A Travel Price Comparison for China Zhangye vs. Dali for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Zhangye or Dali?

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 Zhangye and Dali. 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: Zhangye or Dali?

Zhangye

Zhangye, China is a city in the Gansu Province in the central north part of the country, close to Mongolia. This ancient city has often been used as a military strong hold, having been the headquarters of General Huo among many others. Zhangye is a fabulous day trip city to visit when staying in larger nearby cities.

Zhangye is privy to beautiful summer weather, with lots of sunshine and temperatures in the high 70's Fahrenheit. The best times to visit are between July and September, when temperatures and sunshine are at their highest. Autumn, Winter, and Spring tend to be a little chillier and rainier.

Dali

Dali is a city in southern China with a long and glorious history dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Xiaguan neighborhood of the city is the modern industrial center where most public transportation arrives; however, the Old Town of Dali is the place that draws the most visitors. Being one of China's ancient cities, Dali is said to have been a gateway to the Silk Road, and still attracts attention with its traditional architecture, beautiful scenery, ethnic cultures, and nightlife.

Which place is cheaper, Dali or Zhangye?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Zhangye is $87, while the average daily cost in Dali is $49. 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 Zhangye and Dali in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Zhangye $39
    Dali $17
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Zhangye $78
    Dali $34
Compare Hotels in Zhangye and Dali

Looking for a hotel in Zhangye or Dali? 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 Zhangye


Hotels in Dali


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.
    Zhangye $39
    Dali $9.42

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangye

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zhangye:

  • Private One Way Transfer to Jiayuguan from Zhangye: $78
  • Private Airport Transfer: Zhangye Hotel to Zhangye Airport (YZY): $52
  • Private Airport Transfer: Zhangye Airport (YZY) to Zhangye Hotel: $52

Typical Local Transportation prices in Dali

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dali:


  • Local Bus
    $0.42

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dali

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

  • Dali Airport Chauffeur Service,Dali Airport Transfer: $40
  • Private Round-Trip Transfer Service to Shaxi Ancient Town from Dali: $88
  • Private One Way Transfer to Lijiang from Dali: $96
  • Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel: $140
  • Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel and Stops at Shaxi Old Town: $150

Is it cheaper to fly into Zhangye or Dali?

Prices for flights to both Dali and Zhangye 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
    Zhangye $26
    Dali $18

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zhangye

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zhangye.

  • Private Zhangye Danxia Geopark Sunset Tour with Dinner: $258

Typical Food prices in Dali

For Dali, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Lunch
    $4.53
  • Breakfast
    $3.54

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dali

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

  • 1-Day Dali Baba Cooking and Cruise Tour: $150

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Zhangye $11
    Dali $18

Tours and Activities in Zhangye

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zhangye are as follows:

  • 2 Days Zhangye Mati Temple, Pingshan Lake Valley & Rainbow Mountain Tour: $340
  • 2-Day Zhangye Private Tour: Binggou Danxia, Zhangye Danxia Geo Park, Mati Temple Grottoes: $543
  • 3 Days Zhangye Private Tour with Danxia Landform Geological Park: $438
  • 7 Days Hexi Corridor Adventure Tour to Zhangye, Jiayuguan & Dunhuang: $1,590
  • Amazing 6-Day China Silk Road Tour: $3,500
  • Full-Day Private Tour to Jiayuguan and Xuanbi from Zhangye: $208
  • Private Day Tour: Horse Hoof Temple Grottoes and Zhangye Danxia Landform: $235
  • Private Hiking Tour: Binggou Danxia and Zhangye Danxia Geopark from Zhangye: $255
  • Private Hiking Tour: Pingshanhu Grand Canyon and Zhangye Danxia Geopark From Zhangye: $255
  • Private Hiking Tour: Pingshanhu Grand Canyon and the Horse Hoof Temple Grottoes: $235
  • Private Tour of Zhangye Danxia Geopark: $266
  • Private day tour to Zhangye Danxia Landform the Rainbow Mountain: $114

Tours and Activities in Dali

For Dali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Half-Day Shangri-La Thangka Tour: $88
  • 1-Day Erhai Sightseeing in Dali: $129
  • One day tour to Rehai Hot Sea and Heshun Old Town in Tengchong: $149
  • 1-Day Dali Mountain and Cuisine Tour: $150
  • 1-Day Electric Bike Tour in Dali: $160
  • 1-Day Tie Dye Experience Tour in Dali: $160
  • Private Tour: Explore the Ancient City of Dali: $171
  • Private Day Tour of Dali Explore the Ancient City: $171
  • Private hiking and trekking tour to Cangshan Mountain from Dali: $175
  • Private tour to Xizhou old town local market Erhai lake three Pagodas from Dali: $184
  • Dali Private Tour to Xizhou Ancient Town and Erhai Lake: $186
  • 1-Day Dali tour with the Daili old town, Xizhou Village and Three Pagodas: $195

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Zhangye $7.07
    Dali $11


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zhangye and Dali, we can see that Zhangye is more expensive. And not only is Dali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Dali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dali 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 Zhangye would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zhangye than you might in Dali.

Budget Your Trip

Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.

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Zhangye vs. Dali Travel Comparison

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