Editor's Note: This article, translated from ifeng.com lists the ten cheapest tourist cities in China. The author has many recommendations for sightseeing and dining while on a budget in these ten cities. With the spring holidays approaching, a trip to one of these unique cities may be a good idea if you are currently low on cash.
1) Chengdu
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
While traveling in Chengdu, one can easily find a good meal for 30 Yuan. However, do not spend your cash at just any nice looking restaurant, instead, head straight to Chunxi Road to find the best authentic Chengdu dishes. Chengdu has many free tourist spots to check out including Chunxi Road, Jinli Ancient Street, and Kuan Zhai Alley. They are great places to walk around if you do not want to shell out for the entrance fees at major tourist attractions. While in Chengdu, you can also get cheap massages and get your ears cleaned for a small fee. Overall, Chengdu is the most economical tourist city in all of China.
2) Harbin
Harbin is known as China's Moscow and is an extremely enchanting city to visit in the colder months. The northern scenery, snow and ice make Harbin a very special city to visit. It is China's version of a winter wonderland. However, prices are often cheap in Harbin and one can easily find a hotel for around 200 Yuan a night. To eat, one can wander into any northern style restaurant; they are generally cheap and authentic. Tickets to Harbin's famous International Ice and Snow festival are quite expensive but strolling down the city's Central Avenue pedestrian street is free of charge.
3) Chongqing
Nightlife, hot pot and beautiful women are the three hallmarks of Chongqing. Luckily, travelers can come to Chongqing to see beautiful women and the city at night for free. The well known Hongyadong shopping and cultural center is also free to visit! While in Chongqing, a night of hot pot is a must and most places are very reasonably priced. A trip to Chongqing can be a very cheap trip!
4) Jilin
Jilin is one of the most ethnically diverse Chinese provinces and has the largest number of ethnic North Koreans. When visiting Jilin, travelers should take in a gourmet North Korean meal. Restaurants that serve North Korean cuisine in Jilin are mainly very reasonably priced. The Changbai Mountains are close to Jilin and worth a visit as is Songhua Lake. It is only 125 Yuan for tickets to Changbai and 30 Yuan for Songhua Lake, which in total is still under 200 Yuan. If you want to stay in a nice hotel it will only cost about 200 Yuan.
5) Shenyang
Shenyang is known as one of the happiest cities in China. The prices in Shenyang are generally low, so people with money to spend happy living there. Cheap food to try in Shenyang includes dumplings, xunrou dabing, hot pot and Dongbei cuisine. Travelers can get a big dinner for very cheap while in Shenyang, so eat up! The most well known tourist spot in Shenyang is the northern version of Beijing's Forbidden City and it is definitely worth checking out. However, there are many other cheap things to do in Shenyang like stroll the city streets while shopping and eating local snacks.
6) Zhangjiakou
Zhangjiakou is a major tourist destination located in the suburbs of Beijing. Zhangjiakou has mountains, deserts and the prairie as well as the Chongli Ski Resort. To travel to Zhangjiakou, just remember to bring your camera in order to enjoy all of the free natural sites.
7) Xi'an
There is more to Xi'an than the Terracotta Warriors; the city is large and modern with plenty to see for free. The Xi'an old city walls are still standing today. In Yanta District, one can look up to see tall skyscrapers mixed with bustling alleyways filled with delicious restaurants and shops selling old curiosities. Defu Alley, dotted with bars and cafes, is a both a sanctuary and nightlife center for the younger crowd. One of the best things about Xi'an is all of the cheap and amazing food. The city is truly one of the cheapest to travel in within China.
8) Lanzhou
In Lanzhou, prices are not high at all. Travelers can get a bowl of Lanzhou noodles for only 10 Yuan. Lanzhou is rich in natural beauty and tourist attractions. The Baili Huanghe Scenic Area gives the city a unique beauty and the nearby Dunhuang Caves are a must see for many travel enthusiasts.
