Should you visit Shanxi or Liaoning?
Should I visit Shanxi or Liaoning? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
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!
Liaoning
The Liaoning Province, China is a fairly large province in the northeast, bordering North Korea. The area is famous for their rich history, industrial hubs, and stunning natural beauty. Liaoning's proximity to North Korea and Mongolia, combined with its history of Russian and Japanese controllers has provided this province with a unique blend of cultures.
Which city is cheaper, Liaoning or Shanxi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Shanxi is $55, while the average daily cost in Liaoning 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Shanxi and Liaoning in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $25. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Shanxi the cost is $50 on average.
Travelers usually pay around $82 for a double occupancy room in Liaoning If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Shanxi is $16 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
To get around in Liaoning, the average visitor spends $27 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shanxi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shanxi:
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Xi'an Terracotta Warriors Walking Tour with Transfer Options:
$110
Is it cheaper to fly into Shanxi or Liaoning?
Prices for flights to both Liaoning and Shanxi 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
On average, meal and food prices in Shanxi cost around $17 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $6.80.
Food in Liaoning costs travelers about $22 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
Shanxi $17
Liaoning $22
Entertainment
Shanxi's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $17 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
In Liaoning, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $5.80 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Shanxi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Shanxi are as follows:
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Pingyao: Private Old Town Highlights Day Tour:
$160
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Xi'an: Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Museum Guided Tour:
$80
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Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple: Private Full-Day Tour:
$110
Alcohol
The average person spends about $9.59 on alcoholic beverages in Shanxi per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Liaoning, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $5.78.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Shanxi and Liaoning, we can see that Liaoning 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 Liaoning would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Liaoning than you might in Shanxi.
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