A Travel Price Comparison for China Longsheng vs. Hongcun for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Longsheng or Hongcun?

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 Longsheng and Hongcun. 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: Longsheng or Hongcun?

Longsheng

A county of the city, Guilin, Longsheng is a hub of several ethnic cultures that thrive on farming and tourism. It is located about 50 or so miles north of the Guilin city center. The region is perhaps most known for the Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces located in Heping Township. These, along with many other natural features like hot springs, waterfalls, and meadows are a few of the main attractions that draw visitors to Longsheng.

Hongcun

When you picture ancient China, you likely picture old cobblestone streets, white homes with pointed black roofs and a slight air of mysticism in the surroundings. This is Hongcun.

The backdrop for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is not usually on the top of many traveler's lists. This isn't a bustling tourist town with guides offering to show you the sights or carts peddling the latest tacky souvenir. It's a quiet village where you'll see the real Chinese culture. The homes along the complex water canals air their fish in their windows to preserve it for their family dinners. There is no bowing to tourism here.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, and The Best Cultural Tours in China.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Longsheng or Hongcun?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Longsheng or Hongcun in the Summer?

Both Hongcun and Longsheng during the summer are popular places to visit.

In the summer, Longsheng is around the same temperature as Hongcun. Typically, the summer temperatures in Longsheng in July average around 30°C (86°F), and Hongcun averages at about 29°C (85°F).

Hongcun gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Longsheng. Longsheng usually gets more rain in July than Hongcun. Longsheng gets 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Longsheng or Hongcun in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Longsheng and Hongcun.

In October, Longsheng is generally a little warmer than Hongcun. Daily temperatures in Longsheng average around 23°C (73°F), and Hongcun fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).

In October, Longsheng usually receives more rain than Hongcun. Longsheng gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Longsheng or Hongcun in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Longsheng as well as Hongcun.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Hongcun. Longsheng is much warmer than Hongcun in the winter. The daily temperature in Longsheng averages around 10°C (49°F) in January, and Hongcun fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).

Longsheng usually gets more rain in January than Hongcun. Longsheng gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Longsheng or Hongcun in the Spring?

Both Hongcun and Longsheng are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

In the spring, Longsheng is a little warmer than Hongcun. Typically, the spring temperatures in Longsheng in April average around 20°C (68°F), and Hongcun averages at about 17°C (62°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Hongcun. It's quite rainy in Longsheng. In April, Longsheng usually receives more rain than Hongcun. Longsheng gets 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Hongcun and Longsheng