That ends all of it! After a little over two months of travel in China, we have reached the first nation of our round-the-world journey, and it is time for a brief evaluation. How To Plan A Budget Trip To China In all honesty, I don't believe we could have asked for a better beginning to our journey.

China is truly an amazing place, full of surprises, stunning scenery, kind locals, and a complete contrast to Switzerland! Every day since the start of the journey, we give ourselves a bit more gratitude for choosing to go! And to think we're just getting started!

8 Tips for How To Plan A Budget Trip To China

1. Be flexible and plan ahead of time since time is money.

You may save money by making use of your research time. There are several ways to travel to China with a budget. This is where you begin! The saying time is money is true, but watch out for the law of diminishing returns! Compromise is necessary when creating an itinerary that saves money.

Though there are many great-value options in China, you might not be able to accomplish all you had in mind on your budget. You might not be able to afford a trip to Tibet, for instance, but there are Tibetan regions in Sichuan and Yunnan that provide comparable cultural and natural features at a lower cost and with less difficulty.

See organizing a tour of Tibet. Have patience! Skip the first flight or itinerary you find. Look around and ask people who have previously found deals for recommendations.

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2. Travel off-peak: China's Low Season Is Winter

To view China's attractions, think about visiting during off-peak hours. Usually, this requires winter travel. You may save a lot of money on flights and at many attractions and hotels. The benefit of traveling off-peak is that you will be able to escape the tourist hordes, making your trip more peaceful and stress-free.

Despite being very cold, China's winters are often the driest seasons. It will be enjoyable to save this way if you dislike heat or rain! Spend less and get the same China vacation! The peak season and the low season (November to March) are the two different travel seasons in China.

Depending on the length of the tour and the lodgings, you can save $100 to $250 during the off-peak period. You may save up to 60% on flights because most airlines offer low-season rates.

3. Take advantage of cheaper modes of transportation, such as trains and buses.

China's trains are a quarter of the cost of domestic flights, provided you don't mind traveling a little longer between locations. Middle-distance trips may be completed in about the same amount of time by the growing bullet train network as by a plane (including airport transportation, formalities, etc.), but at half the price or less.

Even cheaper are long-distance buses, although they are less pleasant, especially at night. Use public transportation instead of cabs when you're in the city. Information about buses (and Metro trains in some cities) may be found on our attraction pages. Exploring China on foot or by renting a bike is both cost-effective and healthful.

4. Visit Inexpensive Attractions, Restaurants, and Hotels

Life's greatest pleasures are free. Enjoying Hong Kong's beaches and rural parks, taking a stroll down the Bund, or watching tai chi in a park are some of the greatest ways to explore China that don't cost anything.

Even if the amenities may be subpar, some inexpensive attractions offer excellent value for the money and offer something unique that the most popular sites do not.

For ten yuan, for instance, you may get a wonderful view of the Yellow River, Buddhist culture, and Ming architecture at Xianglu Temple, which is close to Xi'an.

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5. Examine less expensive places

China offers a vast array of travel locations and activities. Without traveling to places like Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, you may still have an amazing trip to China and enjoy its rich culture.

Take risks! Avoiding the expensive cities can allow you to spend less money on days of exploration in China's lesser-known regions, even though the infrastructure and lodging quality may be worse.

6. Avoid Being Swindled When Purchasing Memorabilia, etc.

If you see anything that you like, always haggle (at long).Instead of the "tourist supermarkets" or hawkers at the attractions, street markets are typically the best places to get affordable local delicacies.

When you go to China, you may even think of purchasing your clothing and other necessities and bringing your savings back home! Imitation brand products can save a lot of money, but be sure to check them carefully for subpar quality.

7. Set Up Your Own Transportation

To lower the expense of the guide, several travel agencies (like us) provide you the choice to spend a portion of your vacation exploring yourself.

This works well for certain self-explanatory sites, but for others, a guide is a wonderful investment that saves time and significantly enhances the experience. The majority of our trips provide you with free evening time to explore your location at your own speed and price range.

Group discounts are available at most establishments and services. Although traveling in a group may reduce your options, the price of each item decreases dramatically.

Prices for tourists and scams

We have never encountered an act of violence or hostility of any kind. We have always found people endearing and, most importantly, honest beyond our wildest dreams! Indeed, there is no such thing as a tourist price in China, unlike in other Asian nations.

The cost is the same for everyone here! Naturally, certain popular tourist destinations are expensive, but this isn't only the case for us white tourists—all visitors, including Chinese ones, pay exorbitant prices! Additionally, there is never a need to haggle over the fixed fare on buses or trains!

