X I ’A N
The most dramatic hotel in Xi’an is so new, it’s still being completed. Kempinski Hotel Xi’an is situated on a peninsula with the Chanhe river to one side and Bahe river to the other. It’s designed in the shape of a Chinese dragon, a tower representing the dragon’s head and a curve of apartment blocks its tail. Currently only the body of the dragon is operating as a hotel. Located not far from the Terracotta Warriors on the route in from the airport, it offers a wide range of restaurants as well as a Munich “brewhouse” dining area and a beach cafe on a specially constructed white sand beach along the Ba river. Xi’an’s other five-star hotels include the Shangri-La, a rectangular glass construction with opulent interiors just outside the Second Ring Road, and a Sheraton within the Second Ring Road with a roof garden up in the clouds. Taking cue from its historic surroundings, Sofitel Legend People’s Grand Hotel Xi’an has kept its 1953 facade and is a short walk from the Bell and Drum Towers. Xi’an isn’t just a city rich in history and culture – it also caters to visitors who like to stay in style.
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Left: The dragon-like shape of the Kempinski Hotel Xi’an Below: Al fresco dining at Kempinski Xi’an, the best spot to enjoy a cocktail after a day filled with touring