Where to stay in Xi'an
for first-timers

Right for: First-time visitors who want a base within walking distance of everything. Step out and you're at the Bell Tower, the Drum Tower, the Great Mosque and the Muslim Quarter food street. After dark this is the liveliest part of the city. The trade-off: it's also the busiest and noisiest — if you want quiet, pick a hotel down a side lane or on a high floor.

Right for: Travellers who want the old-city feel without sitting in the middle of the Muslim Quarter's crowds. The South Gate (Yongningmen) zone is at its best after dark — walk up onto the wall, rent a bike and cycle the 13.7 km loop, or stroll the quieter, leafier streets around it. The trade-off: the street food isn't as concentrated as in the Muslim Quarter, so you'll walk or hop one metro stop north for it.

Right for: Travellers who prefer somewhere newer, cleaner and more orderly, and who want to walk the Tang-dynasty themed pedestrian street (Datang Everbright City) that glows from end to end after dark. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda and its musical fountain show are right here, away from the Muslim Quarter's bustle, and several 5-star design hotels sit in this district. The trade-off: you're about 15–20 minutes by metro from the Bell Tower and the city wall — this is the southern edge of the city.

Right for: Travellers planning a high-speed train to Mount Huashan (~30 min), Luoyang (~1.5 hr), Chengdu or Beijing during the same trip — or anyone stopping in Xi'an for a single night before moving on. Sleep here and you'll walk to the platforms without sweating the traffic. The trade-off: the station is in the northern suburbs, about 30–40 minutes by metro from the Bell Tower, it's not a tourist area, and there's nothing to do in the evening.

This zone has just one reviewed pick, because most people stay central and simply ride the metro out to catch their train. Unless your departure is very early, a Bell Tower base is still more convenient.