A Travel Price Comparison for China Yangshuo vs. Longsheng for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Yangshuo or Longsheng?

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 Longsheng can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Yangshuo or Longsheng?

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.

Longsheng

A county of the city, Guilin, Longsheng is a hub of several ethnic cultures that thrive on farming and tourism. It is located about 50 or so miles north of the Guilin city center. The region is perhaps most known for the Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces located in Heping Township. These, along with many other natural features like hot springs, waterfalls, and meadows are a few of the main attractions that draw visitors to Longsheng.

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.


Which place is cheaper, Longsheng or Yangshuo?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Yangshuo is $72, while the average daily cost in Longsheng is $79. 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 Longsheng in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Yangshuo $25
    Longsheng $20
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Yangshuo $50
    Longsheng $40
Compare Hotels in Yangshuo and Longsheng

Looking for a hotel in Yangshuo or Longsheng? 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 Yangshuo


Hotels in Longsheng


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.
    Yangshuo $43
    Longsheng $42

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yangshuo

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

  • Visit 100% primitive cave with Transfer: $97
  • Private Yangshuo Transfer from Hotel to Longji terraces Hotel: $96
  • Private Impression Sanjie Liu Evening Show with Hotel Transfer: $88
  • Yangshuo Via Ferrata with Round way private transfer from Xingping hotel: $67
  • Private Transfer from Xingping hotel to Guilin hotel: $64
  • Private Transfer from Yangshuo Train Station to Yangshuo Hotel: $48
  • Private Airport Transfer: Yangshuo Hotel to Guilin Liangjiang Airport: $45
  • Private Transfer from Yangshuo hotel to Guilin hotel: $37
  • Private Transfer from Yangshuo(Xingping) Train Station to Yangshuo Hotel: $21

Is it cheaper to fly into Yangshuo or Longsheng?

Prices for flights to both Longsheng 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Yangshuo $19
    Longsheng $35

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Yangshuo

For Yangshuo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Full-day Cultural Experience: Taichi, Cooking & Painting Lessons: $100
  • Yangshuo Full Day Tour: Cooking class, River boat, Light Show: $259

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Yangshuo $23
    Longsheng $8.44

Tours and Activities in Yangshuo

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

  • Longji Rice Terraces Day Tour from Yangshuo hotel: $181
  • Yangshuo Helicopter Tour from Yangshuo hotel: $149
  • 1 Day - Yangshuo Bike Tour: $80
  • 1-Day Guilin City Tour with the Daxu Town and Yao Mountain from Yangshuo: $187
  • 1-Day Longji Rice Terraces hiking tour from Guilin/Yangshuo hotel: $188
  • 2 Day - Longji Rice Terraces - Sunrise Hiking Tour: $280
  • All-inclusive Private Day Tour to Longji Rice Terraces and Village: $190
  • Full-day Tour: Cycling, Rafting & SanjieLiu Outdoor Water Theatre: $128
  • Full-day Tour: Longji Rice Terraces & Minority Villages: $146
  • Guilin Tea plantation and Longji Rice Terraces Day Tour from Xingping hotel: $181
  • Guilin Yangshuo Day tour from Guangzhou by Round Way Bullet Train: $212
  • Half-Day Private Tour: Yangshuo Sidecar Tour from Xingping hotel: $159

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Yangshuo $33
    Longsheng $7.94


When comparing the travel costs between Yangshuo and Longsheng, we can see that Longsheng 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 Longsheng Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Yangshuo or Longsheng?

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 Yangshuo or Longsheng in the Summer?

Both Longsheng and Yangshuo are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.

Yangshuo is around the same temperature as Longsheng in the summer. The daily temperature in Yangshuo averages around 30°C (86°F) in July, and Longsheng fluctuates around 30°C (86°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Longsheng. It's quite rainy in Yangshuo. In July, Yangshuo usually receives around the same amount of rain as Longsheng. Yangshuo gets 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain, while Longsheng receives 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Yangshuo 30°C (86°F) 
    Longsheng 30°C (86°F)

Should I visit Yangshuo or Longsheng in the Autumn?

Both Longsheng and Yangshuo during the autumn are popular places to visit.

In the autumn, Yangshuo is around the same temperature as Longsheng. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Yangshuo in October average around 23°C (73°F), and Longsheng averages at about 23°C (73°F).

Yangshuo usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Longsheng. Yangshuo gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Longsheng receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Yangshuo 23°C (73°F) 
    Longsheng 23°C (73°F)

Should I visit Yangshuo or Longsheng in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Yangshuo and Longsheng.

In January, Yangshuo is generally around the same temperature as Longsheng. Daily temperatures in Yangshuo average around 10°C (49°F), and Longsheng fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).

In January, Yangshuo usually receives around the same amount of rain as Longsheng. Yangshuo gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Longsheng receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Yangshuo 10°C (49°F) 
    Longsheng 10°C (49°F)

Should I visit Yangshuo or Longsheng in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Yangshuo as well as Longsheng.

Yangshuo is around the same temperature as Longsheng in the spring. The daily temperature in Yangshuo averages around 20°C (68°F) in April, and Longsheng fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

It's quite rainy in Longsheng. Yangshuo receives a lot of rain in the spring. Yangshuo usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Longsheng. Yangshuo gets 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain, while Longsheng receives 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Yangshuo 20°C (68°F) 
    Longsheng 20°C (68°F)

Typical Weather for Longsheng and Yangshuo

Yangshuo Longsheng
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 10°C (49°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 10°C (49°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Feb 11°C (51°F) 87 mm (3.4 in) 11°C (51°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Mar 15°C (59°F) 129 mm (5.1 in) 15°C (59°F) 129 mm (5.1 in)
Apr 20°C (68°F) 263 mm (10.3 in) 20°C (68°F) 263 mm (10.3 in)
May 25°C (77°F) 334 mm (13.2 in) 25°C (77°F) 334 mm (13.2 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 320 mm (12.6 in) 28°C (82°F) 320 mm (12.6 in)
Jul 30°C (86°F) 206 mm (8.1 in) 30°C (86°F) 206 mm (8.1 in)
Aug 30°C (86°F) 168 mm (6.6 in) 30°C (86°F) 168 mm (6.6 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 72 mm (2.8 in) 27°C (81°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Oct 23°C (73°F) 93 mm (3.7 in) 23°C (73°F) 93 mm (3.7 in)
Nov 17°C (63°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 17°C (63°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Dec 12°C (53°F) 47 mm (1.9 in) 12°C (53°F) 47 mm (1.9 in)