A Travel Price Comparison for China Mount Kailash vs. Tianjin for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mount Kailash or Tianjin?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Mount Kailash or Tianjin? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Mount Kailash or Tianjin?

Mount Kailash

The main point of entry to Mount Kailash is a small village called Darchen. Once an important sheep station for nomads and their flocks, the village has now grown to provide for the pilgrims wishing to embark towards Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. It contains a number of guest houses and restaurants as well as a hotel where pilgrims must get permission from the Public Security Bureau to make the trek around the mountain. Also in the village are a handful of small stores and kiosks, as well as some grounds for camping. It is about 330 km (a one-day bus drive) from the town of Shiquanhe to the northeast, where Gunsa Airport is located, offering flights twice a week to Lhasa and Chengdu.

Tianjin

Tianjin is a large metropolis on the north east coast of China. This ancient city, which dates back to prehistoric times, is one of five National Central Cities of China and is rich in culture and history. Tianjin is most famous for its beautiful walking streets and history of European concession territories.

Tianjin experiences hot and humid summers, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters are cool and dry with temperatures around 15° (F). Spring and Autumn tend to be the best times to visit as weather is a little more mild, although Spring has a tendency to be a little rainy.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Tianjin or Mount Kailash?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Mount Kailash is $73, while the average daily cost in Tianjin is $78. 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 Mount Kailash and Tianjin in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mount Kailash $28
    Tianjin $35
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mount Kailash $56
    Tianjin $70
Compare Hotels in Mount Kailash and Tianjin

Looking for a hotel in Mount Kailash or Tianjin? 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 Mount Kailash


Hotels in Tianjin


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.
    Mount Kailash $32
    Tianjin $37

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tianjin

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

  • Beijing Daxing or Capital Int’l Airport Private Departure Transfer from Tianjin : $128
  • Beijing: Private Roundtrip Transfer to Great Wall of China: $61
  • Binhai Airport Private Transfer to Tianjin Cruise Port: $80
  • Cruise Transfer from Tianjin Port to Beijing Airport: $280
  • Cruise Transfer:Tianjin International Home Port to Beijing PEK or Daxing Airport: $118
  • One Way Private Transfer from Tianjin Cruise Port To Beijing with Guide: $216
  • Port Arrival Transfer: Tianjin Cruise Home Port to Beijing Hotels: $100
  • Private 1-Way Transfer Between Tianjin Port to Beijing: $138
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN) to Hotel: $39
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Tianjin Cruise Port to Train Stations (Tianjin/Tanggu): $63
  • Private One Way Tianjin Port Transfer to Beijing including Great Wall Sightseeing: $198
  • Private Tianjin Airport Arrival Transfer to Beijing Hotels: $98

Is it cheaper to fly into Mount Kailash or Tianjin?

Prices for flights to both Tianjin and Mount Kailash 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
    Mount Kailash $25
    Tianjin $21

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mount Kailash $16
    Tianjin $11

Tours and Activities in Tianjin

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

  • 4- Hour Tianjin Local Food & Tea Tour: $49
  • 4-Hour Tianjin Shore Excursion Private Shopping Tour: $120
  • Tianjin Private Walking Tour Guided by a Lady Worked in Europe: $151
  • Private Tianjin City Night Tour with Haihe River Cruise: $156
  • Private Tour China House Ancient Culture Street and Tianjin Eye: $178
  • 5-Hour Private Tianjin Shopping Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $179
  • Tianjin Cruise Port To Beijing Capital Airport With the English Speaking Driver: $187
  • Private Tianjin City Highlight Day Tour: $188
  • 4-Hour Tianjin Shore Excursion to Shijia Mansion with Bullet Train Experience: $210
  • Private Tianjin Shopping Tour: $218
  • Bullet Train Private Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven: $219
  • 1 Day Tianjin City Essence Tour from Tianjin Port: $235

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mount Kailash $2.84
    Tianjin $11


When comparing the travel costs between Mount Kailash and Tianjin, we can see that Tianjin 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 Mount Kailash Expensive? and Is Tianjin Expensive?.


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