How much does it cost to vacation in China on your own and what you need to know? We have prepared an overview of the prices for the trip, selected the best hotels and cheap air tickets, learned how to apply for a visa. We found ways to get to the country cheaply and considered other questions that can help you save money when planning your trip on your own.
It is not necessary to travel to the Middle Kingdom with a travel agency. You can go to China on your own. This country has a rich history, vast territory and friendly ties with Russia. Planning a week or two in China is a feasible task.
How to get to China on your own?
There are three options:
- Regular bus service between the border regions of Russia and China. For example, Zabaikalsk - Manchuria (Manchzhouli), a ticket costs about 500 rubles. Blagoveshchensk - Heikhe, a ticket costs about 1,500 rubles. In winter, it is an exciting journey on the ice of the Amur, in summer it is more prosaic, a trip by ferry.
You can go to the Celestial Empire from Kazakhstan. Several buses depart daily on the Almaty - Urumqi route. There are buses from Semipalatinsk, Ust-Kamenogorsk and Taldykurgan. The distance is decent, therefore the buses are of increased comfort.
- By train... This option is suitable for those who like long trips. The cost is comparable to a flight by plane, and the travel time is much longer. Train # 43 takes 132 hours, a ticket in a reserved seat carriage costs 9,000 rubles one way. Plus - a transit visa to Mongolia, which he crosses. Train # 20 takes 145 hours and is even more expensive. Train Almaty - Urumqi 35 hours on the road, ticket - 5000 rubles. The cost of a return ticket from China can be even higher. You can find all air tickets and book a seat in the car directly through Tutu.ru.
- The best way - by plane.
How to get to China from Moscow? The largest number of flights to the country is sent from Moscow.
It is not difficult to get from Russia to China by plane, many airlines fly here. Among them there are budget; S7 Airlines, Air Astana, Asia Airlines and VIP class companies; Emirates, British Airways, American Airlines.
The average price of a round-trip ticket Moscow - Beijing is 21,000 rubles. The minimum is 19322 rubles. A one-way ticket in this direction starts from 9,500 rubles. Back - from 12,000 rubles. The cost depends on the season, departure time, the number of transfers and the popularity of the destination. Generally, tickets to Beijing are cheaper than tickets to other cities in China.
In addition, you can buy tickets from Moscow to China during the promotional period of one of the airlines. In this case, its cost will be 20-40% lower. You can find out information about discounts from airlines for free using a subscription.
For Siberians, a trip to China on their own can be even cheaper. A ticket Vladivostok - Beijing costs from 6500 rubles, Irkutsk - Beijing from 7800 rubles.
We recommend buying tickets using Aviasales, he searches for all airlines and really finds profitable flight options, verified by personal experience.
- Find plane tickets:
Prices in hotels in China
The cost of a room in hotels in China is very different in megacities and smaller cities. Also, prices rise sharply during the holidays and fall after. At the hotel reception, you can and should bargain. The yuan exchange rate is quite stable. For 10 yuan you need to pay 88.12 rubles.
Consider three options for accommodation in Beijing:
- Inexpensive. Cost per night per person from 30 to 100 RMB. Pros - there are a lot of hostels in China and many are located in the center. As a rule, it is clean, there is a washing machine and the Internet. Cons, the hostel may be refused to a foreigner, or there will be no English-speaking administrators at the reception.
- The best option. RMB 100-180. The hotel is close to the metro, within the second or third ring. You can find hotels in hot springs. Thermal water will be supplied to the rooms.
- Comfortable accommodation in the center. From RMB 180 and up.
RoomGuru.ru will help you determine the best hotels in China for vacation, choose the best accommodation and price. It processes information from sites such as booking, agoda and many others.
You may be interested in tours to Beijing from St. Petersburg, Moscow and other cities of the Russian Federation with the best prices and hotels.
Rental housing in China
It will not be difficult to rent private housing in China, in all cities there are enough offers from the owners. You can rent an apartment or an apartment from the residents of Beijing themselves without intermediaries or contact an agency. Renting a home for a long time will be more profitable than staying in a hotel, besides, when looking for options, you can easily bargain.
So you can get to know China better, Chinese cuisine, understand the Chinese. You can find out how much accommodation in China costs on Booking.com. A private room in an apartment will cost from 120 RMB. Nice apartment entirely - from 200 yuan. On average, house prices in China are in the range of 120 - 400 yuan. If you are renting a house for a long time, it is better to invite an interpreter so that you understand all the details of the contract.
