Grand Soluxe International Hotel, Xi'an: Need non-smoking floors as our room smelt. But the space in the rooms was great - especially for a family. The staff at the front desk were helpful as was the concierge. Breakfast was good for both Western and Chinese food.

The booking process was really easy and receiving the maps etc with the booking confirmation in both Chinese and English was very helpful.

Guest Name:Ms. EmmaNationality : Australia Updated:2009-6-5

Hi,

With an unexpected spare day on my business trip to China I decided to indulge in a trip to Xi'an to see the terracotta warriors. Choosing a hotel was a rather random affair, and I stumbled upon the Xian Diamond.

TCG arranged my flights and hotel brilliantly. Absolute perfect flow of information. Definitely a world class service.

I arrived to find it a well appointed hotel at its price, and was pleasantly surprised. Being Muslim, I was quite prepared to not find adequate food nearby. Mush to my amazement, there was a Muslim street cafe right outside their doors (well two doors to their right to be honest, but close enough). I walked past it a few times, trying to gauge if it was safe to try. There was a friendly enough guy tending the fire outside, and the smells from the barbeque skewers finally got the better of me.

I ordered 4 skewers through gestures as no-one spoke a word of English. Magnificent! I ordered 6 more to round off my meal. Satisfied.

The next morning, being my free day, I wanted to go to the warriors as planned. By chance the guy at reception suggested i try the bus. Not having tried buses in China before, I decided that it was now or never. Being right opposite the train station was now a serious advantage as the buses left from the station square. Bus 306 to be precise. One leaving every hour, and a pleasant luxury-ish coach too. Really cheap at RMB7!! I kid you not. Would have paid about RMB150 for a taxi, and yet the bus goes right to the warriors. A dedicated service. I was now very very happy with my choice of hotel.

After a morning of excited discovery at the archaeological treasure trove, I returned to the Xian Diamond hotel and enquired as to how to get to the Grand Mosque. Directions were scribbled onto a card in Chinese, and off I went.

The taxi presented me to the "Islamic Street": a kaleidoscope of color, fruit stalls, curios, crafts, and searing fires sizzling meats, and a hustle and bustle to rival any market. I was so in my element. Shopped for trivia, and even tried the candy coated apple on a stick (a childhood circus treat), fell in love with the candy coated strawberries too. Its amazing how many things are still sold for RMB 1 per piece.

Ventured down a few side alleys and bought some fascinating gifts. Found that prices quoted were usually about 3 times what was easily possible to bargain down to. Had a blast getting there!

and.....found the entrance to the old mosque, now i had been to some old and historic mosques before, but..nothing had prepared me for what i was to find.

The mosque was built in AD720, and was the most amazing and fascinating architecture. I was enthralled.

Every step I took, was a new voyage of discovery. So many incredible details to every building. Finally I entered the main prayer hall. On the walls... wood panels with the Quran intricately inscribed in the wood. Detailed and legible. Panels all around the hall. The ambiance. The absolute serenity of the place. I was truly moved. I can only imagine what a pilgrimage must be like.

My camera swung into high gear as I worked my way around the gardens and buildings, I was like a kid in toy shop. What a fabulous find.

All in all, a day to remember.

Thank you to every one who made it special.

Regards
One Happy Traveller

Guest Name:Mr. Abdool KamdarNationality : Updated:2009-1-20

Hi,

With an unexpected spare day on my business trip to China I decided to indulge in a trip to Xi'an to see the terracotta warriors. Choosing a hotel was a rather random affair, and I stumbled upon the Xian Diamond.

TCG arranged my flights and hotel brilliantly. Absolute perfect flow of information. Definitely a world class service.

I arrived to find it a well appointed hotel at its price, and was pleasantly surprised.

Being Muslim, I was quite prepared to not find adequate food nearby. Mush to my amazement, there was a Muslim street cafe right outside their doors (well two doors to their right to be honest, but close enough). I walked past it a few times, trying to gauge if it was safe to try. There was a friendly enough guy tending the fire outside, and the smells from the barbeque skewers finally got the better of me.

I ordered 4 skewers through gestures as no-one spoke a word of English. Magnificent! I ordered 6 more to round off my meal. Satisfied.

The next morning, being my free day, I wanted to go to the warriors as planned. By chance the guy at reception suggested i try the bus. Not having tried buses in China before, I decided that it was now or never. Being right opposite the train station was now a serious advantage as the buses left from the station square. Bus 306 to be precise. One leaving every hour, and a pleasant luxury-ish coach too. Really cheap at RMB7!! I kid you not. Would have paid about RMB150 for a taxi, and yet the bus goes right to the warriors. A dedicated service. I was now very very happy with my choice of hotel.

After a morning of excited discovery at the archaeological treasure trove, I returned to the Xian Diamond hotel and enquired as to how to get to the Grand Mosque. Directions were scribbled onto a card in Chinese, and off I went.

The taxi presented me to the "Islamic Street".

A kaleidoscope of color, fruit stalls, curios, crafts, and searing fires sizzling meats, and a hustle and bustle to rival any market. I was so in my element. Shopped for trivia, and even tried the candy coated apple on a stick (a childhood circus treat), fell in love with the candy coated strawberries too. Its amazing how many things are still sold for RMB 1 per piece.

Ventured down a few side alleys and bought some fascinating gifts. Found that prices quoted were usually about 3 times what was easily possible to bargain down to. Had a blast getting there!

and.....found the entrance to the old mosque, now i had been to some old and historic mosques before, but...

nothing had prepared me for what i was to find.

The mosque was built in AD720, and was the most amazing and fascinating architecture.

I was enthralled.

Every step I took, was a new voyage of discovery. So many incredible details to every building. Finally I entered the main prayer hall. On the walls... wood panels with the Quran intricately inscribed in the wood. Detailed and legible. Panels all around the hall. The ambiance. The absolute serenity of the place. I was truly moved.

I can only imagine what a pilgrimage must be like.

My camera swung into high gear as I worked my way around the gardens and buildings, I was like a kid in toy shop. What a fabulous find.

All in all, a day to remember.

Thank you to every one who made it special.

Regards

One Happy Traveller

Guest Name:Mr. Abdool KamdarNationality : Updated:2009-1-9

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