Which place is cheaper, Beijing or Yangshuo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Yangshuo or Beijing?
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 Yangshuo and Beijing can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Yangshuo or Beijing?
Yangshuo
A county of the city, Guilin, Yangshuo is located in a region famous for its karst topography. Surrounded by jagged mountain peaks and bordered on one side by the Li River, Yangshuo has become a popular home base for tourists looking to explore the region's natural wonders. Backpackers and tourists, both foreign and domestic, come to Yangshuo every year making it a city of many cultures. Most locals are even able to speak English, which is fairly uncommon for Chinese cities.
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 dayYangshuo $72Beijing $77
The average daily cost (per person) in Yangshuo is $72, 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 Yangshuo and Beijing in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personYangshuo $25Beijing $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomYangshuo $50Beijing $78
Compare Hotels in Yangshuo and Beijing
Looking for a hotel in Yangshuo 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.Yangshuo $42Beijing $7.65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yangshuo
Also for Yangshuo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Guilin Private Transfer in English-speaking Services: Between Airport & Yangshuo: $106
- Impression Liu Sanjie - Ticket Booking (including Round-trip Transfer): $75
- Private Departure Transfer: Yangshuo to Guilin Train Stations: $49
- Private Impression Sanjie Liu Evening Show with Hotel Transfer: $88
- Private Transfer from Xingping hotel to Longsheng hotel: $107
- Private Transfer from Xingping hotel to Yangshuo hotel: $21
- Private Transfer from Yangshuo hotel to Guilin hotel: $37
- Private Transfer from Yangshuo hotel to Longsheng hotel: $85
- Private Transfer from Yangshuo hotel to Xingping hotel: $21
- Private Yangshuo Transfer from Hotel to Longji terraces Hotel: $96
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Beijing
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Beijing:
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Taxi$4.72
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Train from Airport for Two$6.91
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Taxi to Hotel$8.29
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2 Metro Passes$2.21
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Metro$0.55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beijing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Beijing:
- Beijing Layover Tour with Hutong, Temple of Heaven and Airport Transfer: $296
- Private Transfer to Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace with A Guide: $259
- Beijing Great Wall and Imperial Palace Private Tour with Airport Transfer: $256
- 1-Day Bejing Layover Tour:Mutianyu Great Wall,Forbidden City & Airport Transfers: $250
- Beijing Layover Private Tour: City Highlights With Airport Transfer: $250
- Private Day Tour of Beijing City Overview with Airport Transfer: $245
- Beijing Hutong Culture Experience with Airport Transfer: $236
- Private Transfer from Tianjin Cruise Port to Beijing with stop at Great Wall : $221
- Beijing Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 15 pax: $220
- Mutianyu Great Wall Hiking Private Tour With Airport Transfer: $213
- Private Round Trip Transfer to Chengde from Beijing with English speaking driver: $208
- Private Transfer between Beijing and Beidaihe: $208
Is it cheaper to fly into Yangshuo or Beijing?
Prices for flights to both Beijing and Yangshuo 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 dayYangshuo $19Beijing $21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Yangshuo
For Yangshuo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 3-Hour Yangshuo Cooking Class with Yangshuo Town Shopping: $138
- Yangshuo Full Day Tour: Cooking class, River boat, Light Show: $259
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$0.83
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Hot Pot Dinner$6.91
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Dumpling Breakfast for Two$2.76
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Watermelon$1.94
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Peking Duck Dinner for 2$16
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Two Popsicles$0.83
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beijing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Beijing.
- Online Cooking Class Beijing Dumplings and Cuisine by Sunflowerli Renowned Chef : $20
- Online Cooking Class Handmade Noodles by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Orange Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Beijing Acrobatic Show Tickets w/ Optional Dinner or Transfer: $48
- Beijing Hutong Breakfast Food Tour: $55
- Temple of Heaven Private Tour w/Option Show &Dinner: $60
- 3 hours Morning or Afternoon Tea Tasting on Maliandao Street and Tea Restaurant Lunch or Dinner Tour: $69
- Mogolian Hot Pot Dinner with no limit soft drink and local beer .: $70
- Acrobatic Show with Peking Duck Dinner Private Tour: $80
- Old Beijing Dinner Tour: $80
- Discovery more local Beijing evening food Tour: $89
- Private Nightlife Trip to See Wonderful Acrobatic Show Enjoy Delicious Barbecue Buffet Dinner: $96
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Yangshuo $23Beijing $24
Tours and Activities in Yangshuo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Yangshuo.
