China Travel Forum

[William]

My husband and I are trying to work out a budget for a one-month trip to China early next year. tourists says US$25 pp/per day in the west, and US$35 pp/per day in the east/coastal cities. Is this about right? (Wondering if prices have gone up or down since publication). We're used to roughing it

[Donald Jackson]

Around the eastern coastal cities, in RMB per day:

Accomodation: 100 to 150 RMB per room (double)
Food: about 40 RMB for both, should be plenty!
Transport within cities (without taxis): 10 RMB per person
Transport within cities (with taxis): 50 RMB for both
Transport between cities: ack, depends on type of transport and distance! usually train is cheapest, followed by long distance buses and then flying
Admission fees: broad range of 20 to 100 RMB per person, depending on what you like to visit
Souvenirs: possibly 10 to 50 RMB if you aren't interested in shopping?

That adds up to be about 220 to 390 RMB per day, not including transport within cities. At a rate of about 1 USD to 8 RMB (actual rate is about 8.* RMB), it'd be slightly <30 to slightly <50 USD per day, for both persons, budget to middle range.
always been reliable people to deal with and its nice to arrive and go straight to your hotel (even if it is a budget hotel). Whilst in China you can use their 1800 number from your current hotel (no charge) to book your accommodation in next town or city. To have a NICE relaxed holiday Minus airfares etc. your budget of $US35.00 per person all inclusive seems ok and you will live in reasonable comfort, eat ok travel by train/bus (we find the long distance buses very good and cheap) long distance trains are good but i find more difficult to book (due to my lack of chinese) bus booking does not usually present the same problem. If you are going to a major city first I would not change your money into US dollars as Aussie dollare are easily exchangable in ALL major cities at Bank of China or many others. Curren tly at over 6 Yuan for $A1.00 is a good exchange rate at present.