Short answer: outside peak-season Shanghai, €50 a day is comfortable mid-range - if you know which two line items eat the rest.
China remains one of the cheapest big-trip destinations for the quality you get. The trap is not the price level - it is two specific line items (bed and rail) plus a handful of small fees that compound daily.
| Tier | Per day | Sleeps | Eats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | ¥150–250 (€19–31) | Hostel dorm ¥60–120 | Street food ¥15–30/meal |
| Comfort mid | ¥350–500 (€44–63) | Boutique 3-4★ ¥250–450 | Local restaurants ¥40–80/meal |
| Premium | ¥800+ (€100+) | 5★ / heritage hotels | Anything, anywhere |
€50 lands you at the top of mid-range in Chengdu, Xi’an or Chongqing, and mid-range in Shanghai or Beijing outside holidays. Our Chengdu hotel guide shows real examples at each tier.
Yes, in most cities, including mid-range hotels. Roughly 400 RMB covers a clean 3-star or boutique stay (150-250 RMB outside peak), all your food, metro fares and one paid attraction. Tier-1 cities (Shanghai, Beijing) push past it during holidays unless you drop to hostels.
Accommodation, then transport. A long high-speed leg (Chengdu to Xi an is roughly 263 RMB second class) can equal two nights of a budget hotel. Bus or slow train alternatives cut that dramatically.
The 3% card fee on payments over 200 RMB, airport taxis when the metro runs, and guided walks around neighbourhoods that are free to explore - the exact split is in our book-vs-DIY guide.
Independent research; no operator paid for inclusion. Rules can change — confirm with the official source before you travel.
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