Should you visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Hangzhou?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Hangzhou. 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. So, let's dig into it.
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.
Hangzhou
Hangzhou is a city in Eastern China, about an hour by train from Shanghai, renowned for its historic relics and natural beauty. Each year it attracts more than 20 million tourists who come to see what the city has to offer. Set amongst the natural scenery of lakes and mountains, Hangzhou is modern city that coexists with the old. Historic pagodas and cultural sites built around the central lake sit like they belong amidst the skyscrapers and bustling markets of today.
Which city is cheaper, Hangzhou or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is $52, while the average daily cost in Hangzhou is $34. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Hangzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $44 for a double occupancy room in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain).
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $30 for a double occupancy room in Hangzhou.
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Accommodation
Hotel or hostel for one person
Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $22
Hangzhou $15
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Accommodation
Typical double-occupancy room
Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)
$44
Hangzhou
$30
Food
Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) food costs typically run travelers around $17 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
While meal prices in Hangzhou can vary, the average travelers spends about $5.50 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Hangzhou should cost around $2.20 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Hangzhou is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
Typical Food prices in Hangzhou
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hangzhou:
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Breakfast Pastries
$2.67
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Pizza Hut Lunch
$12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hangzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hangzhou.
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Hangzhou Night Tour: Dinner and Romance of the Song Dynasty Show:
$52
-
All Inclusive Night Tour with Impression West Lake Show VIP Ticket and Dinner:
$117
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Eat Like A Local - Hangzhou Night Food Tour:
$117
-
VIP Seated Enduring Memories of Hangzhou Show Tour with Authentic Dinner:
$127
-
Hangzhou Cooking Class and Local Market Tour:
$148
-
Private Amazing Hangzhou Airport Layover Tour with Lunch or Dinner Option:
$161
-
Half Day Westlake Highlights Tour with Optional Lunch or Dinner:
$163
-
Wuzhen Ancient Water Town Private Night Tour from Hangzhou with Dinner Option:
$185
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Enduring Memories of Hangzhou West Lake Show VIP Ticket with Authentic Dinner:
$191
-
Xitang Water Town Private Night Tour from Hangzhou with Dinner:
$191
-
Hangzhou Night Tour With Food Street For Dinner and Beer Tasting:
$196
-
Hangzhou Private Tour to Wuzhen Water Town with Lunch or Dinner:
$213
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $9.09 per day to get around in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain).
The average price of local transportation around Hangzhou is $0.39 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
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Local Transportation
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $9.09
Hangzhou $0.39
Typical Local Transportation prices in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain):
Typical Local Transportation prices in Hangzhou
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Hangzhou:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hangzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hangzhou:
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Private Transfer between Hangzhou Songcheng Park and City Area:
$22
-
Private Airport Transfer: from Hangzhou to Hangzhou Xiaoshan Int. Airport (HGH):
$24
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Private Airport Transfer: Hangzhou Xiaoshan Int. Airport (HGH) to Hangzhou:
$24
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Private Transfer to Impression West Lake show in Hangzhou:
$25
-
Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Area:
$28
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Hangzhou Xiaoshan Int'l Airport Private Departure Transfer from City Area:
$28
-
Hangzhou Railway Station Private Departure Transfer from City Area:
$28
-
Hangzhou Private Transfer: City Hotels to Railway Station:
$28
-
Private airport transfer to or from Hangzhou International Airport Max 5:
$29
-
Hangzhou Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station:
$32
-
Hangzhou Downtown Transfer To Hangzhou East Railway Station:
$32
-
Hangzhou Downtown transfer to Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport:
$35
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $24 per person, per day in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
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Entertainment
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $24
Hangzhou
-
Typical Entertainment prices in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) are as follows:
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Two Entrance Tickets
$72
-
Two Cable Car Passes
$25
Tours and Activities in Hangzhou
Here are a few actual costs in Hangzhou for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Hangzhou Lingyin Temple Tour:
$28
-
Hangzhou Private Half–Day Tea and Gardens Tour:
$43
-
Full-Day Culture Tour / Leifeng Pagoda:
$47
-
Hangzhou Longjing Tea Plantation Culture Experience Tour:
$50
-
Hangzhou Tea Culture Experience Tour:
$53
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Best Price: Impression West Lake Show Ticket:
$58
-
Hangzhou Tea Culture Day Tour:
$59
-
Songcheng Park & Lengend of Song Dynasty Show Ticket:
$60
-
Hangzhou City Tour: West Lake Cruise and Lingyin Temple:
$62
-
Skip the Line: Impression West Lake Show Ticket:
$63
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Skip the Line: Impression West Lake VIP Seat Ticket:
$63
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The most beautiful temple in China--Yongfu Temple tour with vegetarian lunch:
$64
Alcohol
The average person spends about $14 on alcoholic beverages in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Hangzhou, we can see that Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is more expensive. And not only is Hangzhou much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hangzhou would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hangzhou 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 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) than you might in Hangzhou.
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