Which place is cheaper, Benxi or Zhangjiajie?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zhangjiajie or Benxi?
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 Benxi. 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 Benxi?
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.
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 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 $65Benxi $97
The average daily cost (per person) in Zhangjiajie is $65, while the average daily cost in Benxi is $97. 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 Benxi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZhangjiajie $30Benxi $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZhangjiajie $60Benxi $96
Compare Hotels in Zhangjiajie and Benxi
Looking for a hotel in Zhangjiajie 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.Zhangjiajie $15Benxi $32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangjiajie
Also for Zhangjiajie, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zhangjiajie airport/city pick up transfer to hotel or Vice Versa: $18
- Fox Fairy Show VIP Ticket with Round Trip Private Transfer: $52
- Fox Fairy Show VIP Ticket with Private Transfer in ZJJ City: $63
- Private Car Transfer From WLY to Glass Bridge (Round Trip ): $105
- Entrance Tickets to Grand Canyon & Glass Bridge with Private Car Transfer From Zhangjiajie city hotel (Round Trip ): $127
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie Train Station to Fenghuang hotel: $149
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Furong old town: $187
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Aizhai bridge area: $187
- Private transfer from Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) to Changsha area: $213
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Guilin or Yangshuo: $256
- Private Transfer: Yichang hotel from/to Zhangjiajie Hotel: $324
Is it cheaper to fly into Zhangjiajie or Benxi?
Prices for flights to both Benxi 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 $21Benxi $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zhangjiajie
For Zhangjiajie, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 1 Day Zhangjiajie Private Tour Visit Avatar Mount and Tianzi Mount with Dinner: $196
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zhangjiajie $23Benxi $7.50
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
- Tianmen Mountain day tour: $92
- 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
- Join-in Tour: Day Tour to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon & Glass Bridge : $125
- 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
- 1 Day Tianmen Mountain Tour: $139
- Private Day Tour of Baofeng Lake and Yellow Dragon Cave: $140
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZhangjiajie $16Benxi $7.90
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zhangjiajie and Benxi, we can see that Benxi 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 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 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 Benxi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zhangjiajie or Benxi?
Benxi has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Zhangjiajie. When comparing the sizes of Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie or Benxi in the Summer?
Both Benxi and Zhangjiajie during the summer are popular places to visit.
Zhangjiajie is a little warmer than Benxi in the summer. The daily temperature in Zhangjiajie averages around 29°C (85°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 Zhangjiajie. Zhangjiajie usually gets less rain in July than Benxi. Zhangjiajie gets 125 mm (4.9 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 JulyZhangjiajie 29°C (85°F)Benxi 25°C (78°F)
Should I visit Zhangjiajie or Benxi in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Zhangjiajie and Benxi.
In the autumn, Zhangjiajie is much warmer than Benxi. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Zhangjiajie in October average around 19°C (65°F), and Benxi averages at about 11°C (52°F).
In October, Zhangjiajie usually receives more rain than Benxi. Zhangjiajie gets 90 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZhangjiajie 19°C (65°F)Benxi 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Zhangjiajie or Benxi in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Zhangjiajie as well as Benxi.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Benxi. In January, Zhangjiajie is generally much warmer than Benxi. Daily temperatures in Zhangjiajie average around 5°C (42°F), and Benxi fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).
Zhangjiajie usually gets more rain in January than Benxi. Zhangjiajie gets 44 mm (1.7 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 JanuaryZhangjiajie 5°C (42°F)Benxi -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Zhangjiajie or Benxi in the Spring?
Both Benxi and Zhangjiajie are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
Zhangjiajie is much warmer than Benxi in the spring. The daily temperature in Zhangjiajie averages around 17°C (63°F) in April, and Benxi fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
It's quite rainy in Zhangjiajie. In April, Zhangjiajie usually receives more rain than Benxi. Zhangjiajie gets 166 mm (6.5 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 AprilZhangjiajie 17°C (63°F)Benxi 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Benxi and Zhangjiajie
| Zhangjiajie | Benxi | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (42°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | -7°C (20°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (52°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 166 mm (6.5 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| May | 22°C (72°F) | 179 mm (7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (78°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (65°F) | 90 mm (3.6 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 70 mm (2.7 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (45°F) | 44 mm (1.7 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.