A Travel Price Comparison for China Wuyuan vs. Shangri-La for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Wuyuan or Shangri-La?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Wuyuan and Shangri-La can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Wuyuan or Shangri-La?

Wuyuan

Wuyuan, China is a small city in the Jiangxi Province in the south central area of the country. The city acts as a transport hub for the province, with many main bus routes running through it. Wuyuan also acts as the main thoroughfare when traveling to local remote villages in the area. It is best to know some Mandarin as this region does not see many non-Mandarin speaking tourists, which also means you should expect some very friendly attention!

Shangri-La

The original Shangri-La existed in the fictional world of James Hilton's novel "The Lost Horizon." It was a hidden paradise, a place so beautiful that it couldn't possibly exist on earth. The Shangri-La that exists in Yunnan, China today was renamed from its former title Zhongdian in 2001 in order to associate the place with the mystical allure created in Hilton's novel. Visitors come to admire the traditional monasteries and temples set against a backdrop of mountain preserves and pristine lakes.

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.


Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Wuyuan?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Wuyuan is $57, while the average daily cost in Shangri-La is $47. 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 Wuyuan and Shangri-La in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Wuyuan $26
    Shangri-La $19
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Wuyuan $52
    Shangri-La $38
Compare Hotels in Wuyuan and Shangri-La

Looking for a hotel in Wuyuan or Shangri-La? 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 Wuyuan


Hotels in Shangri-La


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.
    Wuyuan $13
    Shangri-La $10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shangri-La

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shangri-La:

  • Private Transfer from Shangri-La to Lijiang and Stops at Tiger Leaping Gorge: $160
  • Private Transfer from Shangri-la(Diqing) hotel to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel : $149

Is it cheaper to fly into Wuyuan or Shangri-La?

Prices for flights to both Shangri-La and Wuyuan 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
    Wuyuan $20
    Shangri-La $19
Typical Food Prices in Wuyuan

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Wuyuan:


  • Gummy Candy
    $0.28
  • Cookies
    $0.69

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Wuyuan $19
    Shangri-La $16

Tours and Activities in Shangri-La

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Shangri-La are as follows:

  • 1 Day Shangri-la City Tour with Pudacuo National Park: $209
  • 1 day Shangri-La Highlights Mini Private Tour: $117
  • 1-Day Shangri-La Private Tour: Potatso National Park and Baiji Temple: $169
  • 1-Day Shangri-La Tour to Ganden Monastery, Nixi Pottery Village and Tibetan Town: $185
  • 1-Day Shangri-La tour with Ganden Monastery, Napahai Lake and Tibetan Town: $190
  • Private tour Songzanlin Monastry & Tibetan lunch from Zhongdian: $199

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Wuyuan $14
    Shangri-La $13


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

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