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

Should you visit Longsheng or Sado?

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 Sado. 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 Sado?

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.

Sado

Sado Island, Japan is located just off the coast of Niigata and is an old gold mining town that has since developed into a quiet summer holiday destination. The island is home to two mountain ranges, O-Sado in the north and Ko-sado in the south, with the popular Kuninaka plain in between the mountain ranges. With the remoteness of the island, it has become a popular destination for tourists to experience old Japan and get away from the busy mainland.

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

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Longsheng and Sado, we can see that Longsheng is more expensive. And not only is Sado much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sado would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sado 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 Sado.

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

When is the best time to visit Longsheng or Sado?

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 Sado in the Summer?

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

In July, Longsheng is generally a little warmer than Sado. Daily temperatures in Longsheng average around 30°C (86°F), and Sado fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

Sado 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 Sado. Longsheng gets 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain, while Sado receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Longsheng or Sado in the Autumn?

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

Longsheng is a little warmer than Sado in the autumn. The daily temperature in Longsheng averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and Sado fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

Sado receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Longsheng usually receives less rain than Sado. Longsheng gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Sado receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Longsheng or Sado in the Winter?

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

Sado can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Longsheng is much warmer than Sado. Typically, the winter temperatures in Longsheng in January average around 10°C (49°F), and Sado averages at about 3°C (37°F).

It's quite rainy in Sado. Longsheng usually gets less rain in January than Sado. Longsheng gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Sado receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Longsheng or Sado in the Spring?

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

In April, Longsheng is generally much warmer than Sado. Daily temperatures in Longsheng average around 20°C (68°F), and Sado fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sado. It's quite rainy in Longsheng. In April, Longsheng usually receives more rain than Sado. Longsheng gets 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain, while Sado receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Sado and Longsheng