Xi'an Accommodation Avoidance Tips | Locals Don't Recommend Staying Around the Bell Tower: For Early Morning Flights with Babies or Pets, These Areas Are the Right Choices
At 1:30 a.m., I was squatting downstairs at a popular apartment building near the Bell Tower with my baby in my arms. The front desk phone was off, the hallway lights were broken, and the room didn't even have a microwave. At that moment, I realized: the worst thing you can do when staying in Xi'an is to believe that "the closer to the attractions, the better."
Online guides still teach you how to snag hotels in older buildings around the Muslim Quarter, South Gate, and Big Wild Goose Pagoda. However, those traveling with infants under two, two or more pets, or arriving in the early morning or catching an early flight will likely face difficulties staying in these areas. Having lived in Xi'an for six years and traveled there more than twenty times, I'll today clearly explain the recommended accommodation areas for three special groups.
The closer you get to the clock tower, the more obvious the "fatal flaws" of the old town become.
Many accommodations in Xi'an's old city are converted from buildings dating back to the 1990s. Elevators are so narrow that strollers need to fold in to get in; there are stairs in the stairwells; and the front desk is often unattended at night. Pets are out of the question; most places refuse them outright, and those that do are charged exorbitant cleaning fees.
Xi'an's subway system is already well-developed, and it only takes about forty minutes to get from Qujiang Phase II to the Bell Tower. In return, residents can enjoy new elevators, wide corridors, and quiet rooms with open windows. For this special group, living in the new area is not a compromise, but a true upgrade in comfort.
For families with infants under 2 years old: "New chain apartments" in Qujiang Phase II and Aerospace City.
Most travel guides don't mention Qujiang Phase II and Aerospace City because there aren't any must-see attractions there. But for parents with strollers, the area around Qujiang Phase II Creative Valley and the vicinity of Shizi Park in Aerospace City are all newly completed residential communities with smooth roads, numerous convenience stores and local pharmacies, and the streets are still brightly lit after 9 pm.
Choose mid-range chain serviced apartments or newly opened all-suite hotels; they are much more spacious than the similarly priced old Bell Tower Hotel. Many rooms have a separate kitchen or at least a refrigerator and microwave, making it very convenient for storing breast milk and baby food. Cribs are generally provided free of charge if requested in advance, and some may even offer crib bumpers.
Six key indicators: Crib – mostly free, requires reservation and note; Refrigerator and microwave – standard in suites; No extra charge for pets – generally not applicable, please see the next point if you are bringing pets; 24-hour front desk – available in mid-range chain apartments; Elevator – accessible elevator in new buildings; Accessibility – wide doors and ramps are stroller-friendly.
For families with two or more pets: Riverside Apartments in Chanba and Fengdong districts.
Bringing two or more pets in Xi'an's old city is almost torture. However, along the Chanba River and around Kunming Pool in Fengdong, there are many newly built serviced apartments and designer homestays, some of which explicitly state "no extra charge for multiple pets," requiring only a prepayment of a cleaning deposit, which is fully refunded upon check-out if there is no damage.
The biggest advantage of these areas isn't the rooms themselves, but the fact that they offer riverside walkways and green spaces right outside the door, allowing dog walks without having to navigate through traffic in the mornings and evenings. While these areas aren't usually mentioned in travel guides because they're far from the Bell Tower, for pet owners, a place where their dogs can run freely is far more important than the crowds in the Muslim Quarter.
Six criteria: Baby crib – Most do not have one, not applicable; Refrigerator and microwave – Standard apartment amenities; No extra charge for pets – Some explicitly state this, but for two or more pets, the number must be reported in advance; 24-hour front desk – Apartment-style front desks open at night, some have duty phone numbers; Elevator – Available in new buildings; Accessibility – Level ground, but some riverside steps require detours.
Arriving in the early morning or on a morning flight: 24-hour mid-range hotels near the North Railway Station and Airport New City.
Many people rushing to catch early morning flights only know to stay in guesthouses near the airport, only to find no one at the front desk, a musty smell in the room, and extra charges for shuttle service when they arrive in the early hours. In reality, the area around Xi'an North Railway Station and the core area of the Airport New City are more reliable choices.
Arriving in Xi'an in the early morning, I stayed at a mid-range chain hotel near the North Railway Station. The subway line 14 takes about 30 minutes to the airport, and there are convenience stores and late-night snack options nearby. Catching an early morning flight, I stayed at a garden-style apartment in the Airport New City or a new chain hotel on the west side of the airport. 24-hour front desks are standard, and most offer paid or free shuttle services. Elevators and facilities for disabled guests are much better than in older airport hotels.
Six indicators: Baby crib - can be noted, not guaranteed; Refrigerator and microwave - some rooms have them, public microwave in the lobby; Pets are not charged extra - generally not allowed; 24-hour front desk - core indicator, all available; Elevator - available; Accessibility - ramps and elevators are available.
In closing: 5 tips locals didn't tell you
1. When bringing an infant, don't just look at the room size; first ask about the width of the elevator door and whether there is a connecting corridor. In many new apartments in Qujiang Phase II, strollers are much easier to push on the ground floor than on the stone-paved streets near the Bell Tower.
2. When booking a room with pets, be sure to call and confirm the pet policy, especially whether "no extra charge for multiple pets" includes the cleaning deposit refund conditions. Some apartments in Chanba are quick to refund deposits.
3. If you arrive in Xi'an in the early morning, do not take an unlicensed taxi immediately after exiting the station. Most hotels near the North Railway Station have signs indicating subway connections. Before staying in the Airport New City, check whether the shuttle bus operates in the early morning.
4. If you're taking an early morning flight, avoid catching the first subway train. Some chain hotels in the Airport New City offer airport shuttle service around 4 AM; just ask when you book.
5. The underlying logic for accommodation in Xi'an isn't how close it is to the Bell Tower, but whether your specific needs can be adequately met by the new development area. Choosing a location in reverse is often less risky than scrambling for trendy hotels.