5 minutes. Expect $100-250/night for decent mid-range hotels here. Qujiang suits families visiting the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Skip the High-Tech Zone unless you are here for business.

Metro Line 9 runs directly to the museum from the Xi'an North station area. Journey takes about 40 minutes and costs 7 RMB. Tourist Bus 5 from the east side of the train station square costs 12 RMB. Avoid private tour buses near the station as they overcharge. Entry to the museum costs 150 RMB.

Yes, one of the best food streets in China. Biang biang noodles, lamb skewers, persimmon cakes, and pomegranate juice are all worth trying along Beiyuanmen and Huajue Lane. Expect 10-40 RMB per item. Goes extremely crowded on weekends from noon. Go at 8am for a quieter experience and access to the Great Mosque before the tourist rush.

The Terracotta Warriors are genuinely extraordinary, budget 3-4 hours minimum. The city wall cycle ride (200 RMB for 100 minutes) is worth it at sunset. Shaanxi History Museum is free but requires advance online ticket reservation. Big Wild Goose Pagoda is pleasant in evenings when the fountain show runs at 8:30pm. Skip reconstructed Tang Dynasty dinner shows.

April to May and September to October are best, with temperatures of 15-25C. Summer gets hot at 30-38C and the Terracotta Warriors outdoor site is exhausting in midday heat. Winter is cold and dry at 0-10C but museums are far less crowded. Qingming Festival in April brings heavy domestic crowds.

The metro has 4 lines covering main tourist areas. Line 2 passes the Bell Tower and train stations. Single tickets cost 2-6 RMB. Didi is cheap and reliable, typically 15-30 RMB across the old city. The Muslim Quarter and Bell Tower area are entirely walkable once you are there.

Start with biang biang noodles at a street stall for 15-20 RMB. Rou jia mo (Chinese burger with braised beef or pork) costs 8-15 RMB. Fresh pomegranate juice squeezed at market stalls runs 10-15 RMB. Persimmon cakes are about 5 RMB each. Avoid tourist-facing sit-down restaurants on the main Muslim Quarter street as prices double.

Day-tripping from Xi'an city makes more sense than staying near the site, where hotel quality is low. Metro Line 9 reaches the museum in 40 minutes from central Xi'an. Book your warrior visit first thing in the morning and arrive before 9am when tour groups start arriving in force.

Yes. The Xi'an city wall is 14 kilometers long and one of the best-preserved ancient walls in China. Bike rental costs 200 RMB for 100 minutes or 45 RMB per hour. The full circuit takes 90-120 minutes by bicycle. Sunset timing is ideal. Enter through the South Gate, nearest to most city center hotels.

Skip hotels in Weiyang district to the north of the old city, it has nothing for tourists. The area around Xi'an North high-speed rail station is equally poor for sightseeing. Hotels in tech development zones south of the ring road are cheaper but add 20-30 minutes of transport to every key sight.

Budget 200-350 RMB per person: Terracotta Warriors entry 150 RMB, metro 14 RMB return, lunch in Muslim Quarter 40-60 RMB, street food snacks 30-40 RMB. City wall bike rental adds 200 RMB. Mid-range hotel nights cost $120-230. Budget hotels from $45-90 if you book the right area.

The Sofitel on Renmin Square is the best centrally located luxury option at $265-420/night, with Tang Dynasty architectural motifs and the best restaurant in the city. The Suites Xi'an near the North City Wall has just 28 rooms in a converted heritage courtyard from $310-520/night. Both require advance booking.