Xi'an Travel Forum

I'm a photographer that plans on shooting stuff in and around the city is there a best local to easily get to things of interest??
(Like being near Spanish steps in Rome for instance)

I'm currently looking at the Bell Tower Hotel based on a users travel page.

If someone has a great place to stay I'm all ears, BTW.

Thanks
glock

There are several sights in Xi'an city, but they're not particularly close to each other. The Bell Tower is one of the most important junctions, rather like Piccadilly Circus. Nearby are the Bell Tower, the Drum Tower, and several shopping streets. You could walk down to the South Gate. You'd probably need a taxi to get to Small Wild Goose Pagoda though. And large Wild Goose Pagoda is a long way.

There are lots of hotels around the Bell Tower, I prefer the Xi'an City Hotel which is a short walk down South Street.

The city wall completely surrounds the centre. I think it is 13 km around. You can walk it, but it's wide enough to take a bus, or rather a sort of golf buggy - good photos from up there.

Thanks that helps alot. I'll check your hotel reccomendation

We loved the Bell Tower Hotel..great views especially at night!! (see our attempts at good pics :o) We also liked it because we could walk to the main sites from it!! For us, it was like being at Campo Fiori in Rome :) Make sure you visit the City Wall

Sorry all it took so long to reply but we left on the 21st and this is my 1st opportunity to actually do something other than check email.

Albaaust : I am now sitting in your hotel of choice in Xi'an looking at the Bell Tower at eye level. I had actually looked @ your Xi'an page before and booked this place. We are very happy so far.
As, for taking the CTS bus from HKIA to Shenzhen Bo'an International Airport after our initial arrival, what an ordeal ..... But I'll post a full report when I get back.
I will say it involved a scary moment when our public hotel service van (we couldn't find the taxi stand anywhere) from the Shenzhen customs/bus terminal pulled into a black hidden alley en route, off of a very dark backroad where some other vehicles and men were waiting and we were told to get out, only to have them transfer our luggage to another van and we were back on our way.... WHEW!! Like I needed that cheap thrill after 20 hrs of travel and no sleep.

But the Sunway Hotel was PERFECT for our needs. Thank You for that.

I'll try to post some updates on our endeavors.

You will have to let us know what happened..I was feeling guilty that I had not warned you to make sure you had a copy of the hotel name in Chinese.
Also, we did not have to find a taxi stand 0once we got into Shenzhen.. a taxi driver approached us. I am hoping it wasn't too traumatic.

Well, you kinda did by posting a copy of the hotel card on your Shenzhen page
I think you even mentioned making sure to copy it and carry along.

(FWIW i had a friend from Beijing visiting the week before we left, so I had her write me a big note in Chinese for whomever with the name and address.
I handed it to a number of people (drivers) and many seemed (acted??) not to have a clue.
Then, meeting some seasoned Dutch travelers in Pingan and recounting the experience they said many drivers can't read, and that I should hand them the address upside down , and if they turn it around then you know they can read.
Very clever.)

We were approached as we walked out by a throng of people, I asked a guard at the exit about a taxi and he pointed out one in the throng, who then quoted me 400rmb to the hotel
I'd remembered the 100 you paid being "scammed" so after much badgering by local entrepreneurs whom I didn't trust,I went to the Hotel Transportation (or something like that)booth outside, and they gave me a price of 168 to hotel. At that point i said "fine" and the ordeal started.

Oh, and when we got close to the airport the road forked to a service road and the driver still wasn't sure where to go with address in hand, so I pointed to where ALL the hotels appeared to be and motioned to turn there.We did and the Sunway hotel was probably the biggest most obvious one only about 300 meters down the road.

looking back now I got a good dinner story out of it....

FWIW, after one day I think I love this location there is plenty of everything nearby. Very cool area, and the hotel is very helpful and accommodating,room feels huge after Pingan and Yangshuo.

I screwed up when I booked so we arrived a day earlier than my 3 day reservation.
I called from the airport, they sent a car for 220rmb (1+hr ride) and gave me a room, for the same rate as I had booked online --during what seems to be a MAJOR Holiday here no less !!

The Dutch travelers also turned us on to a very cool restaurant here, 2 blocks from the hotel. It's an Italian restaurant, here in China, run by a Japanese guy,born in Japan that grew up in the States. Great food, and an adventure to find.
Named COLABO. K.I Tower B, 11th flr No.1 of Xihuamen Xi'an
(the building houses a huge Bank and a huge Karaoke place that i thought was a hotel because it had so many rooms and a check in desk with a pianist in the lobby, I think it was named PartyWorld...?) on the ground floor.
You must go around the side thru a parking gate into a courtyard of sorts and into a small guarded back door and up the elevator to the 11th floor. Charming place, woderful staff, food and owner.

it was the best place is city wall , big pagoda and bell tower you can take wonderful photo at this area .

Yeah, I would stay there anytime I returned to xian...... which I probably won't.