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China's budget: items of expenditure

The findings show that food costs the most. However, we did not starve ourselves; rather, we enjoyed sampling as many foods as we could! Additionally, beverages are included in the meal budget. We won't disclose the percentage of the money that was spent on beer, but it's obvious that we know there is room for improvement.

Our "Extras" area serves as a sort of catch-all for everything that isn't strictly required or just the unexpected. For instance, some medications, postcards, razor blades for Ben, a tripod for the camera, a birthday present for our couchsurfer host, etc.

A few instances of how much it costs to live in China

• The cost per person for a night at a youth hostel's dorm: from 25 to 60 yuan, or 3 to 8 euros
• In a tiny guesthouse, a private double room costs between 80 and 120 yuan (about 10–13€) per room.
• The cost of a Starbucks coffee to-go is 27 yuan (3.2€).
• The cost of a coffee, excluding Starbucks, is around 15 yuan, or 1.5 euros.
• The cost of two meals purchased on the street ranges from 14 to 50 yuan (about 2 to 7 euros).
• The cost of two meals at a mid-range restaurant is 80 yuan (10€).
• A local beer costs 6 yuan (less than 1€) in the grocer. In a pub, a local beer costs 20 yuan (2.4€).
• Inns often charge 10 yuan per kilogram (sometimes 10 yuan per machine) or 1.2 euros for washing services.

China's transportation costs

We chose not to fly when we were in China, instead choosing to travel entirely by rail and road! Our total transportation budget for China was above 950 euros for each! Even if it could seem like a lot, considering the number of kilometers traveled, we can assure you that it won't be!

This is a breakdown of the costs we incurred in 2013 for far-distance transportation in China.

• Take a soft sleeper train from Beijing to Xi'an: 1200 kilometers at 440 yuan (54€)
• Hard Sleepers train from Xi'an to Chengdu costs 208 yuan (25€) for 842 kilometers.
• About 400 kilometers by bus from Chengdu to Kangding cost 122 yuan (15€).
• Bus fare: 120 yuan (15€) per person, 220 kilometers from Kangding to Tagong (return by private minibus).
• A bus costs 160 yuan (19€) to go 490 kilometers from Kangding to Xiangcheng.
• Bus fare: 90 yuan (11€) for 200 kilometers from Xiangcheng to Shangri-la
• The 590-kilometer bus ride from Lijiang to Kunming costs 160 yuan (19.5€).
• The round-trip bus fare from Kunming to Yuanyang is 300 yuan (36€).
• The train ride from Kunming to Guilin takes 22 hours and costs 318 yuan (37€) for 1434 kilometers.
• The round-trip bus fare from Guilin to Xingping is 37 yuan.
• The round-trip bus fare from Guilin to Longii's rice terraces is 100 yuan (12€).
• Train: 206 yuan (25€) for 980 miles from Guilin to Canton

conclusoin

With careful planning and an emphasis on frugal spending, it is quite possible to arrange a low-cost trip to China. You may enjoy China's rich culture, history, and scenic beauty without going over budget if you pick reasonably priced lodging, investigate public transit, and prioritize low-cost activities. If you do your homework, you may find amazing sights and experiences in cities like Beijing, Xi'an, and Guilin for little to no money. A well-thought-out schedule, flexible travel dates, and a readiness to fully engage with the local way of life can help you make priceless memories during your low-cost trip to China. Enjoy the trip and be careful on your travels!

FAQ's: How To Plan A Budget Trip To China

How much would a trip to China cost?

The departure location and season can have an impact on the price of round-trip tickets from the US to China. Prices often vary between $500 and $2000 per person. A further significant factor is accommodation.

How much money is needed to visit China?

How much would it cost to go from India to China? A journey from India to China would cost around Rs 95,000 per person. Depending on the cities visited and the length of the journey, it can vary.

How much should I save for a trip to China?

In conclusion, our ten-day vacation to China cost us about $3,000 USD (about $1,500 USD each person). That's almost $150 USD a day each person. This included the cost of the trip, airfare, lodging, meals, souvenirs, and a variety of activities. We didn't cut corners on anything on our vacation, to be honest.

How much is 1 meal in China?

Supper, lunch, or dinner: 20–80 yuan (3–12.5 USD) In China, rice and noodles are the primary basic foods that are frequently served during midday and evening meals. Additionally, you may order rice and meals, which range in price from 20 to 40 yuan each. Every person should have one dish.