- Tour to learn Chinese cuisine in Yangshuo group: $37
- Impression Sanjie Liu Show Ticket: $45
- Yangshuo Impression Liusanjie Show Ticket: $45
- Yangshuo Impression Liusanjie Show Ticket: $47
- Yangshuo Ruyi peak & round way cable car ticket: $55
- Yangshuo Via Ferrata Ticket: $56
- Half/Full-Day Yangshuo Countryside Moderate Cycling and Sightseeing Private Tour: $60
- Gullin: Li River Cruise with Pickup and Yangshuo: $65
- Private Half-Day Bike and Bamboo Raft Tour in Yangshuo: $80
- 1 Day - Yangshuo Bike Tour: $80
- All Inclusive Private Hiking Tour in Yangshuo: $84
- Yangshuo Parasailing Experience Ticket: $89
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$8.29
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Two Opera Tickets$59
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Temple of Heaven Park Entrance (for 2)$9.68
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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:
- 4-Hour Beijing Layover Tour to Hutong from Daxing Airport: $145
- All Inclusive Mutianyu Great Wall & Summer Palace Private Tour: $188
- All Inclusive Private Tour: Juyongguan Greatwall, Sacred Road, MingTombs : $176
- Beijing 2 Summer Palace Private Garden Tour: $140
- Beijing Layover Tour: Mutianyu Great Wall with English Driver : $100
- Beijing Private Tour of Ming Tombs, Summer Palace, Bird's Nest and Water Cube: $297
- Classic One Day Beijing Tour: $240
- Forbidden City Tour : $110
- Lama temple -Confucius temple - DongYue temple Private Cultural Tour: $156
- Mutianyu Great Wall And Ming Tomb Private One Day Tour: $205
- Mutianyu Great Wall and Ming Tomb Private Tour: $190
- The Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) Entrance Ticket: $8.00
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayYangshuo $33Beijing $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Beijing
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Beijing:
- Beijing Brewery Bike Tour: $99
- Evening Food Private Tour with Brewery Taproom Hopping at Slow Boat in Beijing: $110
- Full Day Private Chateau Changyu Wine Tour from Beijing: $161
- 5-Hour Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour from Beijing: $178
When comparing the travel costs between Yangshuo and Beijing, we can see that Beijing 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 Yangshuo Expensive? and Is Beijing Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Yangshuo or Beijing?
Beijing has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Yangshuo. When comparing the sizes of Yangshuo and Beijing, 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 Yangshuo or Beijing?
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 Yangshuo or Beijing in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Yangshuo as well as Beijing. Also, many visitors come to Beijing in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Yangshuo is a little warmer than Beijing. Typically, the summer temperatures in Yangshuo in July average around 30°C (86°F), and Beijing averages at about 27°C (80°F).
It's quite rainy in Beijing. Yangshuo receives a lot of rain in the summer. Yangshuo usually gets more rain in July than Beijing. Yangshuo gets 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyYangshuo 30°C (86°F)Beijing 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Yangshuo or Beijing in the Autumn?
Both Beijing and Yangshuo are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Beijing for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In October, Yangshuo is generally much warmer than Beijing. Daily temperatures in Yangshuo average around 23°C (73°F), and Beijing fluctuates around 14°C (56°F).
In October, Yangshuo usually receives more rain than Beijing. Yangshuo gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberYangshuo 23°C (73°F)Beijing 14°C (56°F)
Should I visit Yangshuo or Beijing in the Winter?
Both Beijing and Yangshuo during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Beijing because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Beijing can be very cold. Yangshuo is much warmer than Beijing in the winter. The daily temperature in Yangshuo averages around 10°C (49°F) in January, and Beijing fluctuates around -4°C (26°F).
Yangshuo usually gets more rain in January than Beijing. Yangshuo gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryYangshuo 10°C (49°F)Beijing -4°C (26°F)
Should I visit Yangshuo or Beijing in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Yangshuo and Beijing. Furthermore, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Beijing this time of year.
In the spring, Yangshuo is a little warmer than Beijing. Typically, the spring temperatures in Yangshuo in April average around 20°C (68°F), and Beijing averages at about 14°C (57°F).
Yangshuo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Yangshuo usually receives more rain than Beijing. Yangshuo gets 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilYangshuo 20°C (68°F)Beijing 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Beijing and Yangshuo
| Yangshuo | Beijing | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (49°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | -4°C (26°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | -1°C (30°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 15°C (59°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 20°C (68°F) | 263 mm (10.3 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 334 mm (13.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 320 mm (12.6 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 30°C (86°F) | 168 mm (6.6 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 14°C (56°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
| Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (53°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | -1°C (29°F) | 2 mm (0.1 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.