Summary: China offers students an incredible diversity of travel experiences—from the Great Wall and Forbidden City in Beijing to karst mountains in Guilin, from ultra-modern Shanghai skyscrapers to ancient terracotta warriors in Xi'an. Best of all, student budgets stretch incredibly far: hostel beds $5-10/night, delicious street food $2-3/meal, high-speed trains connecting cities affordably, and student discounts at major attractions. This comprehensive guide covers must-visit destinations, budget accommodation, transportation, food, safety tips, and how to maximize your Chinese adventure without breaking the bank.
Top Student-Friendly Destinations
Beijing (3-5 days)
Must-See: Great Wall (Mutianyu or Jinshanling sections), Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace
Budget: $40-70/day | Best Time: Sep-Nov (avoid summer heat and crowds)
Essential for first-timers. Mix history (ancient palaces) with modern (798 Art District). Great Wall sunset hike unforgettable. Peking duck cheap in local restaurants (~$10 whole duck). Hutong alleyways reveal authentic Beijing life. Get Beijing subway card for easy transportation ($0.30-0.80/ride).
Shanghai (2-3 days)
Must-See: The Bund, Yu Garden, French Concession, Shanghai Tower observation deck
Budget: $45-80/day | Vibe: Modern, international, nightlife
China's most cosmopolitan city. Contrast historical Bund architecture with futuristic Pudong skyline. Free waterfront promenade stunning at night. Explore artsy Tianzifang alleys. Sample xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) at Yang's for $3. Expensive compared to other cities but worth weekend visit.
Guilin/Yangshuo (3-4 days)
Must-Do: Li River cruise, Yangshuo countryside cycling, rock climbing, West Street nightlife
Budget: $25-45/day | Best For: Nature lovers, adventure sports
Stunning karst mountain landscapes (featured on 20 RMB note). Rent bike and explore rice paddies and villages ($2/day). Try rock climbing on limestone cliffs. Li River bamboo raft tour magical. Yangshuo town has great backpacker scene, cheap hostels, international food.
Xi'an (2-3 days)
Must-See: Terracotta Warriors, Ancient City Wall cycling, Muslim Quarter food street
Budget: $30-50/day | Famous For: History, street food
Ancient capital of China with 8,000 terracotta warriors (UNESCO World Heritage). Bike around 14km city wall (~$3 rental). Muslim Quarter offers incredible street food—try roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) for $1. More affordable than Beijing/Shanghai with similar historical significance.
Chengdu (2-3 days)
Must-Do: Giant Panda Base, Leshan Giant Buddha day trip, hotpot dinner, tea houses
Budget: $30-55/day | Vibe: Relaxed, foodie paradise
See adorable giant pandas at breeding center ($10 entry). Laid-back atmosphere contrasts fast-paced coastal cities. Sichuan food legendary—try authentic mapo tofu, hotpot, dan dan noodles. People's Park tea house experience quintessentially Chinese. Day trip to world's largest Buddha statue (71m tall).
Budget-Friendly Hidden Gems
- • Zhangjiajie: Avatar mountains, glass bridge, $20-40/day budget
- • Datong: Hanging Temple, Yungang Grottoes, $25-35/day
- • Harbin (winter): Ice Festival, Russian architecture, $20-40/day
- • Lijiang/Dali: Ancient towns, Yunnan culture, $25-45/day
- • Hangzhou: West Lake, tea plantations, $30-50/day
Getting Around China
🚄 High-Speed Trains (Best Option)
China's high-speed rail network is world-class, connecting 200+ cities at 250-350 km/h. Incredibly affordable, comfortable, reliable. Book tickets on Trip.com app (English interface) or at train stations.
Sample Routes & Prices (Second Class):
- • Beijing → Shanghai (4.5hrs): $70-85
- • Shanghai → Hangzhou (1hr): $15-20
- • Beijing → Xi'an (4.5hrs): $55-70
- • Guangzhou → Guilin (3hrs): $40-50
Tip: Book 2-3 days advance for best seats. Student discounts available with Chinese student ID.
✈️ Domestic Flights
Competitive with trains for long distances. Budget airlines (Spring, Juneyao, Lucky Air) offer sales $30-80 for 2-3 hour flights. Check Ctrip, Qunar apps for deals.
Best For: Cross-country trips (Beijing→Chengdu, Shanghai→Kunming). Arrive 2hrs early for domestic flights. Luggage limits strict on budget airlines.
