As China’s gateway to the West for centuries, Xi’an was once the most cosmopolitan city on earth.

And located under the shadows of the city’s Bell and Drum Towers, La Seine Restaurant Francais Xi'an, is helping the city reconnect with its urbane past by bringing French cuisine to the ancient capital.

Opened under the guidance of famed French chef Alan Pierre Roux, La Seine uses imported spices from France and boasts fresh fruit and vegetables brought in daily from Yangling, a town around 180 kilometers away from the smog of Xi’an. 

The restaurant has not only consistently delivered authentic French cuisine over the past eight years, but according to Shen Jianpeng, chairman of Xi'an La Seine Hotel Management Co.,Ltd, also aims to promote a healthier and more elegant way of life.

"A significant number of people in Xi'an know little about Western and French culture, and may not fully understand our restaurant,” said Shen. “We are actually not working to create a luxury brand, but rather promoting healthy and exquisite living."

However, according to Shen, introducing Xi’an to a completely new cuisine has been anything but easy. 

“Although we’ve faced many difficulties being first, we believe it takes time to introduce a new culture and help people enhance their quality of life,” said Shen.

Having organized French cultural exchange events in the past, Shen explains La Seine provides another bridge between Chinese and Western culture, while enriching the lives of Xi’an residents.

La Seine further mixed East and West during the Mid-Autumn Festival with French-inspired mooncakes, while often providing Western culture and etiquette classes for children.

5F, Fuhao Mansion, 59, South Street, Xi'an  (86-029) 87266688/ 87215155