Which place is cheaper, Hongcun or Yangshuo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Yangshuo or Hongcun?
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 Hongcun can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Yangshuo or Hongcun?
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.
Hongcun
When you picture ancient China, you likely picture old cobblestone streets, white homes with pointed black roofs and a slight air of mysticism in the surroundings. This is Hongcun.
The backdrop for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is not usually on the top of many traveler's lists. This isn't a bustling tourist town with guides offering to show you the sights or carts peddling the latest tacky souvenir. It's a quiet village where you'll see the real Chinese culture. The homes along the complex water canals air their fish in their windows to preserve it for their family dinners. There is no bowing to tourism here.
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 $72Hongcun $52
The average daily cost (per person) in Yangshuo is $72, while the average daily cost in Hongcun is $52. 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 Hongcun in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personYangshuo $25Hongcun $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomYangshuo $50Hongcun $46
Compare Hotels in Yangshuo and Hongcun
Looking for a hotel in Yangshuo or Hongcun? 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 $42Hongcun $12
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 Hongcun?
Prices for flights to both Hongcun 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 $19Hongcun $19
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 Hongcun
Some typical examples of dining costs in Hongcun are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.84
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Breakfast of Dumplings$2.07
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Yangshuo $23Hongcun $17
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 Hongcun
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Hongcun are as follows:
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Two Entrance Tickets$29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayYangshuo $33Hongcun $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Yangshuo and Hongcun, we can see that Yangshuo is more expensive. And not only is Hongcun much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hongcun would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hongcun 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 Yangshuo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Yangshuo than you might in Hongcun.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Yangshuo Expensive? and Is Hongcun Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Yangshuo or Hongcun?
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 Hongcun in the Summer?
Both Hongcun and Yangshuo during the summer are popular places to visit.
In the summer, Yangshuo is around the same temperature as Hongcun. Typically, the summer temperatures in Yangshuo in July average around 30°C (86°F), and Hongcun averages at about 29°C (85°F).
Hongcun gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Yangshuo. Yangshuo usually gets more rain in July than Hongcun. Yangshuo gets 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyYangshuo 30°C (86°F)Hongcun 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Yangshuo or Hongcun in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Yangshuo and Hongcun.
In October, Yangshuo is generally a little warmer than Hongcun. Daily temperatures in Yangshuo average around 23°C (73°F), and Hongcun fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
In October, Yangshuo usually receives more rain than Hongcun. Yangshuo gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberYangshuo 23°C (73°F)Hongcun 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Yangshuo or Hongcun in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Yangshuo as well as Hongcun.
The weather in Hongcun can be very cold. Yangshuo is much warmer than Hongcun in the winter. The daily temperature in Yangshuo averages around 10°C (49°F) in January, and Hongcun fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).
Yangshuo usually gets more rain in January than Hongcun. Yangshuo gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryYangshuo 10°C (49°F)Hongcun 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Yangshuo or Hongcun in the Spring?
Both Hongcun and Yangshuo are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In the spring, Yangshuo is a little warmer than Hongcun. Typically, the spring temperatures in Yangshuo in April average around 20°C (68°F), and Hongcun averages at about 17°C (62°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Hongcun. It's quite rainy in Yangshuo. In April, Yangshuo usually receives more rain than Hongcun. Yangshuo gets 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilYangshuo 20°C (68°F)Hongcun 17°C (62°F)
Typical Weather for Hongcun and Yangshuo
| Yangshuo | Hongcun | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (49°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Mar | 15°C (59°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) |
| Apr | 20°C (68°F) | 263 mm (10.3 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 334 mm (13.2 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 320 mm (12.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 235 mm (9.2 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 185 mm (7.3 in) |
| Aug | 30°C (86°F) | 168 mm (6.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 121 mm (4.7 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (53°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 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.