Which place is cheaper, Hongcun or Tianjin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tianjin or Hongcun?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tianjin or Hongcun? 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: Tianjin or Hongcun?
Tianjin
Tianjin is a large metropolis on the north east coast of China. This ancient city, which dates back to prehistoric times, is one of five National Central Cities of China and is rich in culture and history. Tianjin is most famous for its beautiful walking streets and history of European concession territories.
Tianjin experiences hot and humid summers, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters are cool and dry with temperatures around 15° (F). Spring and Autumn tend to be the best times to visit as weather is a little more mild, although Spring has a tendency to be a little rainy.
Hongcun
When you picture ancient China, you likely picture old cobblestone streets, white homes with pointed black roofs and a slight air of mysticism in the surroundings. This is Hongcun.
The backdrop for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is not usually on the top of many traveler's lists. This isn't a bustling tourist town with guides offering to show you the sights or carts peddling the latest tacky souvenir. It's a quiet village where you'll see the real Chinese culture. The homes along the complex water canals air their fish in their windows to preserve it for their family dinners. There is no bowing to tourism here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best 2-Week Tours in China, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, and The Best Adventure Tours to China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTianjin $77Hongcun $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Tianjin is $77, while the average daily cost in Hongcun is $53. 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 Tianjin and Hongcun in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTianjin $35Hongcun $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTianjin $70Hongcun $46
Compare Hotels in Tianjin and Hongcun
Looking for a hotel in Tianjin or Hongcun? 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.Tianjin $37Hongcun $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tianjin
Also for Tianjin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Tianjin Airport Chauffeur Service, Tianjin Airport Transfer: $13
- Tianjin Binhai International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Area : $29
- Private Transfer from Tianjin Port to Tianjin Binhai Airport TSN: $34
- Tianjin Binhai Airport Chauffeur Service , Tianjin Airport Transfer,Pickup: $36
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN): $39
- Private Arrival Transfer: Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN) to Hotel: $39
- Tianjin Port Private transfers to Tianjin train station: $51
- Private Transfer from Tianjin hotels to Tianjin Cruise Port: $54
- Private Transfer from Tianjin City Hotels to Tianjin Cruise Port: $54
- Private Transfer from Tianjin Cruise Port to Tianjin City Hotels: $54
- Beijing: Private Roundtrip Transfer to Great Wall of China: $61
- Private Arrival Transfer: Tianjin Cruise Port to Train Stations (Tianjin/Tanggu): $63
Is it cheaper to fly into Tianjin or Hongcun?
Prices for flights to both Hongcun and Tianjin 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 dayTianjin $21Hongcun $19
Typical Food Prices in Hongcun
Some typical examples of dining costs in Hongcun are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.93
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Breakfast of Dumplings$2.11
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tianjin $10Hongcun $18
Tours and Activities in Tianjin
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tianjin.
- Tianjin Private Walking Tour Guided by a Lady Worked in Europe: $151
- Private Tianjin City Night Tour with Haihe River Cruise: $156
- Private Tour China House Ancient Culture Street and Tianjin Eye: $178
- 5-Hour Private Tianjin Shopping Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $179
- Tianjin Cruise Port To Beijing Capital Airport With the English Speaking Driver: $187
- Private Tianjin City Highlight Day Tour: $188
- 4-Hour Tianjin Shore Excursion to Shijia Mansion with Bullet Train Experience: $210
- Bullet Train Private Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven: $219
- 1 Day Tianjin City Essence Tour from Tianjin Port: $235
- Private Tianjin Day Tour to Huangyaguan Great Wall and Dule Temple: $238
- Bullet Train Private Tour: Beijing Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Great Wall: $239
- 4-Hour Tianjin Shore Excursion Highlight Tour with Peking Duck Experience: $240
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hongcun
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Hongcun are as follows:
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Two Entrance Tickets$29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTianjin $11Hongcun $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tianjin and Hongcun, we can see that Tianjin is more expensive. And not only is Hongcun much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hongcun would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hongcun 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 Tianjin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tianjin than you might in Hongcun.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tianjin Expensive? and Is Hongcun Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Tianjin or Hongcun?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Tianjin or Hongcun in the Summer?
Both Hongcun and Tianjin during the summer are popular places to visit.
In July, Tianjin is generally around the same temperature as Hongcun. Daily temperatures in Tianjin average around 27°C (80°F), and Hongcun fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
Hongcun gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Tianjin. Tianjin usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Hongcun. Tianjin gets 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyTianjin 27°C (80°F)Hongcun 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Tianjin or Hongcun in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Tianjin and Hongcun.
Tianjin is cooler than Hongcun in the autumn. The daily temperature in Tianjin averages around 15°C (58°F) in October, and Hongcun fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
In October, Tianjin usually receives less rain than Hongcun. Tianjin gets 21 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTianjin 15°C (58°F)Hongcun 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Tianjin or Hongcun in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Tianjin as well as Hongcun.
It's quite cold in Hongcun in the winter. The weather in Tianjin can be very cold. In the winter, Tianjin is much colder than Hongcun. Typically, the winter temperatures in Tianjin in January average around -3°C (27°F), and Hongcun averages at about 4°C (40°F).
Tianjin usually gets less rain in January than Hongcun. Tianjin gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryTianjin -3°C (27°F)Hongcun 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Tianjin or Hongcun in the Spring?
Both Hongcun and Tianjin are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In April, Tianjin is generally cooler than Hongcun. Daily temperatures in Tianjin average around 14°C (58°F), and Hongcun fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Hongcun. In April, Tianjin usually receives less rain than Hongcun. Tianjin gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilTianjin 14°C (58°F)Hongcun 17°C (62°F)
Typical Weather for Hongcun and Tianjin
| Tianjin | Hongcun | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -3°C (27°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | -1°C (31°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 9 mm (0.3 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (58°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| May | 21°C (69°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 235 mm (9.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 185 mm (7.3 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 185 mm (7.3 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 121 mm (4.7 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (70°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (58°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (43°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | -1°C (31°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
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.