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

Should you visit Longsheng or Nara?

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 Nara. 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 Nara?

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.

Nara

As Japan's first capital, Nara offers a world of tradition and culture second only to the city of Kyoto. It is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which are largely concentrated in the area of Nara Park. Here, it is also common to see many deer wandering freely amongst the temples and shrines.

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 Japan, and The Best Cultural Tours in Japan.


Which place is cheaper, Nara or Longsheng?

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

  • Longsheng Prices
    China Prices
    Nara Prices
    Japan Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Longsheng $105
    Nara $111

The average daily cost (per person) in Longsheng is $105, while the average daily cost in Nara is $111. 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 Longsheng and Nara in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Longsheng $21
    Nara $54
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Longsheng $42
    Nara $108
Compare Hotels in Longsheng and Nara

Looking for a hotel in Longsheng or Nara? 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 Longsheng


Hotels in Nara


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.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Nara Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Longsheng $42
    Nara $6.04

Is it cheaper to fly into Longsheng or Nara?

Prices for flights to both Nara and Longsheng 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
    Longsheng $61
    Nara $51

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nara

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nara.

  • Handmade Soba and Tempura Cooking Class in Nara: $49
  • Udon and Tempura Cooking Class in Nara: $52
  • Nara Personalized Half Day Food Tour with a Local Guide: $160
  • Taste of Nara A Guided Half Day Food Tour Tailored to Your Taste: $160
  • Full Day Nara E bike Tour and Osaka History Food Tour: $200

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Longsheng $8.51
    Nara $8.09

Tours and Activities in Nara

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

  • 2-day Kansai world ExTour I tour around Osaka,Kyoto,Nara,andUji: $221
  • All must-sees in 3 hours - Nara Park Classic Tour! From JR Nara!: $45
  • First Time Nara Tour UNESCO Sites with Lunch and Deer Feed: $83
  • Gripped Sumi Ink Experience at a Historic Workshop in Nara: $23
  • Half-Day Private Guided Tour to Nara City: $152
  • Japan's Oldest Shrine & Nagashi Somen Walking Tour from Nara: $166
  • Kyoto Matcha Green Tea Tour: $221
  • Kyoto: Tea Museum and Tsuen Teahouse Guided Tour: $74
  • Nara - Craft Beer, Sake & Food Walking Tour: $104
  • Nara - Heart of Nature Cross Bike Tour: $290
  • Nara - Highlights Bike Tour: $76
  • Nara - Private Family Bike Tour: $207

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Longsheng $8.01
    Nara $12


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



When is the best time to visit Longsheng or Nara?

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 Nara in the Summer?

Both Nara and Longsheng during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many travelers come to Nara for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

Longsheng is a little warmer than Nara in the summer. The daily temperature in Longsheng averages around 30°C (86°F) in July, and Nara fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

Nara 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 Nara. Longsheng gets 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain, while Nara receives 186 mm (7.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Longsheng 30°C (86°F) 
    Nara 27°C (80°F)

Should I visit Longsheng or Nara in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Longsheng and Nara. Furthermore, many visitors come to Nara in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Longsheng is a little warmer than Nara. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Longsheng in October average around 23°C (73°F), and Nara averages at about 17°C (63°F).

Nara receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Longsheng usually receives less rain than Nara. Longsheng gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Nara receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Longsheng 23°C (73°F) 
    Nara 17°C (63°F)

Should I visit Longsheng or Nara in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Longsheng as well as Nara. Additionally, most visitors come to Nara for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Nara can be very cold during winter. In January, Longsheng is generally much warmer than Nara. Daily temperatures in Longsheng average around 10°C (49°F), and Nara fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).

Longsheng usually gets more rain in January than Nara. Longsheng gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Nara receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Longsheng 10°C (49°F) 
    Nara 4°C (40°F)

Should I visit Longsheng or Nara in the Spring?

Both Nara and Longsheng are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Nara because of the natural beauty.

Longsheng is a little warmer than Nara in the spring. The daily temperature in Longsheng averages around 20°C (68°F) in April, and Nara fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Nara. It's quite rainy in Longsheng. In April, Longsheng usually receives more rain than Nara. Longsheng gets 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain, while Nara receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Longsheng 20°C (68°F) 
    Nara 14°C (57°F)

Typical Weather for Nara and Longsheng

Longsheng Nara
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 10°C (49°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 4°C (40°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Feb 11°C (51°F) 87 mm (3.4 in) 5°C (40°F) 60 mm (2.3 in)
Mar 15°C (59°F) 129 mm (5.1 in) 8°C (46°F) 99 mm (3.9 in)
Apr 20°C (68°F) 263 mm (10.3 in) 14°C (57°F) 127 mm (5 in)
May 25°C (77°F) 334 mm (13.2 in) 19°C (65°F) 128 mm (5.1 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 320 mm (12.6 in) 23°C (73°F) 214 mm (8.4 in)
Jul 30°C (86°F) 206 mm (8.1 in) 27°C (80°F) 186 mm (7.3 in)
Aug 30°C (86°F) 168 mm (6.6 in) 28°C (82°F) 117 mm (4.6 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 72 mm (2.8 in) 24°C (74°F) 154 mm (6.1 in)
Oct 23°C (73°F) 93 mm (3.7 in) 17°C (63°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
Nov 17°C (63°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 12°C (53°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Dec 12°C (53°F) 47 mm (1.9 in) 7°C (44°F) 41 mm (1.6 in)