A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pai vs. Shijiazhuang for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pai or Shijiazhuang?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Pai and Shijiazhuang. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Pai or Shijiazhuang?

Pai

As the lush green mountains adorn the blue horizon amidst its creamy clouds, Pai, in northern Thailand, works as one of the many hubs for some of the world's most exciting cultural adventures and natural wonders. Within this small town just north of the Mae Hong Son Province, near the Myanmar border, Pai lays on the Pai River and holds a population of no more than 2,500. Despite its geographical insignificance, this town attracts a wide array of tourists. From breathtaking waterfalls to relaxing hot springs, you will find yourself astonished at how much this little city holds within its borders.

Shijiazhuang

Shijiazhuang is the capital city of Hebei Province in China. It is a fairly young city, acting as the regional transport hub and economic center, though there are a few sights worth seeing. The city is also the largest pharmaceutical hub in China, as well as an important center for textile, IT, manufacturing, and chemical industries.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.

When comparing the travel costs between Pai and Shijiazhuang, we can see that Shijiazhuang is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

When is the best time to visit Pai or Shijiazhuang?

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

Should I visit Pai or Shijiazhuang in the Summer?

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

In the summer, Pai is around the same temperature as Shijiazhuang. Typically, the summer temperatures in Pai in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Shijiazhuang averages at about 27°C (81°F).

Shijiazhuang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually gets more rain in July than Shijiazhuang. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Shijiazhuang receives 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pai or Shijiazhuang in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Shijiazhuang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round.

In October, Pai is generally much warmer than Shijiazhuang. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (84°F), and Shijiazhuang fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

Pai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Pai usually receives more rain than Shijiazhuang. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Shijiazhuang receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Pai or Shijiazhuang in the Winter?

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

Be prepared for some very cold days in Shijiazhuang. Pai is much warmer than Shijiazhuang in the winter. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 24°C (74°F) in January, and Shijiazhuang fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).

Pai usually gets more rain in January than Shijiazhuang. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Shijiazhuang receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pai or Shijiazhuang in the Spring?

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

The heat can be very extreme in Pai. In the spring, Pai is much warmer than Shijiazhuang. Typically, the spring temperatures in Pai in April average around 32°C (89°F), and Shijiazhuang averages at about 15°C (60°F).

In April, Pai usually receives more rain than Shijiazhuang. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Shijiazhuang receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Shijiazhuang and Pai