Sofitel Legend People's Grand Hotel: Xi'an's 1953 heritage hotel
Xī'ān Suǒfēitè Chuánqí
Sleep inside the city's most storied building
- Per night
- ¥1200–1550
- Check-in / out
- Check-in 15:00 / Check-out 12:00
The Sofitel Legend People's Grand Hotel is Xi'an's heritage luxury address. It occupies the People's Grand Hotel (Renmin Dasha), which opened in 1953 as the largest hotel in northwest China and hosted heads of state, artists and visitors coming to see the Terracotta Warriors. After more than a year of renovation it reopened in 2014 under Accor's Sofitel Legend label, joining a small collection of historic hotels worldwide. Rooms and suites look over landscaped gardens and come with butler service and a complimentary minibar; there is an Italian restaurant, a Louis XIII cognac bar, the 1953 Lobby Lounge, a spa and an indoor pool with a children's pool. It sits inside the Ming city wall on Dong Xin Street, within walking distance of the [Bell Tower](/en/places/bell-tower), [Yongxingfang](/en/places/yongxingfang) and the [Muslim Quarter](/en/places/muslim-quarter), and about 45 minutes' drive from both the airport and the Terracotta Army.
History of the building
- 1953: opens as the People's Grand Hotel, northwest China's largest
- 1954: the People's Hotel Theatre opens, later hosting thousands of performances
- 1985: the sentry post is removed and the public admitted
- 2014: reopens as Sofitel Legend after a renovation of over a year
Rooms, dining and wellness
- Garden-view rooms and suites with butler service and free minibar
- Dolce Vita (Italian), Louis XIII Bar, 1953 Lobby Lounge
- Spa, indoor pool with children's pool (in-house guests only), gym
Location
- Inside the city wall on Dong Xin Street
- Walk to the Bell and Drum Towers, Yongxingfang and the Muslim Quarter
- About 45 minutes by car to the airport and to the Terracotta Army
- Shares the Renmin Square complex with Sofitel on Renmin Square
Who it suits
- Couples and history lovers
- Travellers who want luxury within walking distance of the old city
- Families (kids' menu, cribs, children's pool)
Rooms, rates & who it's for
Heritage tier, typically ¥1,200–1,550 a night — and what you're buying is the building: a room in the restored 1953 People's Grand Hotel, not just square metres.
- Garden-view rooms and suites with butler service and a complimentary minibar
- Spa and indoor pool with children's pool, quieter than the big-box five-stars
- Family-ready: kids' menu and cribs on request
It's perfect for couples and history lovers who want luxury they can walk into the old city from. If sleeping in a 1953 landmark doesn't matter to you, the modern Sofitel on Renmin Square in the same complex typically runs lower rates — but if it does, nothing else in Xi'an matches this address.
Getting there & nearby
The nearest metro is Wulukou, Lines 1 and 4 — a short walk from the Renmin Square gates along Dong Xin Street, the hotel's own address.
- The Bell Tower, with the Drum Tower beside it, is about 1.8 km on foot
- Yongxingfang, the walled-lane food quarter, is similarly close
- The Muslim Quarter sits about 1.5 km away
You're inside the Ming wall, so this is genuinely a walking base; when feet give up, taxis are cheap, and both the airport and the Terracotta Army are about 45 minutes by car.
Questions, answered
What is the difference between Sofitel Legend and Sofitel on Renmin Square?
Both share 319 Dong Xin Street. The Legend is the restored 1953 heritage building with butler service; Sofitel on Renmin Square is the larger modern Sofitel in the same complex.
Can I walk to the Muslim Quarter from the Sofitel Legend?
Yes. Accor lists the Muslim Quarter about 1.5 km away and the Bell and Drum Towers about 1.8 km.
How far is the Sofitel Legend from the Terracotta Army?
About a 45-minute drive; the concierge can arrange transport and tickets.
Can I check in late at the Sofitel Legend?
Check-in runs from 15:00 and check-out is at 12:00. If a night flight lands you late, note your estimated arrival when you book — garden-view rooms and suites sell out first, so an early request also helps you secure one.