The Terracotta Army near Xi’an is one of the most significant archaeological excavations of the 20th century. The Terracotta Warriors and Horses is no doubt a must-see for every visitor to Xi’an.
Originally the ancient funerary project for Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the Terracotta Warriors China are now displayed in a live museum built on the site, officially named Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum, showing the life stories of the emperor and the once-powerful Qin Empire (221 – 207BC) in those days of pomp and vigor.
Don’t just go to the terra cotta warriors. Few people realize that there’s an even more spectacular buried-soldier site nearby, the Hanyanling mausoleum. The soldiers there are smaller but are more beautifully created and preserved.
You can take a tour to the Terracotta Army from Xi’an, so where should you stay to enjoy one of the most spectacular finds in the world? The answer is to stay in Xi’an in one of the luxury hotels in the city.
How to Get to Terracotta Warriors from Xian Downtown？
Taking the bus is the most convenient and cheapest way to get to Terracotta Warriors, although it is perhaps not the most luxurious way to travel. You pick up the bus at Xian Railway station.
The Tourism Bus 5 (306) can be found at East Square of Xian Railway station and will take you to the Terracotta Warriors station. The bus runs every day every 7 minutes.
There are also free shuttle buses between Xian North Railway Station and Terracotta Warriors. The whole journey takes around an hour.
For a more luxurious and hassle-free way to travel, you can get there by taxi for around 120 yuan.
Here is our top 10 pick of luxury hotels in Xi’an, an ideal base for visiting the Terracotta Army.
1. The Ritz-Carlton, Xi’an
Set within the city’s central business district, The Ritz-Carlton, Xi’an merges traditional elements with modern luxury. The hotel has Teppanyaki, Chinese and buffet restaurants, Flair rooftop bar with a city view, offering cocktails and tapas, more than 30,000 ft² of meeting and wedding space, a full-floor spa with a zen garden, complete with couple’s suites and a pool, 283 guest rooms and suites with views across Xi’an and one of the best Club Lounges in Xi’an with exclusive services and a terrace.
The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge, located on the 23rd floor and is accessible to guests who pay to stay on the Club Floor. There, guests can experience dedicated service and watch culinary presentations throughout the day while looking out to downtown Xi’an. Continuous culinary offerings are provided throughout the day, including breakfast, light snacks, hor d’ouvres, beverages, and sweets.
Platinum Marriott Bonvoy members do not get access to this excellent club lounge for free, although they can book a club-level room to gain access.
2. Shangri-La Hotel, Xian
The stylish guestrooms of Shangri-La Hotel, Xian feature floor-to-ceiling views of Xian and the hotel’s exquisitely landscaped gardens, complimentary broadband Internet, an executive writing desk and rainforest shower.
The Shangri-La Chi Spa, offering six private Spa Suites and indulgent treatments, is a great place to revitalize after a day of touring Xian’s famed sights, including the city walls, ancient Buddhist Wild Goose Pagodas, and Great Mosque.
Reserve a Horizon Club Room and enjoy access to the Horizon Club Lounge, offering private check-in / check-out, personal concierge service, and complimentary perks like evening cocktails.
When booking a Horizon Club Room, you get access to the super Horizon Club. Here, they serve a daily buffet breakfast, evening cocktails, and canapés, all-day beverages, free Wi-Fi, and the option of a late 4:00 pm check-out if needed (depending on availability). Another special feature of the clubrooms/lounge is, when booking a wake-up call, you will also receive a hot beverage such as a coffee or tea to help you start your day.
3. Westin Xi’an
Westin Xi’an is located in a four-floor building so isn’t massively high like some of the other hotels in China and can be found southwest of the Large Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta).
The clean and modern look gives you nice guest rooms, and rooms on the north side have a very nice view of the Pagoda.
The restaurant is on the ground floor. Breakfast here is generous with Western selections and Asian offerings plus eggs and noodles cooked to order, hot vegetables, congee, juices, cereals, fruit, and pretty much anything else you could wish for.
The executive lounge is on floor five (actually the fourth floor as four 4 doesn’t exist in this building) and faces towards the Pagoda with a wonderful view. The food in this executive club lounge is excellent, much like the other hotels in Xi’an, with an evening offering that includes canapes, cheeses, bread, 5 hot selections, a bunch of desserts, fruit, beer, wine, and spirits. There is also an outdoor patio where smoking is allowed.
The Large Wild Goose Pagoda area is south of the main wall and is classy and worth having a wander around. Because this area is popular with tourists and new and upscale, there are plenty of dining options within walking distance. It would take almost an hour to walk to Xian south wall, but taxis are cheap.
The Westin also has its own private museum, which has a surprisingly impressive collection.
4. Sofitel Xian on Renmin Square
Sofitel Xian on Renmin Square offers French luxury and local cuisine in Xi’an. It is located right in the heart of the city wall, 45 minutes to Xian Xianyang International Airport and 10 minutes to Xian Railway Station. It is also around a 15 min walk to the Muslim quarters, bell tower, and drum tower.
The Sofitel is luxurious and very comparable to the Westin above. Bathroom amenities are L’Occitane, and there is a rainforest shower. Turndown service features small dark chocolate squares along with refreshing of towels.
The rooms include the exclusive Sofitel MyBed, the Asian amenities of slippers, bathrobe, kettle, tea, and coffee making facilities, all well placed amidst plush interiors.
Their executive lounge is super stylish with french-style interiors and decent breakfast and evening drinks and canapes. Happy hour includes four hot dishes, cold cuts, cheese, sushi, salad, cakes, and sandwiches. Enough to fill you up.
