Which place is cheaper, Zhangjiajie or Guangzhou?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Guangzhou or Zhangjiajie?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Guangzhou and Zhangjiajie can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Guangzhou or Zhangjiajie?
Guangzhou
With a population of more than 12 million, Guangzhou is the third largest city in China after Beijing and Shanghai. Though it has a long history, founded in 214 BC, the city has also many modern attractions, a mix of the old and new with temples and parks as well as skyscrapers and shopping centers. Its location on the Pearl River has contributed to this growth, making Guangzhou a major port and commercial hub.
Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie, China is a picturesque city located in the northwest of the Hunan Province. This ancient city, which dates all the way back to the Stone Age, is famous for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is also known for being a popular filming location and and overall great place to escape the bustling Chinese cities. Zhangjiajie has its own dialect, which is a branch of the Hunan and Southern dialects, so Mandarin does not always translate when trying to speak to locals here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, The Best 2-Week Tours in China, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, and The Best Adventure Tours to China.
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Guangzhou Prices
China PricesZhangjiajie Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuangzhou $104Zhangjiajie $79
The average daily cost (per person) in Guangzhou is $104, while the average daily cost in Zhangjiajie is $79. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Guangzhou and Zhangjiajie in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuangzhou $58Zhangjiajie $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuangzhou $116Zhangjiajie $60
Compare Hotels in Guangzhou and Zhangjiajie
Looking for a hotel in Guangzhou or Zhangjiajie? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guangzhou $14Zhangjiajie $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guangzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guangzhou:
- Shenzhen Day Tour from Guangzhou by Round Way Private Transfer: $255
- Guangzhou Layover Visa-Free Private Tour with Airport Transfer: $200
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Int Airport (CAN) to Shekou Port: $194
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou city hotels to Shekou Cruise Port: $176
- Guangzhou Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 15 Pax: $170
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Chauffeur Service, To Dongguan Transfer: $135
- Pearl River Night Cruise with Private Transfers in Guangzhou: $129
- Guangzhou Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 5 pax: $120
- Private Arrival Transfer in English-speaking: Airport to Hotel: $99
- Guangzhou Night Pearl River Cruise VIP Seating with Private Transfer: $96
- Private Transfer in Guangzhou with Fluent English Speaking Driver: $90
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Guangzhou Hotel: $90
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangjiajie
Also for Zhangjiajie, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 1 Day Fenghuang and Furong Town Day Tour with Hotel Transfers: $192
- Fox Fairy Show VIP Ticket with Private Transfer in ZJJ City: $52
- Private Car Transfer From WLY to Glass Bridge (Round Trip ): $105
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Furong old town: $187
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Guilin or Yangshuo: $256
- Private Transfer: Yichang hotel from/to Zhangjiajie Hotel: $322
- Private Transfer: Zhangjiajie from/to Fenghuang: $168
- Private transfer from Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) to Changsha area: $213
- Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport private transfer service: $20
- Zhangjiajie airport/city pick up transfer to hotel or Vice Versa: $15
- 4-Day Private Tour with Airport Transfers: $710
Is it cheaper to fly into Guangzhou or Zhangjiajie?
Prices for flights to both Zhangjiajie and Guangzhou change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayGuangzhou $34Zhangjiajie $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guangzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guangzhou.
- Old Town Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $79
- Shenzhen Cantonese Dim Sum Cooking Class with Lunch: $86
- Food Tour - Eat Like Local + Rice Roll Workshop: $96
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour VIP Cruise and Dim-Sum Dinner Option: $146
- Guangzhou walking tour with dimsum dinner&Zhujiang river cruise: $160
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour with Canton Tower and Dim-Sum Dinner: $176
- Pearl River Night Cruise and Karaoke Tour with Buffet Dinner in Guangzhou: $179
- Private Guangzhou Food Tour Michelin Restaurant&Local Food Market: $180
- Morning Tea, Cantonese Opera, and Food Tour: $183
- Cantonese Dim Sum Dinner with Pearl River Night Cruise in Guangzhou: $199
- Guangzhou Pearl River Night Cruise and Din Tai Feng Dinner: $199
- Guangzhou Private Night Tour: Lychee Bay, Beijing Road, Cruise, Dinner: $204
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zhangjiajie
For Zhangjiajie, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 1 Day Zhangjiajie Private Tour Visit Avatar Mount and Tianzi Mount with Dinner: $196
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guangzhou $18Zhangjiajie $23
Tours and Activities in Guangzhou
Here are a few actual costs in Guangzhou for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Guangzhou Self-Guided Tour with Private Car and Driver Service: $75
- Liuxihe National Forest Park Private Day Tour from Guangzhou: $266
- 1 Day Historical Guangzhou Layover Tour from Airport: $260
- 1-Day Guangzhou Airport Layover Visa-Free Private City Tour: $185
- 3-Hour Private Tour to Museum of Nanyue King Tomb in Guangzhou: $91
- 4-Hour Baiyun Mountain Yuntai Garden Private Guangzhou City Tour: $180
- 4-Hour Flexible Private Guangzhou City Tour with Dim-Sum Options: $153
- 4-Hour Private Flexible Guangzhou City Tour with Dim-Sum Option: $100
- 4-Hour Private Tour to Museum of Nanyue King & Academy of Clan Chen in Guangzhou: $91
- 5-Hour Private Guangzhou Yumcha Tasting with Local Food Market Experience : $118
- 5-Hour Sai Kwan Walking Tour with Unique Food Tasting: $72
- 6-Day Guangzhou to Guilin Scenic Tour: $1,598
Tours and Activities in Zhangjiajie
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Zhangjiajie.
