JI Hotel Xi'an Muslim Quarter — Step Out of the Lobby Straight Onto the Food Street, 100 m From the Drum Tower
Picture stepping out of the lobby and, within a few paces, catching the smell of grilled lamb skewers, the rhythmic pounding of peanut candy, and the glow of food stalls that stay open late. That's daily life for guests at JI Hotel Xi'an Bell & Drum Tower Hui Min Street (全季酒店西安钟鼓楼回民街店) — a midscale hotel from Huazhu's JI (全季) brand planted in the middle of the Hui Min Street (回民街), Xi'an's legendary Muslim Quarter food strip. It's about 100 metres to the Drum Tower and another 300 to the Bell Tower. The Trip.com score sits at 9.3/10 from around 2,447 real guest reviews. Honestly, if you're in Xi'an to walk the old town and eat your way through the street food without overspending, a clean, reliable chain hotel parked on the best possible corner is hard to beat at this price.
The first selling point here is a location that's about as good as it gets for anyone visiting Xi'an to explore the old town on foot. The hotel sits at No. 55 Zhubashi, Beilin District, a lane that branches straight off Hui Min Street. Guests say the same thing again and again: step out of the door and you're already among the food stalls — no taxi, no dragging your case far. From here it's roughly 100 metres to the Drum Tower, a touch further to the Bell Tower–Drum Tower square, and the Great Mosque sits deeper inside the same quarter. It's the kind of spot where you can wake up and start sightseeing immediately, with barely any planning around transport.
Getting around by metro is easy too. Zhonglou (Bell Tower) station on Lines 2 and 6, Exit C-2, is about 341 metres away — a comfortable walk — while Guangjiejie station on Line 6 is roughly a 3-minute walk. From either, you can reach the rest of the city: the City Wall's South Gate (Yongningmen), the railway station, or onward toward the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. For the Terracotta Army, take the metro or a taxi to Xi'an Railway Station and catch the bus from there. This kind of location suits travellers who want to rely mainly on public transport rather than hailing a taxi for every trip.
One guest recalls: "The location is fantastic — step outside and the whole Hui Min Street is right there, and it's only a few minutes to the Drum Tower and Bell Tower. The room is small but spotless, the bed comfortable, and the front-desk staff were lovely. When they saw we had a child, they even brought over a kids' toiletries set. Great value for somewhere this central."
On the rooms, it helps to understand the JI brand first — this is Huazhu's midscale chain, built around minimalist design in warm wood-and-grey tones, clean and consistent across every branch. There's a decent spread of room types here, from the compact Queen Room at around 16–18 sqm, up to a Superior Queen at about 21 sqm, a Business twin at 23–25 sqm, and a Family Room around 28 sqm that sleeps the whole family. The recurring praise is for cleanliness, a soft and comfortable bed, strong hot water, and rooms that have everything you actually need. Not luxurious, but nothing to complain about either.
The criticisms are real and worth knowing first. The first: rooms are on the small side, especially the entry-level Queen, so if you're travelling as a group or with big cases, upgrade to something roomier. The second, and more important: noise. The hotel sits in the middle of a food district that buzzes until late, so street-facing rooms pick up the sound of crowds and stalls through the day and early evening, and a few reviewers mentioned a faint rumble from the air conditioning. The easy fix is to ask for a higher floor or an interior-facing room when you book or check in — guests report the hotel is happy to move you if there's availability.
A score of 9.3/10 from around 2,447 real reviews (Trip.com rates it "Very Good") reflects how pleased guests generally are, especially with the location and value. The repeated praise is for easy sightseeing on foot, clean rooms, and warm, attentive staff, with both Chinese and Western options at breakfast. Worth flagging: this hotel has no swimming pool and doesn't allow pets — it's a midscale chain focused on clean rooms and a great location, not resort-style facilities. If you're expecting a big gym or a spa, look at the higher-tier hotels in our list instead.
Standard rates start at around ~¥300 (฿1,500) per night, with a typical range of ฿1,500–2,500 depending on season and room type. China's long holidays — Golden Week (October 1–7), Chinese New Year, and Labour Day (May 1–5) — push rates up and fill rooms fast, since this quarter is one of the top draws for domestic tourists, so book several weeks ahead if you're coming then. The honest summary, friend to friend: the Hui Min Street branch of JI Hotel is for travellers who want to walk the old town, eat their fill of Muslim Quarter street food, and have a clean, dependable base at a sensible price. If you can live with a small room and a lively district, it's excellent value — but if you want a roomier, plusher stay or somewhere quieter, compare it against the Atour South Gate branch or Hilton Garden Inn in our list first.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ In the heart of the Muslim Quarter — 100 m to the Drum Tower, old town on foot
- ✓ Zhonglou metro (Lines 2/6) close by, easy to reach the rest of the city
- ✓ Spotless rooms, comfortable bed, strong hot water — solid JI chain standard
- ✓ Excellent value for somewhere this central
- ! Rooms are on the small side, especially the entry-level Queen
- ! Street-facing rooms pick up noise from the food district, busy until late
- ✓ Warm, attentive front-desk staff, good with families travelling with children
- ✓ Breakfast offers both Chinese and Western options
- ✓ Walk out to street food and photograph the Drum Tower and Bell Tower all day
- ✓ Range of room types, from a 16 sqm Queen to a 28 sqm Family Room
- ! No swimming pool and no pets allowed
- ! Rates rise and rooms fill fast over the Chinese long holidays
- 💡If you're travelling as a group or with big cases · The entry-level Queen is compact at around 16–18 sqm and may feel tight · Fix → upgrade to the Business twin (23–25 sqm) or the Family Room (28 sqm); the difference is small
- 💡If you're a light sleeper · The hotel sits in a food district that buzzes until late, so street-facing rooms pick up the noise · Fix → ask for a higher floor or an interior-facing room when you book or check in; guests say the hotel is happy to move you
- 💡If you want a pool, a big gym, or a roomier, plusher stay · This is a midscale chain focused on clean rooms and a great location, with no resort-style facilities · Fix → see the Atour South Gate branch or Hilton Garden Inn in our Xi'an hotels list