5. Sheraton Xi’an
Sheraton Xi’an is yet another Rewards Category 2 hotel and offers one of the cheapest rewards category 2 Marriott Bonvoy hotels with a good club lounge which is open 7 days a week.
Located in Shaanxi Province of China near Xi’an’s popular Hi-Tech Industries Development Zone, this 5-star hotel offers an ideal destination for all types of travelers. The hotel’s deluxe amenities include a modern gym, a heated indoor pool, a tranquil spa, and delicious onsite restaurants. In the evening, retreat to elegant guest rooms with plush signature bedding and expansive city views.
This hotel gets brilliant reviews, with the only disadvantage being that it isn’t central. Your cab ride will take maybe 12 minutes to the center but will only cost you around $3 USD.
6. Sheraton Xi’an North City Hotel
Sheraton Xi’an North City Hotel is the second Sheraton and a modern upscale hotel in this ancient city of China, is located in the downtown district, near the municipal administrative region. It is a Rewards Category 2 hotel and offers one of the cheapest rewards category 2 Marriott Bonvoy hotels with a good club lounge open 7 days a week.
This 5-star hotel is within 17 minutes to the main railway station, 20 minutes to the North Station by subway, 40 minutes to the airport, 20 minutes to downtown, and walking distance to the beloved Daming Palace National Heritage Park.
There are 487 comfortably appointed guest rooms and suites, three restaurants, bars and lounge, 1,800 m² of flexible meeting and function space, an indoor heated swimming pool, and a fitness center as well as Shine Spa.
The club lounge is classically stylish with lots of dark woods, dining tables, and some high tables by the windows with great views across the city as this club lounge is really high up. Breakfast is a feast, a fantastically large buffet that outdoes any American Sheraton breakfast.
Asian club lounges really do spoil you food-wise, plus you also have the snacks and beverages, including a coffee machine throughout the day and evening bites and free alcoholic drinks.
The food in the evening is also extensive with loads of cut fruit, bread, wonton soup. hot rice, meatballs, hot vegetables, sweet and sour pork and another meaty dish, chicken soup, huge salads, cold cuts, and loads of heated fried options. Cold dishes they serve Dim Sum and some excellent sushi.
And for dessert, there is chocolate cake, muffins, Tiramisu, New York Cheesecake (chocolate and vanilla), and various other cakes.
Alcohol includes most spirits you can imagine, wine and beer. Once again, more than enough to fill you up and get you merry, should you so wish!
7. InterContinental Xi’an North
Located in the center of Xi’an Economic&Technology Development Zone, InterContinental Xi’an North is adjacent to CityOn shopping mall, Enterprises Headquarter Building and local government. At the intersection of 2 metro lines, the hotel is convenient to arrive high-speed railway station and airport. 329 luxury guest rooms, 1100m² Grand Ballroom, 7 function rooms, and 4 different restaurants will meet all your demands in your travel.
This Intercontinental is 5 star, but there are very few reviews regarding its quality, hence its position towards the bottom of our listing, even though it is an excellent 5-star hotel.
8. Renaissance Xi’an
Renaissance Xi’an is a Rewards Category 2 hotel and offers one of the cheapest rewards category 2 Marriott Bonvoy hotels with a good club lounge which is open 7 days a week. This Qujiang hotel is adjacent to the International Conference Center and within 30 minutes of the iconic Terracotta Army.
Accommodations are fashionable and functional, with touches of Chinese-inspired decor and amenities that cater to business travelers. Restaurants feature creative, contemporary decor with menus focused on some of China’s noteworthy cuisines, including Cantonese, Sichuan, Xi’an, and Xinjiang.
Other perks include the day-to-night R Bar, with its live entertainment and specialty cocktails, an indoor swimming pool, and a Club Floor lounge.
The bad news is that the location of this Renaissance in Xi’an is not great. It’s quite far south of the city and requires a taxi or 10-15 minutes walk to the metro to get anywhere worth going.
Around the hotel, there is very little, so even if the hotel itself is very good, the location lets it down.
9. W Xi’an
W Xi’an is one of the best luxury hotels in Xi’an. It has 385 guestrooms furnished with a signature W bed, and featuring step-out balconies offering panoramas of Qu Jiang.
Discover a culinary experience at three dining venues, WEI, YEN, and FU, that are designed to entertain and enlighten. Lounge away at WOOBAR with a wonderful cocktail selection and get pampered, and treat your body with a full fleet of practical functions, such as a foot bath or hair and scalp treatment, at AWAY® SPA.
Keep up your fitness routine at FIT or swim a few laps at our indoor pool, WET. Our hotel offers all that you may need to make you feel right at home in Qu Jiang.
10. Hilton Xi’an
The ancient meets the new at Hilton Xi’an, a modern hotel set within the historic City Wall of Xi’an. The hotel is steps from shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues, as well as iconic landmarks such as the beautiful Bell Tower.
With more than 300 guest rooms and suites, a range of dining options, a spa, pool, and fitness facilities, discover all you need to relax and unwind. Plus, with extensive event space for up to 1000 guests, you can host any event in the heart of this ancient city.
Guests staying in the Executive Rooms enjoy access to the Executive Lounge with complimentary and excellent breakfast, afternoon tea, and light dinner.
The Xi’an Courtyard North and the Crown Plaza also have executive club lounges in Xi’an, but these are not luxury hotels, so they have not been included in our listing.
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