Which place is cheaper, Dalian or Guilin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Guilin or Dalian?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Guilin and Dalian can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Guilin or Dalian?
Guilin
Guilin is a city in Southern China situated on the west bank of the Li River with Hunan to the north. Its name means, "Forest of Sweet Osmanthus," owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city. Products like tea, sugar, and wine, can be made from the tree and are found in many shops throughout Guilin. A popular tourist destination, the city is renowned for its scenery of karst topography with unique mountains jutting out of the urban landscape.
Dalian
Dalian, China is a very large peninsula city located in the southernmost part of the Liaoning Province in northeast China. The area has a wealth of history, with roots in Russian and Japanese rule, resulting in unique architecture and many universities that attract foreign students and teachers. Dalian is also known for their beautiful green spaces and relaxing beaches which juxtapose a lot of the more industrial cities found throughout other areas of northern China.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuilin $67Dalian $103
The average daily cost (per person) in Guilin is $67, while the average daily cost in Dalian is $103. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Guilin and Dalian in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuilin $34Dalian $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuilin $68Dalian $108
Compare Hotels in Guilin and Dalian
Looking for a hotel in Guilin or Dalian? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guilin $5.77Dalian $41
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Guilin
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Guilin are as follows:
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Taxi$2.76
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guilin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guilin:
- Private Transfer from Guilin to Fenghuang and stops at Longji rice terraces area: $267
- Private Transfer: Guilin to/from Zhangjiajie/Fenghuang: $256
- Private Transfer from Yangshuo/Guilin to Sanjiang and stops Longji Rice Terraces: $160
- Private Airport Transfer: Guilin Airport to Hotel in Yangshuo: $115
- Guilin Private Transfer in English-speaking Services: Airport to Hotel Roundtrip: $99
- 2-hours Yangshuo Yulong Bamboo Boat Tour with the Round-way Private Transfers: $83
- Haikou Meilan Airport Chauffeur Service, Haikou Airport Transfer, Pick up: $75
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Chauffeur Service , to Dongguan Transfer: $71
- Private Transfer from Guilin hotel to Xingping hotel: $64
- Guilin Transfer Services: Airport,train station & hotel: $57
- Four Lakes Night Cruise with Round-trip Transfer: $57
- Guilin liangjiang Airport Chauffeur Service,Guilin Airport Transfer: $57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dalian
Also for Dalian, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Dalian Private Arrival Transfer: Railway Station to City Hotel: $33
- Dalian Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station: $32
- Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport Chauffeur Service , to Dalian Transfer: $27
- Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport Chauffeur Service , to Dalian Transfer: $40
- Private Departure Transfer: City Hotel to Any Guiyang Railway Station: $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Guilin or Dalian?
Prices for flights to both Dalian and Guilin change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayGuilin $22Dalian $27
Typical Food Prices in Guilin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Guilin:
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Fresh Coconut Drink$1.38
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guilin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guilin.
- Half day Yangshuo Cooking lesson Small Group Tour: $62
- Full-Day Li-River with the 4 Star Luxury Boat VIP Room and Yangshuo Cooking Tour: $286
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guilin $28Dalian $4.79
Typical Entertainment Prices in Guilin
Here are a few typical costs in Guilin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entrance to the Caves$17
Tours and Activities in Guilin
Here are a few actual costs in Guilin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Day Self-Guided Guilin Tour with 4 Star Boat, Yangshuo and Longji Terraces : $200
- Full-Day Guilin Li-River Cruise with 4 star boat and Reed Flute Cave Tour: $262
- Full-Day Yangshuo Sunrise and Li-River cruise with the 4 Star Boat Private Tour: $272
- Longji Rice Terraces Day Tour with the Ping'an and Dazhai Village: $209
- 1 Day Guilin to Yangshuo with top scenery & culture private tour : $79
- 1 Day Private Tour: Li River Cruise from Guilin & Yangshuo Biking: $169
- 1 Day Relaxing Li River Cruise With The 4 Star Luxury Boat lower Deck Seating: $225
- 1 Day Yangshuo Countryside Cycling and Yulong bamboo boat Private Tour: $94
- 1 Day Yangshuo Countryside Hiking along the Yulong river Private Tour: $103
- 1 Day Yangshuo private Day Tour with the Scooter: $105
- 1 day Guilin Li River Cruise and Yangshuo Countryside with Scooter Private Tour: $204
- 1 day Li River cruise & Yangshuo countryside private day tour : $120
Tours and Activities in Dalian
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dalian.
- Dalian City Private Day Tour in Your Way: $159
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuilin $5.73Dalian $6.32
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guilin and Dalian, we can see that Dalian is more expensive. And not only is Guilin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Guilin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guilin and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Dalian would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dalian than you might in Guilin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guilin Expensive? and Is Dalian Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guilin or Dalian?
Dalian has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Guilin. When comparing the sizes of Guilin and Dalian, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Guilin or Dalian?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Guilin or Dalian in the Summer?
Both Dalian and Guilin during the summer are popular places to visit.
In July, Guilin is generally a little warmer than Dalian. Daily temperatures in Guilin average around 30°C (86°F), and Dalian fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
Dalian gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Guilin. Guilin usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Dalian. Guilin gets 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain, while Dalian receives 202 mm (8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGuilin 30°C (86°F)Dalian 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Guilin or Dalian in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Guilin and Dalian.
Guilin is much warmer than Dalian in the autumn. The daily temperature in Guilin averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and Dalian fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).
In October, Guilin usually receives more rain than Dalian. Guilin gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Dalian receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGuilin 23°C (73°F)Dalian 15°C (58°F)
Should I visit Guilin or Dalian in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Guilin as well as Dalian.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Dalian. In the winter, Guilin is much warmer than Dalian. Typically, the winter temperatures in Guilin in January average around 10°C (49°F), and Dalian averages at about -4°C (25°F).
Guilin usually gets more rain in January than Dalian. Guilin gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Dalian receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGuilin 10°C (49°F)Dalian -4°C (25°F)
Should I visit Guilin or Dalian in the Spring?
Both Dalian and Guilin are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In April, Guilin is generally much warmer than Dalian. Daily temperatures in Guilin average around 20°C (68°F), and Dalian fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
It's quite rainy in Guilin. In April, Guilin usually receives more rain than Dalian. Guilin gets 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain, while Dalian receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGuilin 20°C (68°F)Dalian 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Dalian and Guilin
| Guilin | Dalian | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (49°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | -4°C (25°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Mar | 15°C (59°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 4°C (38°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 20°C (68°F) | 263 mm (10.3 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 334 mm (13.2 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 320 mm (12.6 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 202 mm (8 in) |
| Aug | 30°C (86°F) | 168 mm (6.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (53°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
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.