Which place is cheaper, Beijing or Tiger Leaping Gorge?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tiger Leaping Gorge or Beijing?
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 Tiger Leaping Gorge and Beijing. 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: Tiger Leaping Gorge or Beijing?
Tiger Leaping Gorge
One of the deepest gorges in the world, Tiger Leaping Gorge gets its name from legend, where a tiger used a great rock in the center of the gorge as a stepping stone to leap from one side to the other. It is surrounded by stunning mountain scenery on either side with the Yangtze River rushing down through its center. Visitors come to Tiger Leaping Gorge to hike and witness its natural beauty.
Beijing
Beijing is the capital of China and, with 21.5 million people, it is the second most populated city in the world after Shanghai. It is a city that keeps pockets of its history hidden in old neighborhoods or back alleys, despite the constant change and modernization that goes on around it. As the capital city of China, there is plenty of history and culture. You can still get yourself lost in one of the last remaining hutongs, which are old neighborhoods that remain untouched by the city's modernization. The alleys that weave between the old homes are lined with drying clothes, corner markets, and people going about their daily lives the way they have for centuries. Surrounding these hutongs you'll find modern buildings and a booming economy, all threatening to destroying these last bits of Beijing's history. Beijing offers a glimpse into a microcosm that represents the entire country of China. Make sure you give yourself enough time in China to truly experience Beijing. You can pass a lot of time soaking up life in the city, which remains as diverse as the country it resides within.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTiger Leaping Gorge $42Beijing $77
The average daily cost (per person) in Tiger Leaping Gorge is $42, while the average daily cost in Beijing is $77. 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 Tiger Leaping Gorge and Beijing in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTiger Leaping Gorge $13Beijing $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTiger Leaping Gorge $26Beijing $80
Compare Hotels in Tiger Leaping Gorge and Beijing
Looking for a hotel in Tiger Leaping Gorge or Beijing? 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.Tiger Leaping Gorge $17Beijing $7.86
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Beijing
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Beijing:
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Taxi$4.80
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Train from Airport for Two$7.04
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Taxi to Hotel$8.45
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2 Metro Passes$2.25
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Metro$0.56
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beijing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Beijing:
- Jinshanling Great Wall Self-hiking Tour by Private Transfer Service : $98
- Private One-Way Transfer Between Beijing Railway Station and Hotel: $30
- Private Transfer to Daxing International Airport : $35
- 1-Day Beijing Layover Private Tour: Forbidden City with Round Airport transfers: $198
- 1-Day Beijing Layover Tour: Mutianyu Great Wall with Round Airport Transfers: $208
- 1-Day Bejing Layover Tour:Mutianyu Great Wall,Forbidden City & Airport Transfers: $250
- 1-Way Private Transfer between Beijing Airport and City Hotels: $35
- 4-Hour Huanghuacheng Great Wall Sunset Tour with Airport Transfer: $160
- Acrobatics Show with Private Driver Service and Hotel Round Transfer: $75
- Arrival Private Transfer: Capital Airport PEK to Beijing in Business Car: $75
- transfer from the airport to the hotel: $65
- Beijing Airport (PEK) to Mutianyu Great Wall Round Trip Transfers: $199
Is it cheaper to fly into Tiger Leaping Gorge or Beijing?
Prices for flights to both Beijing and Tiger Leaping Gorge 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 dayTiger Leaping Gorge $16Beijing $20
Typical Food Prices in Beijing
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Beijing:
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Popcorn$0.84
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Hot Pot Dinner$7.04
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Dumpling Breakfast for Two$2.82
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Watermelon$1.97
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Peking Duck Dinner for 2$17
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Two Popsicles$0.84
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beijing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Beijing.
- Online Cooking Class Orange Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Handmade Noodles by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Kungpao Chicken: $20
- Temple of Heaven Private Tour w/Option Show &Dinner: $54
- Hutong Breakfast Food Tour: $55
- Beijing Hutong Breakfast Food Tour: $55
- Beijing Gulou Night Market Food Tour: $75
- Hidden Gems Guided Food Tour with Beer and Tastings: $75
- Authentic Lunch or Dinner Tour in Beijing's Best Hidden Spots: $80
- Acrobatic Show with Peking Duck Dinner Private Tour: $80
- Beijing Hutong Neighborhood: Food and Dinner Tour: $80
- Authentic Local Food Tour in Center Beijing: $81
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tiger Leaping Gorge $15Beijing $25
Typical Entertainment Prices in Beijing
Here are a few typical costs in Beijing for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Summer Palace for Two$8.45
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Two Opera Tickets$60
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Temple of Heaven Park Entrance (for 2)$9.85
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Forbidden City (for 2)$17
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Forbidden City Tickets$17
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Audio Guides at Forbidden City$11
Tours and Activities in Beijing
Here are a few actual costs in Beijing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Tiananmen Square Ticket Fast and Smooth: $4.99
- Beijing Lama Temple Entrance Ticket with Optional Guided Service: $7.00
- Temple of Earth ticket; Serene, Majestic, Ancient: $7.19
- Confucius Temple and the Impercial College E-ticket: $7.20
- Beijing：Jingshan Park (Palace Museum Garden) Ticket: $7.34
- Beijing Summer Palace Entrance Ticket (with Optional Guided Service): $7.88
- Beijing Temple of Heaven Entrance Ticket (with Optional Guided Service): $7.88
- Agent ticket booking service: Temple of heaven: $8.00
- Summer Palace Ticket Booking: $8.80
- Summer Palace Ticket: $8.80
- Summer Palace Tickets Booking: $9.00
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Beijing: $9.03
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTiger Leaping Gorge $6.49Beijing $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Beijing
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Beijing:
- Evening Food Private Tour with Brewery Taproom Hopping at Slow Boat in Beijing: $110
- 5-Hour Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour from Beijing: $178
- Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour and Mutianyu Great Wall Visit: $238
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tiger Leaping Gorge and Beijing, we can see that Beijing is more expensive. And not only is Tiger Leaping Gorge much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tiger Leaping Gorge would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tiger Leaping Gorge 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 Beijing would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Beijing than you might in Tiger Leaping Gorge.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tiger Leaping Gorge Expensive? and Is Beijing Expensive?.
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.