Which place is cheaper, Beijing or Zhangjiajie?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zhangjiajie or Beijing?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Zhangjiajie and Beijing. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Zhangjiajie or Beijing?
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.
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 Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, and The Best 2-Week Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZhangjiajie $64Beijing $77
The average daily cost (per person) in Zhangjiajie is $64, 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 Zhangjiajie and Beijing in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZhangjiajie $30Beijing $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZhangjiajie $60Beijing $80
Compare Hotels in Zhangjiajie and Beijing
Looking for a hotel in Zhangjiajie 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.Zhangjiajie $15Beijing $7.86
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangjiajie
Also for Zhangjiajie, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Fox Fairy Show VIP Ticket with Private Transfer in ZJJ City: $63
- Private Car Transfer From WLY to Glass Bridge (Round Trip ): $105
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie Train Station to Fenghuang hotel: $149
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Aizhai bridge area: $187
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Furong old town: $187
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Guilin or Yangshuo: $256
- Private transfer from Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) to Changsha area: $213
- Zhangjiajie airport/city pick up transfer to hotel or Vice Versa: $18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Beijing
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Beijing:
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Taxi$4.80
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Train from Airport for Two$7.04
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Taxi to Hotel$8.45
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2 Metro Passes$2.25
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Metro$0.56
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beijing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Beijing:
- Private Beijing Downtown Transfer for 10 hours Up to 30pax: $850
- Private Beijing Downtown Transfer for 10 hours Up to 15pax: $490
- Tank Driving Experience (hotel pickup & Roundtrip Transfer): $450
- Private Beijing Downtown Transfer for 10 hours Up to 5pax: $323
- Beijing Private Transfer: Mutianyu Great Wall Slow-Paced Visit: $280
- Private Transfer to Beidaihe Summer Resort from Beijing: $272
- 1 Day Pass for Universal Beijing and Private Transfer Package: $265
- 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
- Beijing Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 15 pax: $220
- Visit Great Wall With Beijing Capital Airport Round-Way Transfer : $215
Is it cheaper to fly into Zhangjiajie or Beijing?
Prices for flights to both Beijing and Zhangjiajie 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 dayZhangjiajie $21Beijing $20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zhangjiajie
For Zhangjiajie, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Full-Day Private Discovery Tour to Tianmen Mountain National Park with Dinner: $184
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$0.84
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Hot Pot Dinner$7.04
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Dumpling Breakfast for Two$2.82
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Watermelon$1.97
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Peking Duck Dinner for 2$17
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Two Popsicles$0.84
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beijing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Beijing.
- Online Cooking Class Kungpao Chicken: $20
- Online Cooking Class Handmade Noodles by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Orange Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Temple of Heaven Private Tour w/Option Show &Dinner: $54
- Beijing Hutong Breakfast Food Tour: $55
- Hutong Breakfast Food Tour: $55
- Beijing Gulou Night Market Food Tour: $68
- Hidden Gems Guided Food Tour with Beer and Tastings: $75
- Beijing Hutong Neighborhood: Food and Dinner Tour: $80
- Authentic Lunch or Dinner Tour in Beijing's Best Hidden Spots: $80
- Acrobatic Show with Peking Duck Dinner Private Tour: $80
- Authentic Local Food Tour in Center Beijing: $81
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zhangjiajie $23Beijing $25
Tours and Activities in Zhangjiajie
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Zhangjiajie.
