It's been twenty years since I last visited Xi'an, so this time I specifically chose the Tongpai Hotel next to the Drum Tower. The backyard parking was very convenient. The hotel is about 200 meters from Metro Exit 4, but coming from Exit C of the metro station, you have to navigate underground to Exit 4, which takes about ten minutes. The hotel is then 200 meters from Exit 4. There are indeed many eateries around, but the variety is quite limited – mostly Roujiamo, Lamb Pao Mo, and Biangbiang noodles. After three days, I really couldn't eat them anymore. The 7th floor of the nearby Kaiyuan Mall also has some dining options, like Xijiade Dumplings or Hunan cuisine. There's also a rooftop where you can get a great night view of both the Drum Tower and Bell Tower together.
The hotel service was quite good, and the breakfast spread was decent. There were also quite a few foreign guests staying there. The only drawbacks were the poor soundproofing in the rooms and hallways, and the varying quality of guests. Many adults and children with their kids were quite noisy. Even at 2 AM, when guests were checking in, they would be loud in the hallway for over ten minutes. I hope the front desk staff could remind guests upon check-in, especially late at night, to keep the noise down. That would be much better. The hotel's location is excellent; you can take the underground passage from the Bell Tower, and Exit 1 leads directly to the Drum Tower and Muslim Quarter.
My impression of Xi'an remains mediocre on this trip. The locals here seem quite blunt and stern; their speech and expressions are often stiff, making them appear ready for a fight or generally unhappy. Don't expect too much from the dining places here, as the service attitude is generally similar. In contrast, the hotel's attitude was much better and friendlier.
I personally feel that the Grand Tang Dynasty Everbright City is a bit overhyped; there isn't much to see there in reality. It's about 7 kilometers from the hotel by taxi, costing around 20 yuan. Getting a taxi back can be a bit difficult, requiring a longer wait.
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