How much does a trip to China cost?

Short Answer

A budget traveler can explore China for around $40-60 USD per day, mid-range travelers should plan for $80-150 per day, and luxury travelers will spend $200+ per day. China offers incredible value — a high-speed train ticket from Beijing to Shanghai costs less than $80, a filling street food meal runs $2-4, and 3-star hotels start around $30-50 per night in most cities.

Shanghai skyline at dusk with Pudong towers reflected in water

Shanghai can be done on any budget — from backpacker hostels to five-star Bund hotels.

Deep Dive

Budget Breakdown by Category

Accommodation

Budget ($8-25/night): Hostel dorms cost 50-100 RMB ($7-14). Private hostel rooms run 150-250 RMB ($20-35). Budget hotels on Ctrip or Meituan start at 200 RMB ($28) for a clean double room.
Mid-range ($30-100/night): 3-4 star hotels in city centers cost 300-700 RMB ($42-100). Brands like Atour, Ji Hotel, and Hanting Premium offer reliable quality.
Luxury ($100-500+/night): International chains (Marriott, Hyatt, Shangri-La) run 700-3,500 RMB ($100-500) depending on the city and season.

Food

China is a food paradise, and eating well does not require a big budget.

Street food and local restaurants: 15-40 RMB ($2-6) per meal. Think noodles, dumplings, rice plates, and baozi (steamed buns).
Mid-range restaurants: 60-150 RMB ($8-21) per person for a sit-down meal with multiple dishes.
Upscale dining: 300-800 RMB ($42-110) per person at high-end restaurants.
Western food: Expect to pay a premium — a burger at a Western-style restaurant runs 60-120 RMB ($8-17).

Transportation

Metro: 2-7 RMB ($0.30-1.00) per ride in any Chinese city.
City bus: 1-2 RMB ($0.15-0.30).
High-speed rail (per 100km): Approximately 50-80 RMB ($7-11). Beijing to Shanghai (1,318km) costs 553 RMB ($78) for second class.
Didi (ride-hailing): 15-50 RMB ($2-7) for most city rides. Comparable to Uber but cheaper.
Domestic flights: 400-1,500 RMB ($56-210) depending on route and timing. Book on Ctrip or Qunar.
Intercity bus: 50-200 RMB ($7-28) for routes of 200-500km.

Attractions

Major sites (Forbidden City, Great Wall): 40-65 RMB ($6-9).
Museums: Many are free; some charge 20-50 RMB ($3-7).
Theme parks (Shanghai Disneyland): 475-769 RMB ($67-108) depending on the day.
Temple and garden entries: 10-50 RMB ($1.40-7).

Sample Itineraries

7 Days — Classic Golden Triangle (Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai)

| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury | |---|---|---|---| | Accommodation (7 nights) | $140 | $525 | $2,100 | | Food (7 days) | $120 | $350 | $840 | | Transport (flights/trains) | $150 | $250 | $500 | | Attractions | $50 | $80 | $150 | | Miscellaneous | $40 | $100 | $250 | | Total | $500 | $1,305 | $3,840 |

14 Days — Add Chengdu, Guilin, and Hangzhou

| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury | |---|---|---|---| | Accommodation (14 nights) | $280 | $1,050 | $4,200 | | Food (14 days) | $240 | $700 | $1,680 | | Transport | $300 | $500 | $1,000 | | Attractions | $80 | $160 | $300 | | Miscellaneous | $80 | $200 | $500 | | Total | $980 | $2,610 | $7,680 |

21 Days — Deep Exploration

Budget travelers can cover China for 3 weeks on roughly $1,400-1,500. Mid-range travelers should budget $3,500-4,500. Luxury travelers looking at 5-star hotels, domestic flights, and fine dining should plan for $10,000+.

Money-Saving Tips

Book train tickets 15 days in advance on 12306.cn or Trip.com for the best prices.
Eat where locals eat — follow the crowds to small restaurants with picture menus.
Use Alipay or WeChat Pay (now available for foreign tourists with international cards) to avoid ATM fees.
Travel during shoulder season (March-April, September-November) for lower hotel rates.
Many temples and parks have free entry on certain days or for seniors and students.