Visa to China 2021, documents
Visa to China for Russians is paid. The cost of a single tourist visa of the L category is 3300 rubles, an urgent one is 4600 rubles. You can apply for a visa to China yourself by contacting the consulate in Moscow at the address: st. Friendship 6. Website of the Consulate https://ru.china-embassy.org/chn. You can also download the questionnaire there.
There are branches of the consulate in St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk and Khabarovsk. You can contact one of the visa centers with courier delivery. It will cost more, but you will save time and avoid possible mistakes in paperwork.
For citizens of Russia, there is a 72-hour transit visa-free regime if you arrive in Beijing or one of the 14 largest airports in China. For 144 hours, you can stay visa-free in Shanghai, Hangzhou and Nanjing. There are nuances in each case.
It is important to take into account that you must take off from the international airport of the city to which you flew, and, moreover, take off. You cannot go by train. Second, you must fly to a country different from the one from which you arrived. Third, if you are flying with animals, they will have to wait for you at the Quarantine Service.
And most importantly, do not leave the city limits. For such a G-category transit visa, you will need to contact the airline when purchasing tickets. The exception is Beijing. There, a transit visa can be obtained directly at the airport.
China's two provinces, Hong Kong and Aomin, have a special status. Upon entering them, it is considered that you have crossed the border of China. If you decide to return and visit other provinces, then you will need at least a double entry visa worth 6,600 rubles. To visit the island of Taiwan, you need to purchase an additional visa. A special pass is required to visit Tibet. Additional visas and passes can be obtained from any travel agency in China.
Documents for applying for a visa to China
You will need:
- foreign passport and pages from the previous passport with visas for China, if any
- color photo on a light background
- round trip flights
- hotel reservation for the entire stay or an invitation from a private person (organization).
How to get to the center from the airport?
Beijing Capital or Shoudou is the second airport in the world in terms of passenger traffic. It is located just twenty kilometers from Beijing. There are several ways to get to the city:
- By taxi... It is enough to follow the arrows to the exit from the terminals. It is better to discuss the price of travel in China, general prices with the driver right away. It is advisable to have a printed address or hotel name in Chinese with you. The fare is 100-200 yuan.
- Metro... Trains run every ten minutes. The first train leaves the airport at 6:20, the last at 11:10 pm. The end point is Line 2. The fare is 25 RMB.
- By bus... There are Line 1, Line 2 and Line 3 buses, following to the Aviation Building, Cherry Garden and to the railway station, respectively. They leave in ten minutes.
- By bus from the hotel if the transfer is included in your tour.
Details can be found on the airport website bcia.com.cn
How much money to take to China?
Food and meal prices
The cost of food in the capital and the province will differ significantly. In a Beijing restaurant, the cost of one dish is on average 30 yuan, lunch can cost 300 yuan and more. In a budget cafe, you will pay from 8 to 16 yuan for one dish. For example, a piece of sushi costs 10 RMB. There are many establishments in Beijing and you can find cuisines from different countries and for different wallets. You can dine at a fast food restaurant where your check will not exceed 50 RMB.
Prices for alcoholic beverages
- local beer - up to 8 RMB
- wine - from 24 to 100 yuan and above
Groceries in supermarkets (RMB per kilogram)
- meat - from 24
- bird - 25-50
- large inhabitants of the sea - from 24
- large shrimps - from 55
- small fish - 12
- vegetables - less than 5
- fruits - in the range of 12-25
In numerous markets in China, you can buy cheaper and fresher food.
You can also dine in supermarkets. A traditional Chinese breakfast of scrambled eggs and 5 dumplings will cost RMB 18. Tom yum noodle soup or pork rice will cost the same. Street vendors offer rice cakes, filled rice or pancakes for as little as 4-5 RMB. Despite the huge population of the city, he is able to feed everyone.
For those who come to China on their own with children, it is better to cook at home. In China, they like to use spices; in general, Chinese cuisine is very specific.
The cost of travel to China on your own
A trip to China on its own for a week will cost 35,000-55,000 Russian rubles for two. Or 4000 - 6000 yuan. When staying in a good hotel, eating in a budget cafe, with daily city tours. The amount does not include the cost of nightlife in the city and additional visas. It can be 200-500 RMB per person per day.
And by the way, when traveling on your own, be sure to use travel applications for your smartphone, which will significantly save time planning your vacation and money.
You may be interested in learning about other areas of recreation:
- a trip to Hainan,
- trip to Hong Kong.
- inexpensive vacation in China - rubric,
