A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pai vs. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pai or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)?

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 Pai and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). 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: Pai or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)?

Pai

As the lush green mountains adorn the blue horizon amidst its creamy clouds, Pai, in northern Thailand, works as one of the many hubs for some of the world's most exciting cultural adventures and natural wonders. Within this small town just north of the Mae Hong Son Province, near the Myanmar border, Pai lays on the Pai River and holds a population of no more than 2,500. Despite its geographical insignificance, this town attracts a wide array of tourists. From breathtaking waterfalls to relaxing hot springs, you will find yourself astonished at how much this little city holds within its borders.

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)

In the heart of the Anhui Province of China is the stunning Mount Huangshan, or Yellow Mountain. This UNESCO World Heritage Site draws in visitors from around the world to take in the stunning views and conquer a new challenge.

Mount Huangshan is one of the most popular destinations in China. Because of this, most of the towns and regions around it also use the name Huangshan. Even the closest town, Tunxi, has begun going by Huangshan City. Keep this in mind as it could potentially cause some confusion in transit.

The whole of Huangshan has 36 separate peaks rising approximately 1,800 meters into the air. It is often covered in a spiritual-feeling mist that makes the peaks appear to live in the clouds. It has inspired artists for centuries, and is often thought to be the model for the typical mountain ranges seen in ancient Chinese paintings.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China.

When comparing the travel costs between Pai and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), we can see that Pai 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 Pai Expensive? and Is Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Pai or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)?

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Pai experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Pai or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Pai as well as Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In July, Pai is generally around the same temperature as Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (85°F), and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

It's quite rainy in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Pai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Pai usually gets more rain in July than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) receives 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pai or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in the Autumn?

Both Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year.

Pai is much warmer than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in the autumn. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 29°C (84°F) in October, and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).

It's quite rainy in Pai. In October, Pai usually receives more rain than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Pai or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in the Winter?

Both Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Pai during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Pai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Pai is much warmer than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Typically, the winter temperatures in Pai in January average around 24°C (74°F), and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) averages at about 4°C (40°F).

Pai usually gets less rain in January than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pai or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round.

Pai can become quite hot in the spring. In April, Pai is generally much warmer than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Daily temperatures in Pai average around 32°C (89°F), and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Pai usually receives less rain than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) receives 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Pai