Trip Budget: What Does It Cost?
Surprisingly affordable compared to Europe or Japan. Full per-person breakdown.
All prices in Chinese Yuan (RMB). 1 USD \u2248 7.2 RMB, 1 EUR \u2248 7.9 RMB as of 2026. Budget tier assumes hostels/budget hotels + street food; comfortable tier assumes 3-4 star hotels + mid-range restaurants.
7-Day Beijing-Xi''an (per person, excl. flights)
| Category | Budget | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|
| Hotels 6 nights | 1,200-1,800 | 2,400-3,600 |
| Train Beijing-Xi''an | 515 | 825 |
| City transport | 200-300 | 400-500 |
| Meals 7 days | 500-700 | 1,000-1,400 |
| Hanfu rental x2 | 300-500 | 600-800 |
| Tang suit | 200-300 | 500-800 |
| Attractions | 300-400 | 500-700 |
| Total | 3,400-4,900 | 7,200-10,300 |
14-Day Multi-City (Shanghai-Suzhou-Hangzhou-Nanjing-Xi''an-Chengdu)
Budget: 8,400-9,900 RMB (~1,160-1,370 USD). Comfortable: 15,400-18,300 RMB (~2,130-2,530 USD). Includes 5 high-speed train rides, 13 nights hotels, full Hanfu/qipao/tang suit experiences in each city.
Cost Comparison: China vs Other Destinations
| Item | China (RMB) | Japan (JPY) | Korea (KRW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimono/Hanfu rental | 100-300 RMB | 3,000-8,000 JPY (~150-390 RMB) | 15,000-50,000 KRW (~80-270 RMB) |
| Mid-range hotel | 300-600 RMB | 8,000-15,000 JPY (~390-730 RMB) | 70,000-120,000 KRW (~380-650 RMB) |
| Meal for two | 60-150 RMB | 2,000-5,000 JPY (~100-240 RMB) | 25,000-50,000 KRW (~135-270 RMB) |
| High-speed train (500km) | 250-350 RMB | 8,000-12,000 JPY (~390-580 RMB) | 50,000-70,000 KRW (~270-380 RMB) |
China delivers roughly 40-50% lower costs than equivalent cultural experiences in Japan or South Korea — especially for multi-city train travel and traditional clothing rentals.
Hidden Costs to Budget For
- Deposits: Hanfu rental shops typically require 200-500 RMB deposit, refunded upon return. Hotels may place a 500-1000 RMB hold on your card.
- Attraction surcharges: Xi''an city wall entry (54 RMB) is separate from Hanfu rental. Some gardens charge 10-30 RMB extra for "professional photography" if you bring a DSLR.
- Photo retouching: Many Hanfu photographers deliver unedited photos in the base package. Retouching (精修) costs 50-100 RMB per photo for professional editing.
- SIM card / eSIM: 7-day tourist SIM ~80-120 RMB. eSIM plans (Airalo, Nomad) ~50-80 RMB for 7 days. Essential for using Alipay and navigation.
- Tipping: Not expected anywhere in China. No service charges, no tipping culture. The price you see is the price you pay.
How to Save Money
- Book trains early: High-speed tickets go on sale 15 days ahead and sell out for popular routes. Book via Trip.com or the official 12306.cn (Chinese-only, but Trip.com mirrors it in English).
- Use Meituan or Xiaohongshu for Hanfu bookings: These Chinese apps typically offer 20-30% off walk-in rental prices. Search "\u6c49\u670d\u4f53\u9a8c" + city name and book through the app.
- Stay near metro stations: Hotels in Beijing and Shanghai one or two metro stops from tourist centers are often 50% cheaper than those right at the landmarks. The metro system is excellent.
- Eat local: A filling bowl of Lanzhou lamian (hand-pulled noodles) costs 15-25 RMB. Street breakfast (jianbing crepes, baozi) runs 5-15 RMB. Skip hotel breakfasts.
- Group tickets: If traveling with 3+ people, many Hanfu shops offer group discounts. Similarly, some museums have group rates for 5+ visitors.
Payment Tips
China is nearly cashless. Download Alipay or WeChat Pay before your trip and link an international credit card — both now support foreign cards for tourist accounts. Carry 500-1000 RMB in cash as backup for small street vendors. ATMs accepting foreign cards are widely available at airports and major bank branches (ICBC, Bank of China).
Tip: Set up Alipay''s TourPass or TourCard feature — it creates a prepaid digital wallet you can top up with your home bank card, avoiding per-transaction foreign exchange fees.
Last verified: August 3, 2026 · Our editorial team reviews and updates all guides regularly to keep pricing, hours, and travel advice current.