With border restrictions still in place, many families in Beijing are making plans to travel around China this summer. Just a five-hour high-speed train ride (or a quick 90-minute flight) away from Beijing, Xi’an is the perfect choice for a weekend trip that is easily accessible from Beijing and has something that everyone in the family will love, from history and culture to oodles of incredible local noodles.
Whether you are planning an action-packed weekend or just want to lounge around watching Pixar movies and ordering room service, you can make this summer’s getaway extra special with a stay at Sofitel Legend People’s Grand Hotel Xi’an.
Luxury the whole family will love
Originally opened as a state guesthouse in 1953, the grand building known today as the Sofitel Legend People’s Grand Hotel Xi’an is like a living museum. It is the only Sofitel Legend hotel in China and one of only six in the world. Kids will love exploring all of the hotel’s nooks and crannies, especially the leafy green grounds outside.
Cool off after a long day in the hotel swimming pool
In fact, there’s something for kids and adults alike when you choose the hotel’s special summer holiday package (see more details below). Kids will discover special welcome amenities when you check into your ultra-luxurious room, while adults can relax after a long day with a spa treatment, enjoying spa credit as a special treat for in-house guests! As soon as you walk in to the hotel, you also enjoy the personalized services of a 24-hour butler, taking the stress out of making arrangements both inside and outside of the hotel.
Have your butler arrange a once-in-a-lifetime meal for your family
Dining options abound, with a range of restaurants serving international cuisines. Contemporary Japanese restaurant Koi is the perfect place to refuel in a cozy, relaxed atmosphere after a long day. This summer, Koi has an all-you-can-eat deal that gives your the opportunity to enjoy all the best of Japanese cuisine, from sushi to teppanyaki to yakitori. You can even get a taste of Xi’an cuisine without leaving your hotel at Chinese restaurant Le Chinois, which serves a selection of Xi’an favorites alongside a menu of contemporary Cantonese cuisine.
Ask a butler: Top five things to do in with kids Xi’an
The butlers at the Sofitel Legend People’s Grand Hotel Xi’an aren’t just knowledgeable about the hotel and its history — they are also Xi’an experts. We asked butler Danny Shao for his recommendations for the best things to do in Xi’an as a family once you’ve finished making the most of the hotel facilities. Even if you’ve seen the Terracotta Warriors and explored the markets in the Muslim Quarter before, there are still plenty of fun sights and attractions to explore.
The hotel is located in the heart of the walled city center, within easy walking distance of some of the most popular sights. It is also a 5-10 minute walk to Wulukou Station on metro lines 2 and 4, the latter of which takes you directly to Tang Paradise.
Hire a bike and circumnavigate the Xi’an city walls
Bike around the city walls
Got a bunch of hyperactive kids on your hands? One sure-fire way to ensure that the whole family sleeps well that night is to rent a bicycle and cycle around the walls. The circumference of the walls is around 13.7km but it’s completely flat, so you should be able to complete it in around 1.5-2 hours. There are tandems available for littler legs that might not be able to make it all the way around on their own. Before you set out, fuel up for the day ahead with breakfast at Dolce Vita, which is served semi-buffet style with both Western and Chinese options available to order to suit every palate.
You can get up onto the wall from Zhongshan Gate, which is nearest to the hotel (15-20 minutes’ walk), but the most popular place to rent a bike is the South Gate. Regular bike rental costs RMB 45/three hours or RMB 90/three hours for a tandem, plus a RMB 100 deposit. You can return the bicycles to any of the gates before 6pm or to the South Gate before 8pm.
The hotel grounds are a peaceful oasis in the city
Explore the hotel grounds
It’s not every day you can say that your hotel’s grounds used to be part on an imperial palace. The landscaped grounds are not only venerable — some of the trees are more than 300 years old! — but also beautiful, with more than 40,000M2 to explore. If biking around the city walls doesn’t tire everyone out, then playing in the garden certainly will. If the weather is fine, why not ask your butler to book afternoon tea in the garden for the whole family? The hotel offers seasonal afternoon tea and a traditional French “Le Gouter” afternoon tea with a selection of eight carefully hand-crafted snacks.
Ever stayed in a hotel that has its very own museum?
Have you ever stayed in a hotel that has its own museum? You have now! The on-site museum doesn’t just feature lots of interesting stories about the hotel itself, but it is also a great way to learn more about the history of Xi’an. You can read more about the hotel and the surrounding area in the history book commissioned for the opening of the hotel in 2014, written by historian and writer and founder of The Most Famous Hotels in the World, Andreas Augustin.
Tang Paradise is one of the city’s top attractions
Tang Paradise
Tang Paradise is the world’s first Tang Dynasty theme park — don’t worry, it’s much cooler than it sounds. The park is best-known for the “Dream of the Great Tang Dynasty” show that takes place every night, featuring hundreds of performers dressed in traditional costumes. Even if you don’t speak Chinese, the colorful visuals speak for themselves!
The park is best visited at night when all the buildings are lit up. Head over to catch the show at 5pm, and then stay on and explore the park. Don’t miss the incredible light show projected onto the surface of the lake.
Daily 9am-10pm (show starts at 5pm). 99 Furong Xilu, Yanta District
大唐芙蓉园：雁塔区芙蓉西路99号
Asia’s largest water fountain is right here in Xi’an
Giant Wild Goose Pagoda North Square Music fountain
Water, lights, and music combine to create the largest water fountain in Asia right in the centre of Xi’an. The fountain reaches up to 60m into the air and creates incredible shapes like dragons, birds, and lotus flowers.
On weekends, the musical fountain show takes place at noon, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm, and 9pm. If you don’t mind staying up late, try to watch the 9pm show as the fountain is best viewed after dark so you can see all the colored lights. Get there 20-30 minutes early to secure a good viewing spot, especially on weekends.
3 Furong Donglu, Yanta District
大雁塔北广场：雁塔区芙蓉东路3号
Eat your heart out on local snacks at Yong Xing Fang
Yong Xing Fang
Just a 15-minute walk from the Sofitel Legend People’s Grand Hotel Xi’an, Yong Xing Fang is a Tang Dynasty-style street with more than 50 different stalls and restaurants selling snacks from across Shaanxi province. The street comes alive in the evening when there are live folk music performances and all the stalls are out peddling their wares.
Noodles and skewers and pancakes, oh my!
Many of the most popular Xi’an snacks are great for kids, including roujiamo (aka Chinese burgers) and slurpy biangbiang noodles (ask for toppings like stir-fried egg and tomato and no chili oil to make sure it’s not too spicy).
100m northwest of the intersection of Dongxin Jie and Shuncheng Donglu, Xincheng District
永兴坊：新城区东新街与顺城东路北段交叉口西北100米
The Sofitel Legend People’s Grand Hotel Xi’an family package is priced at RMB 3,188 net, including a two-night stay with breakfast for two adults and one child, a one-time free minibar, and daily happy hour (5.30-7.30pm). Extend your stay in Xi’an with 15 percent off the best available rate on your third or fourth night (when you reserve the family package). For reservations, please email reservations@renminsquare.com or call 029 8792 8888.
Images: Shutterstock, courtesy of Sofitel Legend People’s Grand Hotel Xi’an
