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

Should you visit Jinghong or Zhangjiajie?

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 Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie?

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.

Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie, China is a picturesque city located in the northwest of the Hunan Province. This ancient city, which dates all the way back to the Stone Age, is famous for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is also known for being a popular filming location and and overall great place to escape the bustling Chinese cities. Zhangjiajie has its own dialect, which is a branch of the Hunan and Southern dialects, so Mandarin does not always translate when trying to speak to locals here.

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, Zhangjiajie 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
    Zhangjiajie Prices
    China Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Jinghong $83
    Zhangjiajie $79

The average daily cost (per person) in Jinghong is $83, while the average daily cost in Zhangjiajie is $79. 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 Zhangjiajie in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Jinghong $20
    Zhangjiajie $30
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Jinghong $40
    Zhangjiajie $60
Compare Hotels in Jinghong and Zhangjiajie

Looking for a hotel in Jinghong or Zhangjiajie? 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 Zhangjiajie


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
    Zhangjiajie $15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangjiajie

Also for Zhangjiajie, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • 1 Day Fenghuang and Furong Town Day Tour with Hotel Transfers: $192
  • Entrance Tickets to Grand Canyon & Glass Bridge with Private Car Transfer From Zhangjiajie city hotel (Round Trip ): $127
  • Fox Fairy Show VIP Ticket with Private Transfer in ZJJ City: $52
  • Private Car Transfer From WLY to Glass Bridge (Round Trip ): $105
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie Train Station to Fenghuang hotel: $149
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Aizhai bridge area: $187
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Furong old town: $187
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Guilin or Yangshuo: $256
  • Private Transfer: Yichang hotel from/to Zhangjiajie Hotel: $322
  • Private Transfer: Zhangjiajie from/to Fenghuang: $168
  • Private Transfer: Zhangjiajie to/from Fenghuang : $149
  • Private transfer from Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) to Changsha area: $213

Is it cheaper to fly into Jinghong or Zhangjiajie?

Prices for flights to both Zhangjiajie 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
    Zhangjiajie $36

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zhangjiajie

For Zhangjiajie, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Full-Day Private Discovery Tour to Tianmen Mountain National Park with Dinner: $184

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Jinghong $9.31
    Zhangjiajie $23

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

Tours and Activities in Zhangjiajie

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Zhangjiajie.

  • Zhangjiajie Pandora Tour to Avatar Hallelujah Mountain: $7.00
  • Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Ticket Booking: $16
  • Baofeng Lake Admission Ticket in Zhangjiajie (with Boat Ride): $37
  • Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Entrance Ticket Transportation: $42
  • Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge and Grand Canyon Tickets Booking: $48
  • Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Private or Shared Day Tour: $50
  • Zhangjiajie Romance Show VIP ticket with round trip transport: $52
  • Charming Xiangxi Show VIP ticket with round trip transport: $52
  • Fox Fairy Show VIP ticket with round trip private transport: $52
  • Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Ticket Booking: $55
  • One Day Mini Group Tour to Glass Bridge and Tianmen Mountain: $63
  • Mini Group Tour: Zhangjiajie Forest Park & Avatar Mountains: $66

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Jinghong $5.41
    Zhangjiajie $16


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


Which is Bigger, Jinghong or Zhangjiajie?

Zhangjiajie has a larger population, and is about 39% larger than the population of Jinghong. When comparing the sizes of Jinghong and Zhangjiajie, 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.