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

Should you visit Jinghong or Pingyao?

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 Pingyao 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 Pingyao?

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.

Pingyao

Pingyao is a small city in the Shanxi Province of China, dating back over 2700 years. The city is most famous for their old town, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old town is one of the best preserved ancient walled cities in the world dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

The climate in Pingyao is influenced by monsoons, and therefore gets hot and humid summers and chillier springs. Autumn is a great time to visit as temperatures are fairly mild-in the 50-60's Fahrenheit- and you can avoid the heavy rains of summer. Winter is also a pleasant time to visit, especially since temperatures tend not to dip below 30 and there is not much snow or bad weather.

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, Pingyao or Jinghong?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Jinghong Prices
    China Prices
    Pingyao Prices
    China Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Jinghong $83
    Pingyao $69

The average daily cost (per person) in Jinghong is $83, while the average daily cost in Pingyao is $69. 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 Pingyao in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Jinghong $20
    Pingyao $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Jinghong $40
    Pingyao $46
Compare Hotels in Jinghong and Pingyao

Looking for a hotel in Jinghong or Pingyao? 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 Pingyao


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
    Pingyao $13

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pingyao

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Pingyao:


  • Taxi to Train Station
    $1.40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pingyao

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pingyao:

  • Private Round-Trip Transfer Service to Wutaishan from Pingyao: $190
  • Private Transfer Servcie to Mianshan (Mian Mountain) from Pingyao: $60
  • Privater Transfer from Datong to Pingyao with driver: $115

Is it cheaper to fly into Jinghong or Pingyao?

Prices for flights to both Pingyao 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 $48
    Pingyao $34

Typical Food Prices in Pingyao

Some typical examples of dining costs in Pingyao are as follows:


  • Casual Lunch (for 2)
    $5.05
  • Mango Juice
    $0.70

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Jinghong $9.31
    Pingyao $19

Tours and Activities in Jinghong

Here are a few actual costs in Jinghong for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Best of Dai Villages | 20km E-Bike Tour: $41

Typical Entertainment Prices in Pingyao

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Pingyao are as follows:


  • All Day Bike Rental (for 2)
    $2.80
  • Temple Entrance Fee (for 2)
    $7.01
  • Bike Parking Fee (for 2)
    $0.56

Tours and Activities in Pingyao

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pingyao are as follows:

  • Shuanglin Temple Tour or Entry Ticket Only Option: $18
  • Half-Day Private Walking Tour of Pingyao Ancient City: $62
  • All Inclusive Pingyao Private Tour to Qiao Family Compound and Shuanglin Temple: $142
  • Pingyao Ancient City Full-Day Walking Tour: $145
  • Pingyao Day Tour: Wang Family Mansion and Zhangbi Ancient Castle: $156
  • Private Tour: Wang's Family Compound and Shuanglin Temple From Pingyao: $158
  • Private Day Tour in Pingyao Including Zhenguo and Shuanglin Temple: $164
  • 1-Day Pingyao Ancient Town Sightseeing Walking Tour: $170
  • One Day Tour Exploration of Pingyao Old Town and Wang Family Mansion: $183
  • Pingyao in One Day: Including City Highlights and Shuanglin Temple Private Tour : $204
  • Private Day Tour: Pingyao Highlights of Old Town and City Wall: $205
  • 1-Day Pingyao tour to Wang Family's Compound and Zhangbi Ancient Fortress : $206

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Jinghong $5.41
    Pingyao $14


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

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


Which is Bigger, Jinghong or Pingyao?

Jinghong has a larger population, and is about 48% larger than the population of Pingyao. When comparing the sizes of Jinghong and Pingyao, 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.