Which place is cheaper, Zhangjiajie or Pingyao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pingyao or Zhangjiajie?
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 Pingyao and Zhangjiajie. 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: Pingyao or Zhangjiajie?
Pingyao
Pingyao is a small city in the Shanxi Province of China, dating back over 2700 years. The city is most famous for their old town, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old town is one of the best preserved ancient walled cities in the world dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
The climate in Pingyao is influenced by monsoons, and therefore gets hot and humid summers and chillier springs. Autumn is a great time to visit as temperatures are fairly mild-in the 50-60's Fahrenheit- and you can avoid the heavy rains of summer. Winter is also a pleasant time to visit, especially since temperatures tend not to dip below 30 and there is not much snow or bad weather.
Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie, China is a picturesque city located in the northwest of the Hunan Province. This ancient city, which dates all the way back to the Stone Age, is famous for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is also known for being a popular filming location and and overall great place to escape the bustling Chinese cities. Zhangjiajie has its own dialect, which is a branch of the Hunan and Southern dialects, so Mandarin does not always translate when trying to speak to locals here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Shanghai, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPingyao $55Zhangjiajie $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Pingyao is $55, while the average daily cost in Zhangjiajie is $64. 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 Pingyao and Zhangjiajie in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPingyao $23Zhangjiajie $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPingyao $46Zhangjiajie $60
Compare Hotels in Pingyao and Zhangjiajie
Looking for a hotel in Pingyao or Zhangjiajie? 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.
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pingyao $13Zhangjiajie $15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pingyao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Pingyao:
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Taxi to Train Station$1.41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pingyao
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pingyao:
- Private Round-Trip Transfer Service to Wutaishan from Pingyao: $190
- Privater Transfer from Datong to Pingyao with driver: $115
- Private Transfer Servcie to Mianshan (Mian Mountain) from Pingyao: $60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangjiajie
Also for Zhangjiajie, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zhangjiajie airport/city pick up transfer to hotel or Vice Versa: $18
- Fox Fairy Show VIP Ticket with Private Transfer in ZJJ City: $63
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Furong old town: $187
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Aizhai bridge area: $187
- Private transfer from Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) to Changsha area: $213
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Guilin or Yangshuo: $256
Is it cheaper to fly into Pingyao or Zhangjiajie?
Prices for flights to both Zhangjiajie and Pingyao 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
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Food Meals for one dayPingyao $20Zhangjiajie $21
Typical Food Prices in Pingyao
Some typical examples of dining costs in Pingyao are as follows:
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Casual Lunch (for 2)$5.07
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Mango Juice$0.70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zhangjiajie
For Zhangjiajie, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Full-Day Private Discovery Tour to Tianmen Mountain National Park with Dinner: $184
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pingyao $19Zhangjiajie $23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Pingyao
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Pingyao are as follows:
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All Day Bike Rental (for 2)$2.82
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Temple Entrance Fee (for 2)$7.04
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Bike Parking Fee (for 2)$0.56
Tours and Activities in Pingyao
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pingyao are as follows:
- 1-Day Pingyao Ancient Town Sightseeing Walking Tour: $113
- 1-Day Pingyao tour to Wang Family's Compound and Zhangbi Ancient Fortress : $206
- 2-Hour Guided Private Bike Tour to see the Hidden Pingyao & Tea Break: $60
- 3-Hour Private Walking Tour of Pingyao Highlights: $125
- All Inclusive Pingyao Private Tour to Qiao Family Compound and Shuanglin Temple: $142
- By bullet train from Beijing to Pingyao 2days tour &Lunch: $490
- Day tour to Wang Family Compound shuanglin temple &zhangbi castle: $210
- Half-Day Private Walking Tour of Pingyao Ancient City: $65
- Mian Mountain Private Day Tour From Pingyao: $188
- One Day Tour Exploration of Pingyao Old Town and Wang Family Mansion: $183
- Pingyao Ancient City Full-Day Walking Tour: $129
- Pingyao Day Tour: Wang Family Mansion and Zhangbi Ancient Castle: $132
Tours and Activities in Zhangjiajie
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Zhangjiajie.
- Virtual Guided Tour: Visit China's Landscapes with Hollywood Movies: $16
- Baofeng Lake Admission Ticket in Zhangjiajie (with Boat Ride): $37
- Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and Glass Bridge Ticket: $57
- Join-in Tour: Tianmen Mountain and Sky Walk in a Day from Zhangjiajie: $118
- Full-Day Private Tour of Tianmen Mountain With the Skywalk: $121
- Full-Day Private Tour of Tianmen Mountain: $125
- Full-Day Private Tour of Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) National Forest Park: $130
- Private Day Tour of Baofeng Lake and Yellow Dragon Cave: $140
- 1 Day Private Expedition Tour to Binlang Valley: $142
- 1-Day Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Tour: $146
- Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon with Glass Bridge and Baofeng Lake Private Day Tour: $147
- 2 Day Zhangjiajie Mt. Avatar Tianzi Yuanjiajie Grand Canyon Tour: $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPingyao $14Zhangjiajie $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pingyao and Zhangjiajie, we can see that Zhangjiajie is more expensive. And not only is Pingyao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pingyao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pingyao 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 Zhangjiajie would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zhangjiajie than you might in Pingyao.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pingyao Expensive? and Is Zhangjiajie Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pingyao or Zhangjiajie?
Zhangjiajie has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Pingyao. When comparing the sizes of Pingyao and Zhangjiajie, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.