Which place is cheaper, Datong or Zhangjiajie?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Zhangjiajie or Datong?
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 Datong. 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 Datong?
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.
Datong
If you're looking for an old world city, with a renovated feel, you might want to spend some time in Datong, China. This city was once walled-in and the newest initiative is to rebuild their great wall to maintain their old world charm. Datong is definitely done a lot to make itself a contender in the world of vacation destinations.
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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Zhangjiajie Prices
China PricesDatong Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZhangjiajie $83Datong $75
The average daily cost (per person) in Zhangjiajie is $83, while the average daily cost in Datong is $75. 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 Datong in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZhangjiajie $32Datong $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZhangjiajie $64Datong $48
Compare Hotels in Zhangjiajie and Datong
Looking for a hotel in Zhangjiajie or Datong? 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 $15Datong $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangjiajie
Also for Zhangjiajie, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 4-Day Private Tour with Airport Transfers: $710
- Private Transfer: Yichang hotel from/to Zhangjiajie Hotel: $321
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Guilin or Yangshuo: $256
- Private Transfer: Zhangjiajie from/to Fenghuang: $168
- Private Transfer: Zhangjiajie to/from Fenghuang: $149
- Entrance Tickets to Grand Canyon & Glass Bridge with Private Car Transfer From Zhangjiajie city hotel (Round Trip ): $127
- Zhangjiajie Forest Park 4 Day Pass and All You Can Ride Transfers: $98
- Fox Fairy Show Ticket with Private Transfer in ZJJ City: $52
- Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport private transfer service: $20
- Zhangjiajie airport/city pick up transfer to hotel or Vice Versa: $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Datong
Also for Datong, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From 4-Day Private Tour to Pingyao with Transfer: $988
- Chengdu: Private Round-Trip Transfer to Leshan Budda: $128
- Private Round-Trip Transfer Service to Hanging Temple and Hengshan from Datong: $118
- Transfer or Tour to Yungang Grottoes&Hanging Temple: $102
- Dunhuang Private Round Trip Transfer to Jiayuguan and Xuanbi Great Wall: $100
- Datong Hanging Temple Private Transfer from Hotel or Station: $69
- Transfer from Datong Railway Stations to Hotels in City Center: $35
- Private Transfer Service from Yungang Airport to Datong Hotel: $29
Is it cheaper to fly into Zhangjiajie or Datong?
Prices for flights to both Datong 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 $37Datong $37
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 $24Datong $27
Tours and Activities in Zhangjiajie
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Zhangjiajie.
- 1 Day Private Expedition Tour to Jiutian Cave and Visit Marshal Helong Memorial: $179
- 1 day tour Avatar Mountain and Grand Canyon & Glass Bridge: $215
- 1-2 Days All-inclusive Tour: Mt. Avatar, Glass Bridge, Mt Tianmen: $109
- 1-2 Days Group Tour to Avatar & Tianmen Mountain & Glass Bridge: $59
- 1-Day Fenghuang Tour from Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) by Round-way Bullet Train: $240
- 1-Day Private Tour to Avatar Mountain & 72 Wonder Tower: $104
- 1-Day Private Tour to Glass Bridge & Grand Canyon & Baofeng Lake: $113
- 1-Day Private Tour to Mt.Tianmen & Furong Town Night Illumination: $156
- 1-Day Private Tour to Tianmen Mountain & Glass Walk & Night Light: $146
- 1-Day Private Tour to ZJJ National Forest Park & Avatar Mountain: $95
- 1-Day Private Tour to Zhangjiajie Forest Park & Avatar Mountain: $176
- 1-Day Private Tour to Zhangjiajie Highlights: $124
Tours and Activities in Datong
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Datong.
- 1 Day Datong Yungang Grottoes & Hanging Temple Tour/from Beijing: $275
- 1-Day Pingyao tour from Datong and ends of Beijing or Xi'an by Bullet Train: $267
- 4-8 hours Private Datong Great Wall Tour: $99
- All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Hanging Temple at Hengshan from Datong: $188
- All-Inclusive Private Day Tour to Wooden Pagoda and Hanging Temple from Datong: $220
- All-Inclusive Private Tour to Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple from Datong: $220
- Datong Classic Day Tour: $208
- Datong Day Tour to Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple: $203
- Datong Hanging Temple Wooden Pagoda Self-guided Tour by Car: $95
- Datong Private Day Tour to Deshengbu and Zhenchuankou Great Wall with Lunch: $190
- Datong Private Day Tour to Yanmenguan Great Wall and Yingxian Wooden Pagoda: $258
- Datong Private Self-guided Tour with Chartered Car: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZhangjiajie $17Datong $13
When comparing the travel costs between Zhangjiajie and Datong, we can see that Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie Expensive? and Is Datong Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zhangjiajie or Datong?
Datong has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Zhangjiajie. When comparing the sizes of Zhangjiajie and Datong, 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.
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.