A Travel Price Comparison for China Xiamen vs. Pingyao for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Xiamen or Pingyao?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Xiamen and Pingyao can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Xiamen or Pingyao?

Xiamen

Xiamen is a coastal city in the Fujian Province of China and has been a major port city and gateway to China for centuries. This vibrant and modern city was named the most livable city in the world in 2002 and one of the first cities to be named a Special Economic Zone. Xiamen is best known for being home to Gulangyu Island, a beautiful island full of historic colonial buildings and lovely walking paths.

Pingyao

Pingyao is a small city in the Shanxi Province of China, dating back over 2700 years. The city is most famous for their old town, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old town is one of the best preserved ancient walled cities in the world dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

The climate in Pingyao is influenced by monsoons, and therefore gets hot and humid summers and chillier springs. Autumn is a great time to visit as temperatures are fairly mild-in the 50-60's Fahrenheit- and you can avoid the heavy rains of summer. Winter is also a pleasant time to visit, especially since temperatures tend not to dip below 30 and there is not much snow or bad weather.

Which place is cheaper, Pingyao or Xiamen?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Xiamen is $64, while the average daily cost in Pingyao is $54. 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 Xiamen and Pingyao in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Xiamen $31
    Pingyao $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Xiamen $62
    Pingyao $46
Compare Hotels in Xiamen and Pingyao

Looking for a hotel in Xiamen or Pingyao? 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 Xiamen


Hotels in Pingyao


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.
    Xiamen $6.04
    Pingyao $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Xiamen

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

  • Private Arrival Transfer from Gaoqi Airport to Xiamen City Hotel: $10
  • Private Transfer from Railway Station to Xiamen City: $10
  • Private Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport Transfers in Xiamen City: $12
  • Private Departure Transfer to North Railway Station from Downtown Xiamen: $15
  • Private Transfer from Xiamen North Railway Station to City Area: $19
  • Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Private Transfer to Local Railway Station : $19
  • Xiamen Railway Station Private Transfer to Gaoqi Airport : $19
  • Xiamen North Railway Station Private Transfer from City Area: $19
  • Private Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Departure Transfer from City Areas: $19
  • Private Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Arrival Transfer to City Area: $19
  • Xiamen Private Departure Transfer: City Hotel to Railway Station: $20
  • Private Transfer between Riyue Gu Hotspring Resort and Xiamen City : $32

Typical Local Transportation prices in Pingyao

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Pingyao:


  • Taxi to Train Station
    $1.39

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pingyao

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pingyao:

  • Privater Transfer from Datong to Pingyao with driver: $115
  • Private Transfer Servcie to Mianshan (Mian Mountain) from Pingyao: $60
  • Private Round-Trip Transfer Service to Wutaishan from Pingyao: $190
  • Private One Way Transfer from Pingyao to Taiyuan : $73
  • Private One Way Transfer Service to Datong from Pingyao: $179
  • Private Datong One Way Transfer from Pingyao with Stop Over Hanging Temple: $201

Is it cheaper to fly into Xiamen or Pingyao?

Prices for flights to both Pingyao and Xiamen 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
    Xiamen $27
    Pingyao $20

Typical Food prices in Pingyao

Some typical examples of dining costs in Pingyao are as follows:


  • Casual Lunch (for 2)
    $5.02
  • Mango Juice
    $0.70

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Xiamen $16
    Pingyao $19

Tours and Activities in Xiamen

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

  • Xiamen Ancient Courtyard and the Show “Legend of Southern Fujian”Ticket: $40
  • Xiamen Private English Tour Guide and Interpreter Service: $78
  • 4-Hour Xiamen Private Local Food Market Experience: $91
  • Xiamen Private Half Day Tour of Gulangyu Island and Shuzhuang Garden: $97
  • Private Xiamen Half Day Tour to Gulangyu Island and the Hi Heaven Villa: $97
  • A Night Tour to Xiamen Gulang Island: $100
  • Half-Day Xiamen Private Customized Shore Excursion Tour include Gulangyu Island : $102
  • Xiamen Half-Day Private Tour include Gulang Yu Island and Garden : $102
  • Xiamen Private Highlight Tour-Gulangyu Island, Shuzhuang Garden And Piano Museum: $103
  • Flexible Xiamen Private Half Day Tour to Experience Xiamen Botanical Garden: $105
  • Private Half-Day Tour to the Most Famous Scenic Jimei School Village in Xiamen: $106
  • Private Xiamen Sea Food Market & Zhongshan Road Shopping and Eating Experience: $107

Typical Entertainment prices in Pingyao

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Pingyao are as follows:


  • All Day Bike Rental (for 2)
    $2.79
  • Temple Entrance Fee (for 2)
    $6.97
  • Bike Parking Fee (for 2)
    $0.56

Tours and Activities in Pingyao

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pingyao are as follows:

  • 5-Day Private Tour to Pingyao,Mount Wutai and Datong: $1,028
  • 1-Day Pingyao Ancient Town Sightseeing Walking Tour: $113
  • 1-Day Pingyao tour to Wang Family's Compound and Zhangbi Ancient Fortress : $206
  • 2-Day Private Pingyao Ancient Town Tour: $422
  • 2-Day Private Pingyao Ancient Town Tour: $361
  • 2-Hour Authentic Pingyao Walking Tour : $43
  • 2-Hour Guided Private Bike Tour to see the Hidden Pingyao & Tea Break: $60
  • 3-Day Private Tour of Pingyao and Datong including Ancient Town,Hanging Temple : $574
  • 3-Day Private tour: From Pingyao to Datong: $632
  • 3-Hour Private Walking Tour of Pingyao Highlights: $73
  • 4-Day Private tour: From Pingyao to Datong: $771
  • 7-Day Private Tour to Pingyao,Datong and Beijing by Bullet Train: $1,676

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Xiamen $17
    Pingyao $13


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

Which is Bigger, Xiamen or Pingyao?

Xiamen is bigger, and its population is about 13.8 times larger than the population of Pingyao. When comparing the population of Xiamen vs. Pingyao, 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 and the activities that interest you.

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.
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Xiamen vs. Pingyao Travel Comparison

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