China offers an incredible journey through 5,000 years of history, from the Great Wall and Forbidden City to ultramodern Shanghai skyscrapers. Experience diverse landscapes ranging from karst mountains in Guilin to the Tibetan Plateau, savor world-renowned cuisine, and witness the fusion of ancient traditions with state-of-the-art technology.
Local currency: Chinese Yuan (CNY/RMB) - symbol ¥; also called 'kuai' colloquially. 1 USD ≈ 7.2 CNY (2025).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in China.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- $10-18 dorm bed
- Budget
- $30-50 budget hotel
- Midrange
- $80-150 3-star hotel
- Luxury
- $200-600+ 5-star hotel
Food
- Street
- $1-4 street food and noodle shops
- Local
- $6-15 local restaurant meal
- Midrange
- $20-40 mid-range restaurant
- Fine
- $60-200+ fine dining
Transport
- Bus
- $0.30-0.60 city bus
- Taxi
- $5-15 typical city taxi ride
- Airport
- $15-35 airport transfer
- Daytrip
- $20-60 day trip by train or tour
Activities
- Museum
- $0-15 most national museums free
- Sites
- $5-20 major historical sites
- Tour
- $35-80 guided day tour
- Excursion
- $60-150 overnight excursion
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to China costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
$250-350/week
Midrange traveller
$700-1000/week
Luxury traveller
$2000-4000+/week
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Buy metro cards at any station for discounted rides - transport card saves 10-20% versus single journey tickets and works across metros, buses, and bike-share
Eat where locals eat: plastic-stool street noodle shops, dumpling restaurants, and canteens near universities serve filling meals for $2-5 per person
Visit top free museums (National Museum Beijing, Shanghai Museum, Shaanxi History Museum) which rival paid museums in collection quality - book online reservation slots
Travel by high-speed train second class between cities - Beijing-Shanghai G train costs $85-120 and takes 4.5 hours vs $200+ flights when including check-in time
Avoid tourist restaurants at major sight entrances - walk 10 minutes for local prices that can be 60-70% cheaper
Book accommodation in Chinese hotel chains (Jinjiang, 7Days, Home Inn) rather than international brands for equivalent cleanliness at 50-60% lower prices
Use Didi app for taxis instead of street cabs - prices are upfront, cheating impossible, and costs 15-20% less than metered taxis in most cities
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
National Museum of China (Beijing)
One of the world's largest museums with 1.35 million artifacts is completely free with advance online reservation. The Ancient China exhibition alone requires 3-4 hours.
Temple of Heaven Park (Beijing)
The park surrounding the iconic Temple of Heaven is free and popular with locals for morning tai chi, ballroom dancing, and kite flying. Entry to the temple buildings requires a $5 ticket.
The Bund Walking (Shanghai)
The iconic 1.5km waterfront promenade lined with Art Deco and Beaux-Arts buildings facing the Pudong skyline is completely free to walk. Best at sunset and after dark for the light show.
West Lake Promenade (Hangzhou)
UNESCO World Heritage site West Lake is free to walk around - a 15km promenade circles the lake past pagodas, willow trees, gardens, and tea-covered hillsides. Boat rides cost extra.
Shanghai Museum (Shanghai)
World-class museum in People's Square with outstanding collections of bronze, jade, ceramics, and Chinese paintings is free of charge daily.
Giant Panda Base Morning Viewing (Chengdu)
Early morning (7:30-10 AM) is the most active time for pandas before they nap - the $18 entry fee is arguably China's best wildlife bargain.
Xi'an City Wall Walk
The 13.7km Ming Dynasty city wall at Xi'an can be walked free from the outside looking up; the top level costs $5 but bicycle rental makes the circuit particularly rewarding.
Tiananmen Square (Beijing)
The world's largest public square and the symbolic heart of modern China is free to enter. The Mao Mausoleum is free to visit Tuesday-Sunday mornings.
Summer Palace Gardens (Beijing)
The outer garden of the Summer Palace can be accessed free; the inner areas with Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill require a $7 ticket.
Lijiang Old Town Strolling (Yunnan)
The UNESCO-listed Naxi old town cobblestone streets and canal system are free to walk; the maintenance fee is charged at town entry points but easily avoided by entering from secondary gates.