A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ao Nang vs. Zhengzhou for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Ao Nang or Zhengzhou?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Ao Nang or Zhengzhou? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Ao Nang or Zhengzhou?

Ao Nang

If you're looking for a relaxing beach on the coast of Thailand, it might be time to make a trip to Ao Nang. This developed and "westernized" beach was once the place to be for backpackers, but is now quite popular with package tourist crowds, too, as prices have risen in recent decades. Here you'll find nice hotels, restaurants, and plenty of fun activities at the beach and nearby, too.

Zhengzhou

Along the Yellow River, a city from the future and the past resides. Ancient pagodas, futuristic domes, verdant gardens - Zhengzhou is a myriad of many worlds in one urban area. The provincial capital of the Henan Province, Zhengzhou is the encapsulation of a perfect city from its delicate balance of the natural and urban spheres. It was born during the Sui Dynasty, and its actual location was in the modern-day Chenggao. Moreover, Zhengzhou works as the political, economic, technological, and educational center of the province. The city is also one of the eight great ancient capitals of China, with a collection of architecture and art originating during iconic dynasties. These relics of the old world include the Shaolin Monastery, Henan Museum, the Pagoda Forest, the Gaocheng Astronomical Observatory, the Songyue Pagoda, the Emperors of Yan and Huang, and the scenic views of the Yellow River. With over nine million inhabitants, Zhengzhou continues to grow at a thriving rate. It also should be noted that in June 2012, Greater Zhengzhou was named one of the thirteen emerging megacities in China according to the Economist Intelligent Unit. Known internationally for its amazing culmination of culture and history, Zhengzhou is the ideal city for travelers and inhabitants alike.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Shanghai, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ao Nang and Zhengzhou, we can see that Ao Nang is more expensive. And not only is Zhengzhou much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Zhengzhou would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zhengzhou and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Ao Nang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ao Nang than you might in Zhengzhou.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ao Nang Expensive? and Is Zhengzhou Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Ao Nang or Zhengzhou?

Zhengzhou has a larger population, and is about 250 times larger than the population of Ao Nang. When comparing the sizes of Ao Nang and Zhengzhou, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Ao Nang or Zhengzhou?

Zhengzhou has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Ao Nang experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Ao Nang or Zhengzhou in the Summer?

Both Zhengzhou and Ao Nang during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ao Nang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the summer, Ao Nang is around the same temperature as Zhengzhou. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ao Nang in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Zhengzhou averages at about 28°C (83°F).

In Zhengzhou, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Ao Nang. In the summer, Ao Nang often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Zhengzhou. Ao Nang gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Zhengzhou receives 215 hours of full sun.

Zhengzhou gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Ao Nang. Ao Nang usually gets more rain in July than Zhengzhou. Ao Nang gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Zhengzhou receives 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year. August to October is the rainy season in Ao Nang.

Should I visit Ao Nang or Zhengzhou in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Ao Nang and Zhengzhou. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ao Nang year-round.

In October, Ao Nang is generally much warmer than Zhengzhou. Daily temperatures in Ao Nang average around 27°C (81°F), and Zhengzhou fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

Ao Nang usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Zhengzhou during autumn. Ao Nang gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Zhengzhou receives 188 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Ao Nang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Ao Nang usually receives more rain than Zhengzhou. Ao Nang gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Zhengzhou receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to March in Ao Nang is the dry season. Also, August to October is the rainy season in Ao Nang.

Should I visit Ao Nang or Zhengzhou in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Ao Nang as well as Zhengzhou. Ao Nang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Zhengzhou can be very cold during winter. Ao Nang is much warmer than Zhengzhou in the winter. The daily temperature in Ao Nang averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Zhengzhou fluctuates around 1°C (34°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ao Nang this time of the year. In the winter, Ao Nang often gets more sunshine than Zhengzhou. Ao Nang gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Zhengzhou receives 159 hours of full sun.

Ao Nang usually gets more rain in January than Zhengzhou. Ao Nang gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Zhengzhou receives 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to March in Ao Nang is the dry season.

Should I visit Ao Nang or Zhengzhou in the Spring?

Both Zhengzhou and Ao Nang are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ao Nang throughout the year.

In the spring, Ao Nang is much warmer than Zhengzhou. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ao Nang in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Zhengzhou averages at about 16°C (61°F).

It's quite sunny in Zhengzhou. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ao Nang. Ao Nang usually receives more sunshine than Zhengzhou during spring. Ao Nang gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while Zhengzhou receives 201 hours of full sun in the spring.

It's quite rainy in Ao Nang. In April, Ao Nang usually receives more rain than Zhengzhou. Ao Nang gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Zhengzhou receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Zhengzhou and Ao Nang