the china guide blog

How to travel in China on a budget

Last updated on 2019-04-20
How to travel in China on a budget

While there are many affordable destinations in Asia, unfortunately China is among the more expensive. Thanks to China’s rapid economic development, prices for many goods and services, particularly in major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, are rapidly catching up with other destinations around the world. For this reason, unlike many other countries in the region, it would be nearly impossible to travel around most of China on a 500 USD budget. Add to that the fact that China can be a quite challenging country for the uninitiated and traveling with a tight budget can result in a lot of unnecessary stress. In this blog, we will offer you a few tips to help reduce that stress.

The golden rule: Prepare in advance

Travelers can really make the most out of their time in China by planning their trip in advance. Many budgets begin long before the trip with people saving little by little each month. In this way, travelers can visit China without sacrificing comfort or missing a sight or popular restaurant because their budget won’t cover it.

The best way for travelers to ensure that they’re covering every point of interest they want to experience in China is to plan their trip carefully with realistic expenses. China is a place of contrasts, with big cities often changing dramatically from year to year, but many natural and cultural landmarks remaining unchanged for thousands of years.

In practice what this means is that there is no real reason to rush and travel on an extremely tight budget. If you have the option, it might be better to split your visit over several trips and concentrate on one area per trip; for example, the capital city of Beijing is so huge and full of interesting sights that you could spend a week just in Beijing and its surrounds and never get bored! This will also cut down on your travel expenses within China.

China has a wonderful history full of interesting details and as with many multicultural countries, a very dynamic and complex society, which makes reading about it a very good idea in preparation for a trip. Learning about the country ensures that there are fewer details left amiss and, if your budget allows, having a guide to visit the country is an even better way to get the most out of China.

Should you book a guide or travel on your own?

Guides aren’t there just to tell you the story behind some of China’s most emblematic sights; in many cases they act as translators between you and the locals. Many Chinese people don’t speak English and while you can still share some food or have a drink with them, the experience isn’t the same. Cross-cultural communication is a special (and often priceless) experience.

It is indeed possible to have an amazing experience with someone who speaks zero English, an adventure that many backpackers can relate to. However, wouldn’t it be even nicer to know what that person is really thinking? To understand what the actual meaning behind their hearty jokes is, and share sincere laughs from a mutual understanding?

China is a country full of people from all walks of life and even the big cities offer just as many opportunities to meet very interesting locals from the most diverse backgrounds. So there’s no need to assume that only those who’ve shared a drink with someone in a remote province have had a true “China experience”.

Chinese people are also generally quite friendly and love to talk about their country. A great guide can help you ask questions directly to a local person, and translate their questions to you back. A very enriching experience for everyone involved!

Off the beaten path: Only for expert travelers?

You don’t need to be a seasoned traveler to visit off the beaten path spots.

One common myth is that off the beaten path destinations are only within the reach of the most daring travelers. However, we always tell people to keep in mind that if a place easily appears on any Google search, then it’s not really completely off the beaten path.

Travelers shouldn’t be put off from visiting these places just because they’re marketed as away from the touristy areas. An unforgettable trip takes time, effort, and resources to organize.

These lesser-known places are sometimes popular yet hard to reach. In China’s case, that might mean a long train ride followed by a bus ride that might stop or end in a confusing place. It is in these situations that it becomes extremely important for travelers to research ways to reach their proposed destination and what possible obstacles to expect if they are traveling on their own.

Contact one of our travel specialists today to start planning your trip!


Images: Public domain images, Pexels, Pixabay

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