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

Should you visit Pai or Longsheng?

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 Longsheng. 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 Longsheng?

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.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, and The Best Adventure Tours to China.

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

When is the best time to visit Pai or Longsheng?

Longsheng 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 Longsheng in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Longsheng. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round.

In the summer, Pai is around the same temperature as Longsheng. Typically, the summer temperatures in Pai in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Longsheng averages at about 30°C (86°F).

Longsheng receives a lot of rain in the summer. Pai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Pai usually receives around the same amount of rain as Longsheng. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Longsheng receives 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Pai or Longsheng in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Pai as well as Longsheng. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In October, Pai is generally a little warmer than Longsheng. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (84°F), and Longsheng fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

Pai receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Pai usually gets more rain in October than Longsheng. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Longsheng receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pai or Longsheng in the Winter?

Both Longsheng and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year.

Pai is much warmer than Longsheng in the winter. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 24°C (74°F) in January, and Longsheng fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).

In January, Pai usually receives less rain than Longsheng. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Longsheng receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Pai or Longsheng in the Spring?

Both Longsheng and Pai during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Pai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The heat can be very extreme in Pai. In the spring, Pai is much warmer than Longsheng. Typically, the spring temperatures in Pai in April average around 32°C (89°F), and Longsheng averages at about 20°C (68°F).

Longsheng gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Pai usually gets less rain in April than Longsheng. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Longsheng receives 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Longsheng and Pai