9) Huangshan
Huangshan is a city in Anhui province. The city is known for its diverse beautiful natural landscapes. The mountainous area is known as a kind of heaven on Earth and is a majestic site. The area is dotted with mountain villages straight out of an old ink painting. The atmosphere and beauty are intoxicating. On top of this, prices are extremely cheap. It costs about 150 Yuan a night to stay in Huangshan in the off-season and 230 Yuan during peak season. Besides lodging, there are few other costs.
10) Beijing
Wait...Beijing? Why is Beijing on the list of the cheapest cities for tourists in China? Tickets to the Forbidden City are so expensive, how is Beijing an economical choice? The first reason is that staying in a youth hostel or a budget hotel is not expensive at all in Beijing. Travelers should not pay more than 100 Yuan a night for a bed in a youth hostel. As for food, you will have to spend a little more money if you want to have a fancy dinner but Beijing has many famous restaurants that are quite reasonable. Transportation in Beijing is very cheap and there are some good deals on tourist attractions. Houhai, Nanluoguxiang, 798 and many different parks and museums are all free. Therefore, it is actually quite possible to spend little money while traveling in Beijing.
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Sounds pretty pricey all the rooms?? Philippines is waaaay cheaper as well as enormously more pleasant...I would rather fly the hour from HK to Clarke anyday of the year..or my life...
Mar 13, 2015 23:40 Report Abuse
As usual, another con advertisement. 'On top of this, prices are extremely cheap. It costs about 150 Yuan a night to stay in Huangshan in the off-season and 230 Yuan during peak season. Besides lodging, there are few other costs.' Those 150 yuan ones were at the foot of the mountain, i.e. outside the entrance. They left out the entrance fee (per entrance, no pass) to the mountain and you really need at least two days to tour it properly. Three days is best, meaning you pay 3 times the entrance fee if you stay at those 'cheap' ones. The two hotels on the mountains charged well over RMB600 a night even ten years ago, for a shit room covered by hundreds of cigaratte butts burnt holes carpet, which I immediately rejected. The one owned and operated by a Hong Kong company was heaven compared to the state owned one, same price. Those were the only two '5 star' hotels then (environmental restrictions). No famous 'mystical' fog or sea of cloud as advertised either. I asked the hotel's middle-aged security guard, a local who lived in that area since birth if he had seen it. The guy said no. You need, scientifically, certain not-so-common temperature conditions to see that. A slightly more up-to-date price list below. Same crooks, except it sounded worse than when I was there, as expected. LOL
Mar 13, 2015 22:07 Report Abuse
Other charges : Y18: To get to a bus station that will then take you up to Huangshan Y100: To take the shuttle bus half way up the mountain to near the cable car Y230: To pay for the entrance Y80: To take the cable car up the mountain Y80: To get back down the montain by cable car Y80: To get the bus back to the shuttle station Y13-18+: To get back to your hotel. * 'There was no fog, so for me it didn't have that mystical feeling. In that respect, it was a bust. I was resentful for all the money I spent because really, you're paying a lot for every element; the bus, the cable car, the entrance fee, and then the cable car down etc. If you think about it 500 yuan per person is more than enough to run this mountain for the amount of visitors they have, so I really think they're ripping people off. I had no idea it would cost this much in total and it would be difficult to walk, so this is why I am posting this review to prepare you so you can make an informed decision.' www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g303685-d550738-r63393365-Mt_Huangshan_Yellow_Mountain-Huangshan_Anhui.html
Mar 13, 2015 22:27 Report Abuse
I would hardly call a bowl of plain Lanzhou noodles a "feast". Some of their rice dishes are ok though.
Mar 13, 2015 14:19 Report Abuse
Yup. Yet another proof of lying propaganda which china is famous for. Lie, cheat, steal, anything to con your money.
Mar 13, 2015 21:57 Report Abuse
Anywhere you can get nice meal for just 30 yuan, if you look enough.
Mar 13, 2015 13:33 Report Abuse
Feast like a king, then fart like a maggot in their public toilets.
Mar 13, 2015 13:29 Report Abuse
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