Trip budget

China trip cost, hotels, trains and entry tickets

Q: Are prices per person?

The route total, yes. It is per person in a double room, meaning half the hotel plus one person's trains and tickets. Nightly hotel prices are per room.

Q: Why is food not included?

Because it varies a lot with where and what you eat, and we would rather not give figures without a source. We only add what has a checked price, hotels, trains, domestic flights and tickets.

Starting prices for a China trip. Bullet trains from 156 yuan, hotels from €24 a night and a 10-day route from €623 per person, before flights.

The 10-day route, per person

An example with the classic Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai route in November, per person in a double room. It adds 9 hotel nights, both bullet trains and the main entry tickets. These are from prices, at the rate of 7.4992 yuan per euro on 9 October 2026.

With simple hotels. From €623
With comfortable hotels. From €834
With special hotels. From €1,695
Trains, €179, and tickets, €54, in all three

Bullet trains

From prices, second class, one way. Second class is comfortable and clean, with power sockets. First class costs a lot more.

Beijing to Xi'an. 587 yuan, about €78
Beijing to Shanghai. 661 yuan, about €88
Xi'an to Shanghai. 756 yuan, about €101
Xi'an to Chengdu. 300 yuan, about €40
Chengdu to Chongqing. 156 yuan, about €21

Hotels per night

From prices, per double room and night, checked on Trip.com for a night in November 2026. These are the hotels this guide suggests, well located and well rated. Prices change a lot by date.

Simple. €24 to €101 depending on the city
Comfortable. €43 to €210 depending on the city
Special. €58 to €474 depending on the city
Beijing and Shanghai cost most. Yangshuo and Xi'an cost least

Main entry tickets

Adult from prices, in yuan. Some drop in low season, and museums like Shanghai Museum East and the Shaanxi History Museum are free.

Forbidden City. 60, and 40 from November to March
Mutianyu with cable car. 180
Terracotta Army. 120, and 100 from December to February
Chengdu pandas, 55. Li River cruise, 215
Zhangjiajie 4-day pass, 228. Tianmen, 288

Domestic flights

For long hops, flying is better. From prices per person, one way, as a guide. They vary a lot by day and time.

Xi'an to Guilin. 637 yuan, about €85
Guilin to Shanghai. 679 yuan, about €91
Chengdu to Shanghai. 536 yuan, about €71
Zhangjiajie to Shanghai. 556 yuan, about €74

What is not included

These prices are not the whole trip. Some costs depend on you, where you fly from and how you like to travel.

Your international return flight
Meals and drinks
Metro, taxis and airport transfers
Guides, tours and shows
Travel insurance, an eSIM and a visa if your passport needs one

The route in this guide

10 daysThe golden triangleThe Terracotta Army between the Great Wall and the BundBeijing · Xi'an · ShanghaiFrom 830 € per person · Comfortable

Frequently asked questions

Are prices per person?

The route total, yes. It is per person in a double room, meaning half the hotel plus one person's trains and tickets. Nightly hotel prices are per room.

How do I pay in China?

With your phone. Alipay takes your Visa or Mastercard. Payments up to 200 yuan have no fee, and above that there is usually 3%. A card with no foreign exchange fee saves you money.

Is it cheaper in winter?

Some tickets, yes. The Forbidden City drops from 60 to 40 yuan from November to March, and the Terracotta Army from 120 to 100 from December to February. Hotels depend on each date, so compare them for your days.

Why is food not included?

Because it varies a lot with where and what you eat, and we would rather not give figures without a source. We only add what has a checked price, hotels, trains, domestic flights and tickets.

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