- Virtual Guided Tour: Visit China's Landscapes with Hollywood Movies: $16
- Baofeng Lake Admission Ticket in Zhangjiajie (with Boat Ride): $37
- Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and Glass Bridge Ticket: $57
- Join-in Tour: Tianmen Mountain and Sky Walk in a Day from Zhangjiajie: $118
- Full-Day Private Tour of Tianmen Mountain With the Skywalk: $121
- Full-Day Private Tour of Tianmen Mountain: $125
- Full-Day Private Tour of Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) National Forest Park: $130
- 1 Days Zhangjiajie Natural Beauty Tour with Baofeng Lake: $132
- Private Day Tour of Baofeng Lake and Yellow Dragon Cave: $140
- 1 Day Private Expedition Tour to Binlang Valley: $142
- 1-Day Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Tour: $146
- Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon with Glass Bridge and Baofeng Lake Private Day Tour: $147
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$8.45
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Two Opera Tickets$60
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Temple of Heaven Park Entrance (for 2)$9.85
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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
- 9 Day Shared Tour from Beijing to Shanghai: $299
- All Inclusive Mutianyu Great Wall & Summer Palace Private Tour: $188
- All Inclusive Private Tour: Juyongguan Greatwall, Sacred Road, MingTombs : $176
- Beijing Art Tour: Seeing Fantastic Ming Murals at Fa Hai Temple : $220
- Beijing Private Tour of Ming Tombs, Summer Palace, Bird's Nest and Water Cube: $297
- China Art Museum and 798 Art Zone Private Tour: $137
- China National Museum Ticket Pre-booking and Tiananmen Square : $40
- Full Day Private Tour Incredible Beijing City Highlights: $179
- Lama temple -Confucius temple - DongYue temple Private Cultural Tour: $156
- Mutianyu Great Wall Entrance Ticket Booking: $16
- Private Day to T-Square, Forbidden city, Temple of heaven, Summer palace Tour : $177
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZhangjiajie $16Beijing $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Beijing
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Beijing:
- Evening Food Private Tour with Brewery Taproom Hopping at Slow Boat in Beijing: $110
- 5-Hour Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour from Beijing: $178
- Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour and Mutianyu Great Wall Visit: $238
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zhangjiajie and Beijing, we can see that Beijing is more expensive. And not only is Zhangjiajie much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Zhangjiajie would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zhangjiajie 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 Beijing would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Beijing than you might in Zhangjiajie.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zhangjiajie Expensive? and Is Beijing Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zhangjiajie or Beijing?
Beijing has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Zhangjiajie. When comparing the sizes of Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie or Beijing in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Zhangjiajie as well as Beijing. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Beijing because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Zhangjiajie is around the same temperature as Beijing. Typically, the summer temperatures in Zhangjiajie in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Beijing averages at about 27°C (80°F).
It's quite rainy in Beijing. Zhangjiajie receives a lot of rain in the summer. Zhangjiajie usually gets less rain in July than Beijing. Zhangjiajie gets 125 mm (4.9 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 JulyZhangjiajie 29°C (85°F)Beijing 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Zhangjiajie or Beijing in the Autumn?
Both Beijing and Zhangjiajie are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Beijing this time of year.
In October, Zhangjiajie is generally a little warmer than Beijing. Daily temperatures in Zhangjiajie average around 19°C (65°F), and Beijing fluctuates around 14°C (56°F).
In October, Zhangjiajie usually receives more rain than Beijing. Zhangjiajie gets 90 mm (3.6 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 OctoberZhangjiajie 19°C (65°F)Beijing 14°C (56°F)
Should I visit Zhangjiajie or Beijing in the Winter?
Both Beijing and Zhangjiajie during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many travelers come to Beijing for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Beijing. Zhangjiajie is much warmer than Beijing in the winter. The daily temperature in Zhangjiajie averages around 5°C (42°F) in January, and Beijing fluctuates around -4°C (26°F).
Zhangjiajie usually gets more rain in January than Beijing. Zhangjiajie gets 44 mm (1.7 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 JanuaryZhangjiajie 5°C (42°F)Beijing -4°C (26°F)
Should I visit Zhangjiajie or Beijing in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Zhangjiajie and Beijing. Furthermore, many visitors come to Beijing in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Zhangjiajie is a little warmer than Beijing. Typically, the spring temperatures in Zhangjiajie in April average around 17°C (63°F), and Beijing averages at about 14°C (57°F).
Zhangjiajie gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Zhangjiajie usually receives more rain than Beijing. Zhangjiajie gets 166 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZhangjiajie 17°C (63°F)Beijing 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Beijing and Zhangjiajie
| Zhangjiajie | Beijing | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (42°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | -4°C (26°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | -1°C (30°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (52°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 166 mm (6.5 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| May | 22°C (72°F) | 179 mm (7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (78°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (65°F) | 90 mm (3.6 in) | 14°C (56°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 70 mm (2.7 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (45°F) | 44 mm (1.7 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.