Sofitel Legend People’s Grand Hotel Xi’an is our splurge pick and the city’s most storied address. It opened in 1953 as the People’s Grand Hotel, then the largest hotel in northwest China, and for decades it hosted dignitaries, artists and writers drawn to the Terracotta Army. After a long renovation it reopened in 2014 under the Sofitel Legend banner, blending Chinese refinement with French style in a historic building set around landscaped gardens. Rooms and suites are generous, with king beds, marble bathrooms and garden views, and butler service comes with the territory. Guests also get an indoor pool with a children’s pool, a fitness centre, a spa, an Italian restaurant, a lobby lounge with French-inspired desserts and a bar known for its cognac. Many booking sites still list the hotel under its former name, Sofitel Xian on Renmin Square.
Location and getting around
The hotel stands at 319 Dongxin Street in the Xincheng district, just northeast of the old town. The City Wall is about a two-minute drive away, and the Bell Tower, Drum Tower and Great Mosque are roughly a 19-minute walk, or a short taxi ride. The Zhonglou metro station is about an 11-minute walk, Xi’an railway station about nine minutes by car and the Shaanxi Science and Technology Museum a four-minute walk.
The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is around a 15-minute drive, and the Terracotta Army is roughly 45 minutes away, so a car and driver for the day trips is easy to arrange at the desk.
Rooms
The main rooms are the Premium and Grand Premium categories, plus the Prestige, Opera and Chang An suites. All have king beds and garden views, and the Chang An Suite adds a balcony. Booking platforms also list superior and luxury rooms, a junior suite with club lounge access and an apartment with a kitchen, so the range runs from a comfortable standard room to a family-friendly apartment.
Who it suits
Couples marking a special trip, history-minded travellers who like to sleep inside a piece of the city’s story, and anyone who wants a calm garden base after busy days of sightseeing.
Good to know
Breakfast offers Chinese, Western and local dishes and is charged separately on many rates. Free self-parking is available, and an airport transfer can be arranged for a fee. The pool and gym are for hotel guests. Check-in is from 14:00 and check-out is at noon. Because the hotel is a short ride from the old town rather than inside it, you will want to use taxis or ride-hailing for evenings in the Muslim Quarter.
Why stay here
- ✓Indoor pool and children’s pool
- ✓Spa
- ✓Fitness centre
- ✓Italian restaurant
- ✓Lobby lounge and cognac bar
- ✓Garden-view king rooms
- ✓Free self-parking
- ✓Free Wi-Fi
Good questions
Is this the same hotel as Sofitel Xian on Renmin Square?+
Yes, the property at 319 Dongxin Street opened as the People’s Grand Hotel and now operates as Sofitel Legend People’s Grand Hotel Xi’an. Some booking sites still use the older Renmin Square name.
How far is it from the Bell Tower and the City Wall?+
The City Wall is about a two-minute drive and the Bell Tower area is roughly a 19-minute walk. Taxis and ride-hailing cars are the easy option for evenings.
Does the hotel have a pool and spa?+
Yes, there is an indoor pool with a children’s pool, a fitness centre and a spa. The pool and gym are for hotel guests, and opening hours are best checked when you book.
