A Travel Price Comparison for China Jinghong vs. Guilin for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Jinghong or Guilin?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Jinghong and Guilin 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: Jinghong or Guilin?

Jinghong

Located in the southernmost part of the Yunnan Province, Jinghong is a city that attracts visitors each year with its rich culture and folklore, Buddhist temples, and tropical rainforest scenery of palms and mango trees amongst others. It is also an area popular with backpackers as well as a waypoint for travelers passing between China and Laos.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Shanghai, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing.


Which place is cheaper, Guilin or Jinghong?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Jinghong is $62, while the average daily cost in Guilin is $67. 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 Jinghong and Guilin in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Jinghong $20
    Guilin $34
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Jinghong $40
    Guilin $68
Compare Hotels in Jinghong and Guilin

Looking for a hotel in Jinghong or Guilin? 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 Jinghong


Hotels in Guilin


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.
    Jinghong $25
    Guilin $5.77

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Guilin

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Guilin are as follows:


  • Taxi
    $2.76

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guilin

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guilin:

  • 2-hours Yangshuo Yulong Bamboo Boat Tour with the Round-way Private Transfers: $83
  • Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Chauffeur Service , to Dongguan Transfer: $71
  • Guilin Private Transfer in English-speaking Services: Airport to Hotel Roundtrip: $99
  • Guilin Railway stations Transfer Service: $37
  • Guilin Transfer Services: Airport,train station & hotel: $57
  • Guilin liangjiang Airport Chauffeur Service,Guilin Airport Transfer: $57
  • Four Lakes Night Cruise with Round-trip Transfer: $57
  • Haikou Meilan Airport Chauffeur Service, Haikou Airport Transfer, Pick up: $75
  • Haikou Meilan International Airport Chauffeur Service ,Haikou Airport Transfer: $56
  • Haikou Meilan International Airport Chauffeur Service, Haikou Airport Transfer: $50
  • One Way Transfer Service between Guilin city and airport: $43
  • Private Airport Transfer: Guilin Airport to Hotel in Yangshuo: $115

Is it cheaper to fly into Jinghong or Guilin?

Prices for flights to both Guilin and Jinghong 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
    Jinghong $27
    Guilin $22

Typical Food Prices in Guilin

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Guilin:


  • 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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Jinghong $9.18
    Guilin $28

Typical Entertainment Prices in Guilin

Here are a few typical costs in Guilin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • 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:

  • Guilin Yangshuo & Longji Rice Terrace 4 days tour: $21
  • 1-DAY Private Longji Rice Terraces and Minority Villages Tour: $45
  • Guilin Four lakes night cruise with the English speaking driver from Guilin hotel: $47
  • Guilin City Center Walking Group Tour at Night for Three Hours: $50
  • Half-Day Self-Guided Yangshuo Xianggong Hill Sunrise Tour: $52
  • Li River Cruise Ticket Booking (E-ticket & Seat Reservation): $54
  • Private Full-Day City Tour with Fubo Hill: $59
  • Full-Day Guilin Essence and Lifestyle Walking Tour: $69
  • Private Bike Tour: Yangshuo Countryside: $72
  • Kayaking Adventure with Local Guide: $72
  • Yangshuo Old Town and Li River Cruise from Guilin: $72
  • One Day Private Longshen Rice Terraces Tour Including Lunch: $73

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Jinghong $5.33
    Guilin $5.73


When comparing the travel costs between Jinghong and Guilin, we can see that Guilin 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 Jinghong Expensive? and Is Guilin Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Jinghong or Guilin?

Guilin has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Jinghong. When comparing the sizes of Jinghong and Guilin, 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.