A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Longsheng vs. Katoomba for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Longsheng or Katoomba?

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 Katoomba. 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 Katoomba?

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.

Katoomba

Designated an UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000, the Blue Mountains are located just west of Sydney in the highlands of New South Wales, Australia.

This area can be generally expensive, but is on par with other destinations in Australia and around Sydney. Plenty of luxury places can be found here that cost more than average, but plenty of cheaper places to stay can be found here, too. Expect to pay for various activities such as tours and entrance fees, too.

The landscape is sprawling with majestic scenery over a rugged terrain of steep cliffs, forests, waterfalls, and villages. Whether you come to hike, climb, bike, or drive to the scenic viewpoints, a curtain of tranquility falls upon the mountains in a blue haze from which they get their name.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Longsheng and Katoomba, we can see that Katoomba is more expensive. And not only is Longsheng much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Longsheng is in Asia and Katoomba is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Longsheng would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Longsheng 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 Katoomba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Katoomba than you might in Longsheng.

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

When is the best time to visit Longsheng or Katoomba?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Katoomba is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Longsheng has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Longsheng or Katoomba in the Summer?

Both Katoomba and Longsheng during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Katoomba this time of year.

In July, Longsheng is generally a little warmer than Katoombain January. Daily temperatures in Longsheng average around 30°C (86°F), and Katoomba fluctuates around 24°C (74°F).

Katoomba 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 Katoombain January. Longsheng gets 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Longsheng or Katoomba in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Longsheng and Katoomba. Also, many travelers come to Katoomba for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

Longsheng is a little warmer than Katoomba in the autumn. The daily temperature in Longsheng averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and Katoomba fluctuates around 18°C (65°F)in April.

In October, Longsheng usually receives more rain than Katoombain April. Longsheng gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Longsheng or Katoomba in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Longsheng as well as Katoomba. Also, many visitors come to Katoomba in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Longsheng is around the same temperature as Katoomba. Typically, the winter temperatures in Longsheng in January average around 10°C (49°F), and Katoomba averages at about 11°C (51°F)in July.

Longsheng usually gets more rain in January than Katoombain July. Longsheng gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Longsheng or Katoomba in the Spring?

Both Katoomba and Longsheng are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Katoomba for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Longsheng is generally a little warmer than Katoombain October. Daily temperatures in Longsheng average around 20°C (68°F), and Katoomba fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

It's quite rainy in Longsheng. In April, Longsheng usually receives more rain than Katoombain October. Longsheng gets 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Katoomba and Longsheng