A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) vs. Airlie Beach for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Airlie Beach?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Airlie Beach. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Airlie Beach?

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)

In the heart of the Anhui Province of China is the stunning Mount Huangshan, or Yellow Mountain. This UNESCO World Heritage Site draws in visitors from around the world to take in the stunning views and conquer a new challenge.

Mount Huangshan is one of the most popular destinations in China. Because of this, most of the towns and regions around it also use the name Huangshan. Even the closest town, Tunxi, has begun going by Huangshan City. Keep this in mind as it could potentially cause some confusion in transit.

The whole of Huangshan has 36 separate peaks rising approximately 1,800 meters into the air. It is often covered in a spiritual-feeling mist that makes the peaks appear to live in the clouds. It has inspired artists for centuries, and is often thought to be the model for the typical mountain ranges seen in ancient Chinese paintings.

Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach, in Queensland, offers the closest port to the Whitsunday Islands on the Great Barrier Reef. It's a small town of only 25,000 and has grown out of the area's popularity as a tourist destination. It's main industry remains tourism and, as such, there are many venues set up to accommodate travelers hoping to make trips to the Whitsunday Islands and the Outer Great Barrier Reef. The town has the feel of a vacation destination. While in the past Airlie Beach appealed specifically to the backpacker crowd, it's popularity has spread and now there are facilities catering to all travel types. The area has become more commercialized and there are plenty of large resorts to choose from. Even so, you'll still find no shortage of affordable accommodation around town.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Australia, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Airlie Beach, we can see that Airlie Beach is more expensive. And not only is Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is in Asia and Airlie Beach is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 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 Airlie Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Airlie Beach than you might in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain).

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) Expensive? and Is Airlie Beach Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Airlie Beach?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Airlie Beach is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Airlie Beach in the Summer?

Both Airlie Beach and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Airlie Beach this time of year.

In the summer, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is a little warmer than Airlie Beach. Typically, the summer temperatures in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Airlie Beach averages at about 26°C (79°F)in January.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Airlie Beach. It's quite rainy in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). In July, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) usually receives less rain than Airlie Beachin January. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Airlie Beach in the Autumn?

Both Airlie Beach and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) during the autumn are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Airlie Beach for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is generally cooler than Airlie Beachin April. Daily temperatures in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) average around 19°C (65°F), and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

Airlie Beach gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) usually gets less rain in October than Airlie Beachin April. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Airlie Beach in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Airlie Beach. Also, many visitors come to Airlie Beach in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is much colder than Airlie Beach in the winter. The daily temperature in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) averages around 4°C (40°F) in January, and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 16°C (62°F)in July.

In January, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) usually receives around the same amount of rain as Airlie Beachin July. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Airlie Beach in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) as well as Airlie Beach. Also, most visitors come to Airlie Beach for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.

In the spring, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is cooler than Airlie Beach. Typically, the spring temperatures in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in April average around 17°C (62°F), and Airlie Beach averages at about 23°C (73°F)in October.

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) receives a lot of rain in the spring. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) usually gets more rain in April than Airlie Beachin October. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Airlie Beach and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)