A Travel Price Comparison for China Hunan vs. Henan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Hunan or Henan?

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 Hunan and Henan. 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: Hunan or Henan?

Hunan

The Hunan Province, China is a large, mountainous, land locked province on the eastern side of the country. Hunan is most famous for being the Province where Mao Zedong was born in 1893 and for their incredibly beautiful Wulingyuan Scenic Area. There are many different dialects, though the most common is the Changsha dialect that stretches from the cities of Chnagsha to Xiangtan.

Henan

Amidst verdant mountainscapes and ancient pagoda temples, a rich heritage and profound history hangs an enchanting air of the landscape. The Henan Province is a central province to the nation. Often referred to as Zhongyuan or Zhongzhou, the name of the province means "central plain land" or "midland." The Henan Province was the bud of the nation that grew into a beautiful blossom that became China today. Over 3,000 years ago, the Henan Province was where the Chinese people laid down their civilization and remained the central hub of China's economy, politics, and culture for over 1,000 years. Many of the ruins of varying dynasties have been maintained throughout the centuries, such as the Yin, Shaolin Temple, and four of the eight great ancient capitals of the nation, Luoyang, Anyang, Kaifeng, and Zhengzhou. The Henan Province remained important geographically throughout the centuries because of its proximity to the Yellow River. Even the literal name of the province, pronounced Huang He, means "south of the Yellow River." Some of the neighboring provinces include Shaanxi, Shanxi, Hebei, Shandong, Anhui, and Hubei. With a population of 94 million, Henan is China's third most populated province. While considered one of the less developed provinces of China, the Henan Province is still a beautiful landscape with a historically significant background. If you are a lover of history, beauty, or culture, the "Chinese North Plain" is the place to be!

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, and The Best Historical Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Henan or Hunan?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Hunan is $62, while the average daily cost in Henan is $85. 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 Hunan and Henan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hunan $28
    Henan $34
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hunan $56
    Henan $68
Compare Hotels in Hunan and Henan

Looking for a hotel in Hunan or Henan? 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.

Hotels in Hunan


Hotels in Henan


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Hunan $14
    Henan $47

Is it cheaper to fly into Hunan or Henan?

Prices for flights to both Henan and Hunan 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Hunan $22
    Henan $25

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hunan $21
    Henan $8.24

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Hunan $15
    Henan $6.02


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hunan and Henan, we can see that Henan is more expensive. And not only is Hunan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hunan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hunan 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 Henan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Henan than you might in Hunan.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hunan Expensive? and Is Henan Expensive?.