Sofitel Xian on Renmin Square

The grounds are picturesque, with lovely gardens, and the location is pretty good. The staff were 11/10, so friendly and helpful. But the building felt old and worn out, with mould and moisture damage, unreliable plumbing and electrics, and mosquitoes everywhere. This place was due for renovations 15 years ago. Definitely not luxury, more like the dank flats I lived in as a uni student.

Nancy made our stay in Xi’an exceptional. She showed us another side of the city that tourists don’t usually get to see, and was so good we booked her again for a second day to visit more sites, restaurants and two more local shows. On our first tour, she took us to see the Terracotta Warriors with a driver and a guide, as part of the private personalised tour arranged by the concierge. Her English was excellent, she added a stop for some local theatre on the way back to the hotel, and found lovely local restaurants that could cater to my gluten free and dairy free diet. I highly recommend Nancy as a guide in Xi’an 😊

We felt at home in the Executive Lounge in the evenings. There was light dinner and a good choice of drinks during cocktail hours, including beer, red and white wine, sparkling wine and cocktails. The food was enough to replace dinner, and the staff were very friendly and made the lounge feel cozy and relaxing. The hotel sits in a historic, tree-filled area in the center of Xian, but it’s peaceful there. Sofitel Legend Peoples Grand Hotel Xian and Grand Mercure Xian Renmin Square are also in the area. It’s easy to reach popular places like the Drum Tower and Bell Tower from here. We were greeted warmly by the manager, and check-in was quick. The staff were friendly, always smiling and helpful, even when some didn’t speak English very well. We still felt how kind and willing to help they were, especially Joanna Sia Miao and Will, who gave excellent service. Our room was upgraded to a Prestige Suite with a separate bedroom and living room. It’s a little old, but still very nice and comfortable. Breakfast is served at Azur Restaurant on the lobby floor, with a wide range of choices: local Chinese dishes, eggs, bakery items, fruit and freshly made noodles with different types to choose from. If breakfast is included with your room, it’s well worth it and gives you good energy for exploring Xian. The lobby is big and elegant. If you want a hotel that’s good value, with great service, a peaceful feel and a central location, we highly recommend Sofitel Xian On Renmin Square.

We were about a 25 minute walk from the Muslim quarter, which was fine. The hotel is a little dated, and some staff don’t speak English. That’s understandable, and Google Translate helps in those situations. Our rooms were spacious and comfortable. We had two adjoining rooms, and the washing machine was really useful. The breakfast buffet was excellent, and the staff were professional, friendly and helpful. Big thanks to Sophia Liu at the front desk, who spoke great English and was very kind and helpful. She gave excellent service.