How Much Does It Cost to Travel China

How much does it cost to travel China? This question might be on your minds as you consider a trip to the far eastern country. Here is a breakdown of how much it costs for flights, hotels, transportation, sightseeing, food, and activities.
· International Airfare to China
· Which China Cities Are More Expensive?
· Accommodation/Transportation Costs for Travel in China
· Attraction/Food Costs When Travelling in China
· How much does it cost to go to China for a week?
· How much spending money should I bring to China?
· How much does independent travel in China cost per day?
International Airfare to China
How much does it cost to go to China? The cost of airfares from the US or Europe to China vary a lot depending on when you fly and which airline you use, from around 800 to1300 USD for an economy round trip. It's possible to save up to about $400 if you get a deal or you're willing to take a stopover or two (or more!) stops.
Summer is the most expensive time to travel to China. Traveling from the U.S./Europe to China in winter from December to March (apart from around Chinese New Year) is about 40%cheaper than June–August.
The most popular entry and exit cities in China are Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.
Which China Cities Are More Expensive?
Shanghai's classic skyline views. Shanghai is a 2nd tier city, and prices are considerably lower than 1st tier Hong Kong for everything except for shopping.
The cost of China travel depends on which cities you visit. Generally speaking, there are three price bands for China cities,and the cost of travel in China's cities decreases as you go from the top tier to the third.
· Top tier: Hong Kong and Macau are in a league of their own: the priciest cities in China.
· Band 2: Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, and Guangzhou lie on the second tier.
· Band 3: Guilin, Chengdu, and Xi'an are on the third tier.
Prices for tourist hotels etc. in remote places such as Tibet and on the Yellow Mountains are inflated, due to the cost of transporting commodities in (though local living costs are low).
For first-time visitors, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, and Xi'an are popular destinations. Read more on How to Plan a First Trip to China — 7 Easy Steps.
Accommodation Costs for Travel in China
Accommodation is a huge chunk of the budget for any China trip. Hotels in China range from inexpensive inns that offer simple hostel-like accommodation to lavish 5-star hotels.
Prices of hotels vary widely from city to city and from season to season, peaking at public holidays. Here is a table to show you the approximate average minimum cost(not peak or off-peak) for a standard 2-person room around China:
Average Minimum Hotel Costs (in USD) for China
Price Band
1: HK, Macau
2: Beijing, Shanghai...
3: Xi'an, Guilin...
4: Harbin, Luoyang...
Luxury Hotels
250
180
130
100
Mid-Range Hotels
120
90
60
40
Budget Hotels
40
30
20
10
Hostels
20
15
10
As two of the largest expenses are hotels and transport, travel costs can be up to 30% less if shared by two traveling together.
A Chinese 5-star hotel in a second tier city such as Beijing might only meet the standards of a 4-star hotel in the West, while in top tier cities like HK you can expect the same standard, etc. Vacation renting (Airbnb etc.) is at early stage in China and not recommended for foreign tourists.
Transportation Costs for Travel in China
Bullet train in China
The other major expense of touring China is inter-city transport (domestic flights, trains, etc.). The following are ballpark figures.
Traveling between Chinese cities can be done for 50 to 100 USD on trains, or for 80 to 300 USD on economy flights. (For first class or business class multiply by 2 or 3.)
Train prices don't vary much with time of day or season. the English train booking service is highly recommended. Compare prices there.
The earliest and latest flights will be cheapest in general, as well as low season (winter) flights and stopover flights. Here are some popular websites for searching domestic flights: Ctrip.com, Qunar.com, and Elong.com.
China cities' public transportation is very affordable, convenient, and safe. Subways, taxis, and buses are well run in the major destinations. Taking Beijing as an example, metro fares are 3–8 yuan, public buses are 1–5 yuan, and taxis charge 13 yuan minimum.
For a smooth and time-saving journey, you are recommended to book a private car for your tour.