2 Best Hotels in Xining, The Silk Road

Although the outside looks drab, this hotel's lobby is decked out in tapered columns, fountains, marble sculptures, and ornate wall decor to go with simple yet sophisticated rooms. The hotel is geared toward government officials and local business people—there are in-house karaoke facilities—but tourists will appreciate its rooms, which are clean and large. The Chinese restaurant serves everything from dim sum to spicy venison and rabbit, but for those seeking a taste of home, there's also a Western restaurant on the first floor.

This ultramodern hotel is considered the finest lodging between Xi'an and Ürümqi, with exceptionally comfortable rooms and a quiet location. Standards seem to have fallen recently, but if you can overlook lackadaisical service, it's possible to get great value rooms with views of Xining's central square.

During low season (winter), rooms start from Y630.