- Zhangjiajie Pandora Tour to Avatar Hallelujah Mountain: $7.00
- Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Ticket Booking: $16
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Entrance Ticket Transportation: $42
- Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge and Grand Canyon Tickets Booking: $48
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Private or Shared Day Tour: $50
- Fox Fairy Show VIP ticket with round trip private transport: $52
- Charming Xiangxi Show VIP ticket with round trip transport: $52
- Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Ticket Booking: $55
- One Day Mini Group Tour to Glass Bridge and Tianmen Mountain: $63
- Mini Group Tour: Zhangjiajie Forest Park & Avatar Mountains: $66
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Tickets Booking: $69
- Mini Group Day Tour to Zhangjiajie Forest Park & Avatar Mountains: $69
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuangzhou $14Zhangjiajie $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guangzhou and Zhangjiajie, we can see that Guangzhou is more expensive. And not only is Zhangjiajie much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Zhangjiajie would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zhangjiajie 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 Guangzhou would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guangzhou than you might in Zhangjiajie.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guangzhou Expensive? and Is Zhangjiajie Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guangzhou or Zhangjiajie?
Guangzhou has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Zhangjiajie. When comparing the sizes of Guangzhou and Zhangjiajie, 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 Guangzhou or Zhangjiajie?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Guangzhou or Zhangjiajie in the Summer?
Both Zhangjiajie and Guangzhou during the summer are popular places to visit.
In the summer, Guangzhou is around the same temperature as Zhangjiajie. Typically, the summer temperatures in Guangzhou in July average around 29°C (84°F), and Zhangjiajie averages at about 29°C (85°F).
Zhangjiajie gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Guangzhou. Guangzhou usually gets more rain in July than Zhangjiajie. Guangzhou gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGuangzhou 29°C (84°F)Zhangjiajie 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Guangzhou or Zhangjiajie in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Guangzhou and Zhangjiajie.
In October, Guangzhou is generally a little warmer than Zhangjiajie. Daily temperatures in Guangzhou average around 25°C (76°F), and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
In October, Guangzhou usually receives less rain than Zhangjiajie. Guangzhou gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 90 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGuangzhou 25°C (76°F)Zhangjiajie 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Guangzhou or Zhangjiajie in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Guangzhou as well as Zhangjiajie.
Guangzhou is much warmer than Zhangjiajie in the winter. The daily temperature in Guangzhou averages around 14°C (58°F) in January, and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 5°C (42°F).
Guangzhou usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Zhangjiajie. Guangzhou gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGuangzhou 14°C (58°F)Zhangjiajie 5°C (42°F)
Should I visit Guangzhou or Zhangjiajie in the Spring?
Both Zhangjiajie and Guangzhou are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In the spring, Guangzhou is a little warmer than Zhangjiajie. Typically, the spring temperatures in Guangzhou in April average around 22°C (72°F), and Zhangjiajie averages at about 17°C (63°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Zhangjiajie. It's quite rainy in Guangzhou. In April, Guangzhou usually receives more rain than Zhangjiajie. Guangzhou gets 182 mm (7.2 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 166 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGuangzhou 22°C (72°F)Zhangjiajie 17°C (63°F)
Typical Weather for Zhangjiajie and Guangzhou
| Guangzhou | Zhangjiajie | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (58°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 15°C (59°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 18°C (65°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (72°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 166 mm (6.5 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 284 mm (11.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 179 mm (7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 221 mm (8.7 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 172 mm (6.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (76°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 90 mm (3.6 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 70 mm (2.7 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (61°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.