A Travel Price Comparison for China Shanxi vs. Henan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Shanxi or Henan?

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

Should I visit Shanxi or Henan? 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: Shanxi or Henan?

Shanxi

Sometimes your vacation can be your link to ancient history. Any visit to the Shanxi Province of China lets you wander through this region's long and cultured history. This area was once the cradle of Chinese civilization – which becomes obvious by simply taking a look around the old temples, traditional Qing-dynasty architecture and the caves of Lijia-Shan. They are still inhabited to this day!

Henan

Amidst verdant mountainscapes and ancient pagoda temples, a rich heritage and profound history hangs an enchanting air of the landscape. The Henan Province is a central province to the nation. Often referred to as Zhongyuan or Zhongzhou, the name of the province means "central plain land" or "midland." The Henan Province was the bud of the nation that grew into a beautiful blossom that became China today. Over 3,000 years ago, the Henan Province was where the Chinese people laid down their civilization and remained the central hub of China's economy, politics, and culture for over 1,000 years. Many of the ruins of varying dynasties have been maintained throughout the centuries, such as the Yin, Shaolin Temple, and four of the eight great ancient capitals of the nation, Luoyang, Anyang, Kaifeng, and Zhengzhou. The Henan Province remained important geographically throughout the centuries because of its proximity to the Yellow River. Even the literal name of the province, pronounced Huang He, means "south of the Yellow River." Some of the neighboring provinces include Shaanxi, Shanxi, Hebei, Shandong, Anhui, and Hubei. With a population of 94 million, Henan is China's third most populated province. While considered one of the less developed provinces of China, the Henan Province is still a beautiful landscape with a historically significant background. If you are a lover of history, beauty, or culture, the "Chinese North Plain" is the place to be!

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Shanghai, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Shanxi and Henan, we can see that Henan is more expensive. And not only is Shanxi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Shanxi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Shanxi 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 Henan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Henan than you might in Shanxi.

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