How Much Does It Cost to Travel China? (2026)
I've helped over a thousand travellers plan their China trips, and the #1 question is always: how much money do I need?
Daily Budget Breakdown (per person)
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | ¥120–250 | ¥300–600 | Budget = hostel/dorm or budget chain hotel (如家, 汉庭) |
| Food | ¥60–100 | ¥150–300 | Street food ¥5–20, restaurant meal ¥30–80 |
| Transport (local) | ¥10–30 | ¥30–80 | Metro ¥3–10, taxi ¥15–50 per ride |
| Attractions | ¥0–60 | ¥60–200 | Parks free, museums ¥20–60, major sites ¥60–200 |
| Total (excl. transport to China) | ¥190–440 | ¥540–1180 | ≈ $25–60 USD / $35–80 SGD |
Sample Budgets for a 10-Day Trip
Budget Traveler: ~$350 USD
Hostels, street food, free attractions, local transport. Perfect for students and backpackers. Focus on affordable cities like Chengdu, Xi'an, and Guilin.
Mid-Range: ~$700–900 USD
Budget chain hotels, mix of street food and restaurants, paid attractions, occasional taxis. The sweet spot for most travellers.
Comfort: ~$1,200+ USD
3-4 star hotels, nice restaurants, private guides where worth it. Still cheaper than equivalent travel in Japan or Europe.
Cost of Key Attractions (2026)
Great Wall (Mutianyu): ¥45 entry + ¥120 cable car round trip
Forbidden City: ¥60 (peak season)
Terracotta Warriors: ¥120
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park: ¥225 (4-day pass)
Li River Cruise (Guilin → Yangshuo): ¥320–450
Giant Panda Base (Chengdu): ¥55
Potala Palace (Lhasa): ¥200 (peak season, book days ahead)
My honest take: I've sent hundreds of budget travellers across China. You can absolutely do a 2-week trip for under $600 USD including transport between cities. The key is picking the right cities and eating where locals eat — not where the guidebooks send you. Get in touch and I'll show you how.