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

Should you visit Xiamen or Zhangjiajie?

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 Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie?

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.

Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie, China is a picturesque city located in the northwest of the Hunan Province. This ancient city, which dates all the way back to the Stone Age, is famous for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is also known for being a popular filming location and and overall great place to escape the bustling Chinese cities. Zhangjiajie has its own dialect, which is a branch of the Hunan and Southern dialects, so Mandarin does not always translate when trying to speak to locals here.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie is $63. 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 Zhangjiajie in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Xiamen $31
    Zhangjiajie $30
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Xiamen $62
    Zhangjiajie $60
Compare Hotels in Xiamen and Zhangjiajie

Looking for a hotel in Xiamen or Zhangjiajie? 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 Zhangjiajie


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 $6.02
    Zhangjiajie $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Xiamen

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

  • Private Transfer to Hongkeng Tulou and Yunshuiyao Village from Xiamen City: $98
  • Private Transfer to Gaobei Tulou and Hongkeng Tulou from Xiamen City: $98
  • Private Transfer to Tianluokeng Tulou and Hekeng Hakka Tulou from Xiamen City : $98
  • Private Transfer Between Xiamen City and HongKeng Hakka Tulou Cluster: $89
  • Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Gaobei Tulou Cluster: $89
  • Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Hua’an Earth Building: $89
  • Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Hui'an county in Quanzhou: $89
  • Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport Chauffeur Service ,Xiamen Airport Transfer: $47
  • Private Transfer between Riyue Gu Hotspring Resort and Xiamen City : $32
  • Private Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Arrival Transfer to City Area: $30
  • Xiamen Railway Station Private Transfer to Gaoqi Airport : $19
  • Xiamen North Railway Station Private Transfer from City Area: $19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangjiajie

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

  • Private Transfer: Zhangjiajie to/from Fenghuang : $149
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Guilin or Yangshuo: $256
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Furong old town: $187
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Aizhai bridge area: $187
  • Private Car Transfer From WLY to Glass Bridge (Round Trip ): $105
  • Fox Fairy Show VIP Ticket with Private Transfer: $63

Is it cheaper to fly into Xiamen or Zhangjiajie?

Prices for flights to both Zhangjiajie 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 $26
    Zhangjiajie $20

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Xiamen $16
    Zhangjiajie $23

Tours and Activities in Xiamen

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

  • Fujian Tulou Private Day Tour to World Heritage Site Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster: $178
  • Xiamen Private One Day Tailor Made Tour with Gulangyu and City Highlights : $176
  • 1-Day Xiamen City Highlights and Gulangyu Island Private Tour: $244
  • 4-Hour Xiamen Private Shore Excursion Tour in Your Way: $121
  • 4-hour Xiamen Private Flexible Tour in Your Way: $113
  • A 2 Days 1 Night Group Tour to Explore Kinmen Island: $216
  • A Night Tour to Xiamen Gulang Island: $100
  • Day Tour to Admire the Panorama of Gulangyu Island and Visit the Precious Birds: $110
  • Flexible Private Half-Day Tour to Visit the Top Attraction Xiamen Yuanbo Garden: $110
  • Flexible Xiamen Private Half Day Tour to Experience Xiamen Botanical Garden: $105
  • Flexible Xiamen Private Half Day Tour with Meal Option: $109
  • Fujian Hakka Tulou Private Day Tour of Tianluokeng and Daping Lou: $194

Tours and Activities in Zhangjiajie

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Zhangjiajie.

