A Travel Price Comparison for China Taiyuan vs. Shenzhen for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Taiyuan or Shenzhen?

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 Taiyuan and Shenzhen. 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: Taiyuan or Shenzhen?

Taiyuan

With sleek architectural designs and blossoming businesses, this metropolis is simply brimming with invigorating excitement and once-in-a-lifetime entertainment. Despite its glimmering skyscrapers and gorgeous fountains, Taiyuan, China has an extensive history of nearly 2,500 years. During ancient China, Taiyuan, or the "Dragon City," was a major military town. Presently, this city is now one of China's most important industrial cities, producing more than half of the national coal mining output. Taiyuan is both the capital and largest city of the Shanxi province of North China. It is bounded by mountains on three of its sides, allowing this great city to be surrounded by fantastic views of its landscape. Besides its economic significance, Taiyuan also achieves tourist significance due to its plethora of landmarks and sights. Some of these attractions include Jinci Temple, Forest Park, Mengshan Giant Buddha, and Shanxi Museum. Taiyuan is also celebrated internationally for holding their annual Shanxi Taiyuan International Folk Arts Festival, a celebration held in September that hosts exhibition of fine arts, painting, paper-cutting, sculpture, drama, acrobatic and the culture of costume. With such a great deal to do in such a limited window of time, it is best to make the most Taiyuan while you visit!

Shenzhen

Located in the Guangdong Province of southeastern China, Shenzhen is a metropolis that connects Hong Kong to China's mainland. It is one of China's most populous cities, inhabited by vast array of people from other Chinese regions.  It is perhaps best known for it shopping, collection of amusement parks, green parks, museums and galleries, and a few historic sites. It is on UNESCO's Creative Cities list.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to China, The Best Tours for Seniors to China, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa.


Which place is cheaper, Shenzhen or Taiyuan?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Taiyuan is $91, while the average daily cost in Shenzhen is $124. 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 Taiyuan and Shenzhen in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Taiyuan $43
    Shenzhen $90
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Taiyuan $86
    Shenzhen $180
Compare Hotels in Taiyuan and Shenzhen

Looking for a hotel in Taiyuan or Shenzhen? 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.

Hotels in Taiyuan


Hotels in Shenzhen


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Taiyuan $47
    Shenzhen $15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shenzhen

Also for Shenzhen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Hong Kong Disneyland: 1-Day Entry Ticket with Private Transfer: $162
  • HK Airport to Cruise Terminal Rounded-Trip Private Transfer by Lexus Luxury Car: $140
  • Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Hong Kong -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $130
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Hongkong Airport to Shenzhen City: $128
  • Private Transfer: Hong Kong Airport HKG to Hong Kong City in Business Car: $117
  • Private Transfer: Hong Kong City to Hong Kong Airport HKG in Business Car: $117
  • Luxury Private Tesla Transfer: Hong Kong International Airport (From/To HKG): $115
  • Transfer Hong Kong to Hong Kong Airport by Luxury Van or Sedan: $111
  • Transfer Hong Kong Airport to Hong Kong by Luxury Van or Sedan: $111
  • Shenzhen Airport (SZX) to Guangzhou - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $106
  • Shenzhen Airport (SZX) to Round Trip Private Transfer: $95
  • Shenzhen Private Transfer from Shenzhen central to Shenzhen Bao'an Airport (SZX): $79

Is it cheaper to fly into Taiyuan or Shenzhen?

Prices for flights to both Shenzhen and Taiyuan 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Taiyuan $20
    Shenzhen $20

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shenzhen

For Shenzhen, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Vegetarian Food Tour: $77
  • Wet market tour & cooking class with local mum: $90
  • Hong Kong Guided Dinner + Laser Show Lounge Entry (2023) | 200+ booked : $100
  • Hong Kong Food Tour: Central and Sheung Wan Districts: $108
  • Secret Food Tour With the Locals in Tin Hau Hong Kong w/ Private Tour Option: $109
  • Small Group Local Market Walking Tour and Chinese Cooking Class in Hong Kong: $131
  • Private Food Tour With the Locals in Hong Kong: $143
  • Hong Kong Food Tour with a Local: A Feast for Foodies 100% Personalized: $162
  • Hong Kong Crazy Rich Asian Food Tour with a Local: 100% Personalized & Private : $162
  • Kowloon Street Food Tour with a Local: 100% Personalized & Private: $162
  • The 10 Tastings of Hong Kong With Locals: Private Street Food Tour : $162

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Taiyuan $15
    Shenzhen $17

Tours and Activities in Shenzhen

For Shenzhen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Shenzhen Self-Guided Flexible Tour with Private Car and Driver : $86
  • (Private class) Hong Kong gourmet baking experience class: Hong Kong-style egg tart + custard mooncake: $88
  • 100% Private & Personalised Tour of Hong Kong With A Local Insider: $64
  • 2.5-Hour Shenzhen City-Village Walking Tour: Back In The 90's & TikTok Influence: $51
  • 4-Hour Private Hong Kong Layover Tour: $263
  • 4-Hour Small Group Kowloon Sightseeing Tour: $103
  • A Magical Evening in Hong Kong: Private City Tour: $104
  • A Private Tour of Hong Kong with Mercedes-Benz: $275
  • A Taste of Hong Kong: Private Tour: $102
  • Afternoon Hiking Tour Sharp Island Geopark: $38
  • Aqua Luna: Evening Cruise at Victoria Harbour Hong Kong: $40
  • Aqua Luna: Symphony of Lights Cruise in Hong Kong: $49

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Taiyuan $6.35
    Shenzhen $19


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

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


Which is Bigger, Taiyuan or Shenzhen?

Taiyuan has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Shenzhen. When comparing the sizes of Taiyuan and Shenzhen, 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.

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