How much does it cost to travel to Shanxi?
You should plan to spend around $64 (¥464) per day on your vacation in Shanxi. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $20 (¥145) on meals
- $19 (¥134) on local transportation
- $59 (¥424) on hotels
A one week trip to Shanxi for two people costs, on average, $898 (¥6,492). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Shanxi has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Shanxi expensive to visit?
Shanxi is a reasonably affordable place to visit. Located in China, which is a reasonably affordable country, visitors will appreciate the relatively low cost of this destination. It falls in the average range in the country for its prices. If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.
Within Asia, Shanxi is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to many other destinations.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Shanxi Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Shanxi?
The average Shanxi trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Shanxi travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
¥424
($59)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
¥134
($19)
|
|
Food 2
|
¥145
($20)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
¥145
($20)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
¥40 -
120
($6 - 17)
|
Accommodation Budget in Shanxi
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Shanxi is $29 (¥212). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Shanxi is $59 (¥424). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Shanxi? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Shanxi
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Shanxi is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $19 (¥134) per person, per day, on local transportation in Shanxi.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$19
¥134
How much does it cost to go to Shanxi? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Shanxi will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Shanxi
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Shanxi can vary, the average cost of food in Shanxi is $20 (¥145) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Shanxi should cost around $8.04 (¥58) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Shanxi is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$20
¥145
Entertainment Budget in Shanxi
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Shanxi typically cost an average of $20 (¥145) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$20
¥145
Alcohol Budget in Shanxi
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $11 (¥80) on alcoholic beverages in Shanxi per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$11
¥80
Water Budget in Shanxi
Calculated from travelers like you
-
On average, people spend $0.41 (¥2.97) on bottled water in Shanxi per day. The public water in Shanxi is considered safe to drink.
-
Water2
Bottled water for one day
$0.41
¥2.97
Shanxi On a Budget
Pingyao, China
Sometimes your vacation can be your link to ancient history. Any visit to the Shanxi Province of China lets you wander through this region's long and cultured history. This area was once the cradle of Chinese civilization – which becomes obvious by simply taking a look around the old temples, traditional Qing-dynasty architecture and the caves of Lijia-Shan. They are still inhabited to this day!
Sights
One of the firs things you'll want to do in Shanxi is explore the stunning Buddhist cave art of the Yungang Caves. Dating all the way back to the 5th century, this attraction is filled with 51,000 ancient statues and celestial beings. If you know your history, you'll see distinct influences from Indian, Persian and Greek designs as these cultures were known to travel the Silk Road. The Tuoba began carving these masterpieces in AD 460 and finished all 252 caves over the next 60 years. This makes this the oldest collection of Buddhist carvings in all of China.
You also won't want to miss the views available on the cliffs of Mian Shan. This mountain area is sprinkled with temples along the breathtaking cliffs, and scenic walks provide visitors with some of the most relaxing and stunning sights they'll have in all of China. The road around the mountain is a moderate hike with buses that take you to the main attractions like Dragon Head Temple and the Sky Ladder.
And, of course, you have to see a bit of the
Great Wall of China while here. The dilapidated sections begin to disappear over the top of Horsehead Hill at the Ba Taizi ruins. This area is all that remains of the Holy Mother Church built in 1876. The front gate and bell tower stand tall as the remains of this once great Gothic church. Getting to this remote area is a hike; so grab a few bottles of water.
If that little taste of the Great Wall wasn't enough, however, visit the Datong City Wall. This refurbished wall is still under construction in some parts. The city is rebuilding on top of the bricks and stumps the wall had been reduced to. This project is not without controversy, but once it lights up at night, you have to admit it's quite a sight to behold.
Many people also love to take a tour of the Qiao Family Courtyard. This 18-th century collection of courtyards is a true example of China's private residence halls. A maze of halls and doorways lead to more than 300 rooms. There are Qing-era furniture and clothes on display, but get here early. This site is very popular with tour groups.
And Pingyao is not to be missed. This old walled city is filled with picturesque towers and preserved buildings filled with shops and restaurants. You could wander for days with that historical feeling of awe inspired beauty in this town, which is also conveniently located on a main rail line.
While travelling in Shanxi, you'll have no problems finding plenty of Buddhist temples to admire. The Shuanglin Temple should be near the top of your list. Here you'll find intricately carved Tang, Song and Yuan painted statues. The current building dates back to 1571 with dozens of halls for you to wander and discover the most astonishing pieces of art. The Four Heavenly Kings date all the way back to the Tang dynasty while the Thousand Buddha Hall displays a Guanyin with 100 arms.
Food and Dining
There are traditional dishes of China you'll have to look for while you're travelling, but remember that Shanxi has its own cuisine. Setting itself apart from the tastes of Cantonese area, Beijing, Shanghai or Sichuan, Shanxi is known for its noodles of many shapes, doused with a variety of sauces.
Transportation
If you stay somewhere around the main provincial highway, you're pretty central to most sites. This highway runs through the capital city of Taiyuan, Pingyao and Linfen. So most major tourist attractions are accessible by car. Renting a car, however, is not so simple in Shanxi if you don't speak the language. Try to arrange a car hire through your travel agency or hotel for your convenience.
There is also a railway that runs along the same road and stops at the main cities. It is a good way to get from city to city. Make sure you check the schedules carefully because some cities don't have as many stops.
There is also a public bus system. There are local and long distance lines that tend to arrive to their destinations faster than the trains.
Related:
Looking for a
hostel in China?
Traveling alone to
Beijing or
Hong Kong or want to party in
Shanghai?
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.