  • Half-Day Self-Guided Fenghuang Night Tour from Zhangjiajie: $200
  • (Private Day Tour) Zhangjiajie National Park + Tianzi Mountain: $195
  • 1 Day Private Expedition Tour to Binlang Valley: $142
  • 1 Day Tianmen Mountain Tour: $139
  • 1 Days Zhangjiajie Natural Beauty Tour with Baofeng Lake: $132
  • 1-Day Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon(Glass Bridge) & Baofeng Lake Tour: $240
  • 1-Day Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Tour: $146
  • 1-Day Zhangjiajie Tour: Grand Canyon with Glass Bridge and Yellow Dragon Cave: $242
  • 1-day Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge Tour: $132
  • 1-day Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Tour with Tianmen Cave: $137
  • 2-Day “Best Of Zhangjiajie”-Avatar World & Tianmen Mountain Tour: $260
  • 2-Day Zhangjiajie Happy Foodie&Sightseeing Tour: $300

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Xiamen $17
    Zhangjiajie $16


When comparing the travel costs between Xiamen and Zhangjiajie, we can see that Xiamen is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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


Which is Bigger, Xiamen or Zhangjiajie?

Xiamen has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Zhangjiajie. When comparing the sizes of Xiamen and Zhangjiajie, 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.


When is the best time to visit Xiamen or Zhangjiajie?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Xiamen or Zhangjiajie in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Xiamen and Zhangjiajie.

In July, Xiamen is generally around the same temperature as Zhangjiajie. Daily temperatures in Xiamen average around 30°C (86°F), and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

Zhangjiajie receives a lot of rain in the summer. Xiamen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Xiamen usually receives more rain than Zhangjiajie. Xiamen gets 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Xiamen 30°C (86°F) 
    Zhangjiajie 29°C (85°F)

Should I visit Xiamen or Zhangjiajie in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Xiamen as well as Zhangjiajie.

Xiamen is a little warmer than Zhangjiajie in the autumn. The daily temperature in Xiamen averages around 25°C (77°F) in October, and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).

Xiamen usually gets less rain in October than Zhangjiajie. Xiamen gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 90 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Xiamen 25°C (77°F) 
    Zhangjiajie 19°C (65°F)

Should I visit Xiamen or Zhangjiajie in the Winter?

Both Zhangjiajie and Xiamen are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.

In the winter, Xiamen is much warmer than Zhangjiajie. Typically, the winter temperatures in Xiamen in January average around 14°C (58°F), and Zhangjiajie averages at about 5°C (42°F).

In January, Xiamen usually receives less rain than Zhangjiajie. Xiamen gets 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Xiamen 14°C (58°F) 
    Zhangjiajie 5°C (42°F)

Should I visit Xiamen or Zhangjiajie in the Spring?

Both Zhangjiajie and Xiamen during the spring are popular places to visit.

In April, Xiamen is generally a little warmer than Zhangjiajie. Daily temperatures in Xiamen average around 20°C (69°F), and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

Zhangjiajie gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Xiamen. Xiamen usually gets less rain in April than Zhangjiajie. Xiamen gets 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 166 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Xiamen 20°C (69°F) 
    Zhangjiajie 17°C (63°F)

Typical Weather for Zhangjiajie and Xiamen

Xiamen Zhangjiajie
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 14°C (58°F) 37 mm (1.4 in) 5°C (42°F) 44 mm (1.7 in)
Feb 14°C (57°F) 65 mm (2.6 in) 6°C (44°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
Mar 16°C (61°F) 99 mm (3.9 in) 11°C (52°F) 112 mm (4.4 in)
Apr 20°C (69°F) 147 mm (5.8 in) 17°C (63°F) 166 mm (6.5 in)
May 24°C (76°F) 152 mm (6 in) 22°C (72°F) 179 mm (7 in)
Jun 27°C (81°F) 197 mm (7.7 in) 26°C (78°F) 199 mm (7.8 in)
Jul 30°C (86°F) 140 mm (5.5 in) 29°C (85°F) 125 mm (4.9 in)
Aug 30°C (85°F) 149 mm (5.9 in) 29°C (83°F) 149 mm (5.9 in)
Sep 28°C (83°F) 116 mm (4.6 in) 24°C (75°F) 85 mm (3.3 in)
Oct 25°C (77°F) 29 mm (1.1 in) 19°C (65°F) 90 mm (3.6 in)
Nov 21°C (69°F) 37 mm (1.4 in) 13°C (55°F) 70 mm (2.7 in)
Dec 16°C (61°F) 25 mm (1 in) 7°C (45°F) 44 mm (1.7 in)