Sofitel on Renmin Square

With every decade that goes by China opens itself further to the West. By now Hong Kong feels like it’s right next door, and Beijing and Shanghai are quickly losing their air of exoticism. Even Xi’an, the eastern end of the Silk Road, is finding itself more and more accessible to foreign travelers; surely it’s a sign of the times that the top hotel in town is the Sofitel on Renmin Square, an utterly modern luxury hotel from the French-owned international chain.

Outside it’s a fairly typical commercial building, about as Chinese as any Sofitel anywhere — which is to say, not a lot at all. Inside, though, there’s a generous helping of local color, from the rich colored fabrics in the rooms (it wasn’t called the Silk Road for nothing) to the rows of vases in the restaurant, a visual allusion perhaps to the Terra Cotta Soldiers in Qin Shi Huang’s mausoleum, less than an hour to the east.

Services include the usual array of five-star offerings, as well as some rather unique ones — restaurants include the usual Cantonese and Mediterranean offerings as well as a Muslim restaurant, serving halal cuisine as a tribute to the region’s Islamic history (yes, really).

Please note: At Sofitel on Renmin Square, there is a 10% service charge that is not included in the room rates.

Travel advisory: Passport and visa requirements differ from country to country. Please check with your local authority before booking.