Which place is cheaper, Harbin or Hongcun?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hongcun or Harbin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Hongcun and Harbin can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Hongcun or Harbin?
Hongcun
When you picture ancient China, you likely picture old cobblestone streets, white homes with pointed black roofs and a slight air of mysticism in the surroundings. This is Hongcun.
The backdrop for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is not usually on the top of many traveler's lists. This isn't a bustling tourist town with guides offering to show you the sights or carts peddling the latest tacky souvenir. It's a quiet village where you'll see the real Chinese culture. The homes along the complex water canals air their fish in their windows to preserve it for their family dinners. There is no bowing to tourism here.
Harbin
Harbin, China is the northernmost major city in the country, with a population of over 10 million. Harbin was founded in 1897 by Russia, which has resulted in a lot of Russian influence throughout the city and many Russian citizens. The city is most famous for their annual International Snow and Ice Festival, a two-month-long festival running from January through February of each year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, and The Best Cultural Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHongcun $52Harbin $54
The average daily cost (per person) in Hongcun is $52, while the average daily cost in Harbin is $54. 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 Hongcun and Harbin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHongcun $23Harbin $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHongcun $46Harbin $42
Compare Hotels in Hongcun and Harbin
Looking for a hotel in Hongcun or Harbin? 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.Hongcun $12Harbin $1.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Harbin
Also for Harbin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Any Harbin Railway Station : $25
- Harbin Airport Chauffeur Service, Harbin Airport Transfer: $27
- Private Arrival Transfer:Any Harbin Railway Station to City Hotel: $29
- Harbin Airport (HRB) : Private Arrival Transfer with Meet & Greet Service: $32
- Private Arrival Transfer from Harbin West Railway Station to Harbin City Hotel: $65
- Private HRB Airport Departure Transfer from Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Private HRB Airport Arrival Transfer to Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Harbin Taiping Airport Chauffeur Service , Harbin Airport Transfer,Pick up: $78
- Shared Night Transfer Service to Harbin Ice and Snow World: $85
- Harbin Private Transfer from Harbin Airport (HRB) to central Harbin: $114
- Harbin City Car Transfer Service with Driver: $168
- Private Full Day Transfer Service to Harbin Top Winter Attractions: $168
Is it cheaper to fly into Hongcun or Harbin?
Prices for flights to both Harbin and Hongcun 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 dayHongcun $19Harbin $14
Typical Food Prices in Hongcun
Some typical examples of dining costs in Hongcun are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.84
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Breakfast of Dumplings$2.07
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Harbin
For Harbin, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Harbin Dumpling Cooking Class: $154
- 4-Hour Private Night Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World with Dinner Options: $261
- Hot Spring Experience with Hot Pot Dinner in Harbin: $300
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hongcun $17Harbin $53
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hongcun
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Hongcun are as follows:
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Two Entrance Tickets$29
Tours and Activities in Harbin
For Harbin, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Harbin Ice Lantern Show at Zhaolin Park Night Tour with Zhongyang Pedestrian Street: $104
- 1-Day Harbin Private Tour: $130
- 4-Hour Private Tour of the Largest Indoor Ice and Snow Paradise: $136
- Private Half Day City Tour including Russian Town and Harbin Ropeway Ride: $150
- Private Harbin City Day Tour of Russian Historical Sites and Culture: $157
- Small Group Night Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World: $198
- Harbin City Private Day Tour in Your Way in Winter Season: $200
- Private Harbin Ice Festival Night Tour: $209
- Private Customized Harbin City Day Tour by Public Transportation: $220
- Songhua River Boat Tour and Food Experience in Harbin: $230
- Full Day Private Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow Festival: $250
- Small-Group Tour in Summer: Harbin Sun Island, Indoor Ice and Snow World: $261
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHongcun $14Harbin $7.85
When comparing the travel costs between Hongcun and Harbin, we can see that Harbin is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hongcun Expensive? and Is Harbin Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Hongcun or Harbin?
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 Hongcun or Harbin in the Summer?
Both Harbin and Hongcun during the summer are popular places to visit.
In July, Hongcun is generally a little warmer than Harbin. Daily temperatures in Hongcun average around 29°C (85°F), and Harbin fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
Harbin gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Hongcun. Hongcun usually gets more rain in July than Harbin. Hongcun gets 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 153 mm (6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHongcun 29°C (85°F)Harbin 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Hongcun or Harbin in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hongcun and Harbin.
Hongcun is much warmer than Harbin in the autumn. The daily temperature in Hongcun averages around 19°C (65°F) in October, and Harbin fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
In October, Hongcun usually receives more rain than Harbin. Hongcun gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHongcun 19°C (65°F)Harbin 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Hongcun or Harbin in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Hongcun as well as Harbin.
It's quite cold in Harbin in the winter. The weather in Hongcun can be very cold. In the winter, Hongcun is much warmer than Harbin. Typically, the winter temperatures in Hongcun in January average around 4°C (40°F), and Harbin averages at about -18°C (-0°F).
Hongcun usually gets more rain in January than Harbin. Hongcun gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHongcun 4°C (40°F)Harbin -18°C (-0°F)
Should I visit Hongcun or Harbin in the Spring?
Both Harbin and Hongcun are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In April, Hongcun is generally much warmer than Harbin. Daily temperatures in Hongcun average around 17°C (62°F), and Harbin fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
It's quite rainy in Hongcun. In April, Hongcun usually receives more rain than Harbin. Hongcun gets 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 21 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHongcun 17°C (62°F)Harbin 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Harbin and Hongcun
| Hongcun | Harbin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (40°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | -18°C (-0°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | -14°C (7°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 10°C (51°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) | -3°C (26°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (62°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| May | 22°C (71°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (78°F) | 235 mm (9.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 185 mm (7.3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 153 mm (6 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 121 mm (4.7 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (65°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | -14°C (7°F) | 5 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.