Which place is cheaper, Benxi or Yangshuo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Yangshuo or Benxi?
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 Benxi can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Yangshuo or Benxi?
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.
Benxi
Benxi, China is a city in the south east of the Liaoning Province in northeast China. The city itself is a major industrial hub, but is best known for the Benxi Shuidong National Park where you'll find the famous five million year old water cave. Benxi experiences cold winters, with weather being less enjoyable for touring from November through March. May through August see much warmer weather, getting up to the high 80's Fahrenheit in late summer. September and October are also good times to visit as temperatures cool to 60-70 degrees.
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 $72Benxi $95
The average daily cost (per person) in Yangshuo is $72, while the average daily cost in Benxi is $95. 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 Benxi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personYangshuo $25Benxi $47
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomYangshuo $50Benxi $94
Compare Hotels in Yangshuo and Benxi
Looking for a hotel in Yangshuo or Benxi? 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 $42Benxi $31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yangshuo
Also for Yangshuo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Yangshuo hotel to Xingping hotel: $21
- Private Transfer from Xingping hotel to Yangshuo hotel: $21
- Private Transfer from Yangshuo hotel to Guilin hotel: $37
- Private Departure Transfer: Yangshuo to Guilin Train Stations: $49
- Impression Liu Sanjie - Ticket Booking (including Round-trip Transfer): $75
- Private Transfer from Yangshuo hotel to Longsheng hotel: $85
- Private Impression Sanjie Liu Evening Show with Hotel Transfer: $88
- Private Yangshuo Transfer from Hotel to Longji terraces Hotel: $96
- Guilin Private Transfer in English-speaking Services: Between Airport & Yangshuo: $106
- Private Transfer from Xingping hotel to Longsheng hotel: $107
Is it cheaper to fly into Yangshuo or Benxi?
Prices for flights to both Benxi 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 $19Benxi $30
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Yangshuo $23Benxi $7.31
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayYangshuo $33Benxi $7.70
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Yangshuo and Benxi, we can see that Benxi is more expensive. And not only is Yangshuo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Yangshuo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Yangshuo 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 Benxi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Benxi than you might in Yangshuo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Yangshuo Expensive? and Is Benxi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Yangshuo or Benxi?
Benxi has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Yangshuo. When comparing the sizes of Yangshuo and Benxi, 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 Benxi?
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 Benxi in the Summer?
Both Benxi and Yangshuo during the summer are popular places to visit.
Yangshuo is a little warmer than Benxi in the summer. The daily temperature in Yangshuo averages around 30°C (86°F) in July, and Benxi fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).
Benxi gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Yangshuo. Yangshuo usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Benxi. Yangshuo gets 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyYangshuo 30°C (86°F)Benxi 25°C (78°F)
Should I visit Yangshuo or Benxi in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Yangshuo and Benxi.
In the autumn, Yangshuo is much warmer than Benxi. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Yangshuo in October average around 23°C (73°F), and Benxi averages at about 11°C (52°F).
In October, Yangshuo usually receives more rain than Benxi. Yangshuo gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberYangshuo 23°C (73°F)Benxi 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Yangshuo or Benxi in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Yangshuo as well as Benxi.
The weather in Benxi can be very cold. In January, Yangshuo is generally much warmer than Benxi. Daily temperatures in Yangshuo average around 10°C (49°F), and Benxi fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).
Yangshuo usually gets more rain in January than Benxi. Yangshuo gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryYangshuo 10°C (49°F)Benxi -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Yangshuo or Benxi in the Spring?
Both Benxi and Yangshuo are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
Yangshuo is much warmer than Benxi in the spring. The daily temperature in Yangshuo averages around 20°C (68°F) in April, and Benxi fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
It's quite rainy in Yangshuo. In April, Yangshuo usually receives more rain than Benxi. Yangshuo gets 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilYangshuo 20°C (68°F)Benxi 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Benxi and Yangshuo
| Yangshuo | Benxi | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (49°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | -7°C (20°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 15°C (59°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Apr | 20°C (68°F) | 263 mm (10.3 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 334 mm (13.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 320 mm (12.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) |
| Aug | 30°C (86°F) | 168 mm (6.6 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (53°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | -7°C (20°F) | 12 mm (0.5 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.