The Chengxi (West City) district is the most historically prominent part of Xining, containing the Qinghai Provincial Museum, Nanshan Park, and a concentration of the city's cultural institutions. The district is somewhat quieter than the Muslim quarter to the east — more tree-lined boulevards, more civic architecture, and fewer markets. It is the administrative and cultural centre of the city.
The main boulevard, Xiguan Street, runs from the Provincial Government compound past several museums and parks toward the western suburbs. In the evenings the street is pleasant to walk; the Provincial Museum garden is open after dark and lit. The Jintasi Temple is a few minutes' walk to the north. Chengxi is also where most of the better mid-range and boutique hotels in Xining are located.