🚇 City Transportation
- • Metro: Clean, efficient, English signs. $0.30-1/ride. Get transportation card (works across cities)
- • Didi (ride-hailing): Cheaper than taxis, safer. English app available. Most rides $2-5 in cities
- • Bike-sharing: Mobike, Hellobike everywhere. $0.15/30min. Great for short trips
- • City buses: Super cheap ($0.15-0.30) but harder for foreigners (Chinese signs/announcements)
Budget Accommodation
🏨 Hostels (Best for Students)
Cost: $5-12/night dorm, $20-35 private room
Recommended Chains: Youth Hosteling Association China, Leo Hostel (has social activities, tours, English staff). Book on Hostelworld, Booking.com
What to Expect: Free WiFi, common areas, kitchen facilities, laundry. Great for meeting other travelers. Many organize walking tours, pub crawls, day trips.
🏠 Budget Hotels
Cost: $15-30/night
Chains: Hanting, 7 Days Inn, Home Inn (reliable, clean, no English usually). Use Trip.com, Ctrip to book.
Good For: Privacy, couples, need quiet study space. Basic but clean. Usually near metro stations.
🏡 Alternative Options
- • Airbnb: $20-40/night for entire apartments. Good for groups splitting costs
- • Couchsurfing: Free! Stay with locals, cultural exchange. Verify hosts carefully
- • University dorms: Some rent rooms to visitors during summer ($10-20/night)
💡 Booking Tips
- ✅ Book 1-2 days advance (flexible for best deals)
- ✅ Check location near metro (saves transportation costs)
- ✅ Read recent reviews (especially from foreigners)
- ✅ Confirm hostel has hot water (not all budget places do)
- ✅ Verify they accept foreigners (some local hotels don't)
Eating on a Budget
🍜 Food Budget Breakdown
Ultra Budget
$8-12/day
- • Breakfast: Baozi/jianbing $1
- • Lunch: University canteen $2
- • Dinner: Street noodles $2-3
- • Snacks: Fruit, boba tea $2
Standard Budget
$15-25/day
- • Breakfast: Cafe/bakery $2-3
- • Lunch: Local restaurant $4-6
- • Dinner: Decent restaurant $6-10
- • Snacks/drinks: $3-5
Comfortable
$30-50/day
- • Western breakfast: $5-8
- • Nice lunch: $8-12
- • Dinner + drinks: $15-25
- • Coffee/snacks: $5-10
🎯 Best Budget Food Experiences
- • University canteens: Open to public, incredibly cheap ($1.50-3/meal), authentic Chinese food
- • Night markets: Street food paradise, try everything for $10-15 total
- • Chain restaurants: Haidilao hotpot ($15-20/person, student discount available)
- • Food delivery: Meituan/Eleme apps, restaurant food delivered cheap ($3-8/meal)
- • Supermarkets: Buy snacks, fruit, instant noodles for train rides
⚠️ Food Safety Tips
- ✅ Eat at busy places (high turnover = fresh ingredients)
- ✅ Drink bottled water only (~$0.50/bottle at convenience stores)
- ✅ Street food generally safe if cooked fresh in front of you
- ✅ Wash fruit thoroughly or peel before eating
- ❌ Avoid tap water, ice in drinks outside major hotels
Safety & Practical Tips
✅ Safety Overview
China is very safe for travelers. Violent crime against tourists extremely rare. Major concerns: pickpocketing in crowded areas, taxi scams, tea house scams (fake "students" inviting you to expensive tea ceremonies).
- • Keep valuables in front pockets/money belt in crowds
- • Use ride-hailing apps (Didi) instead of street taxis
- • Be wary of overly friendly strangers in tourist areas
- • Solo female travelers report feeling very safe in China
📱 Essential Apps
- • VPN: Install BEFORE arriving (access Google Maps, WhatsApp, research)
- • WeChat: Messaging + mobile payments (essential!)
- • Alipay: Alternative payment option
- • Didi: Ride-hailing (like Uber)
- • Pleco: Chinese-English dictionary with camera translation
- • Baidu Maps: Navigation (more accurate than Google in China)
- • Trip.com: Book trains, hotels, tours
💳 Money Matters
- • Cash: Always carry some RMB (street vendors, small shops don't accept cards)
- • Mobile Payments: WeChat Pay/Alipay everywhere. Link Chinese bank card or use international credit card feature (recently available)
- • ATMs: Bank of China ATMs accept most international cards (~$3-5 withdrawal fee)
- • Credit Cards: Rarely accepted outside hotels/tourist attractions. Don't rely on them
- • Bargaining: Expected at markets, small shops. Start at 50% of asking price
🗣️ Language Barrier
English limited outside major tourist areas. Download offline translation apps. Learn basic phrases: ni hao (hello), xie xie (thank you), duo shao qian (how much), bu yao (don't want - useful for pushy vendors).
Tip: Have hotel address in Chinese characters on phone. Show taxi drivers when lost.
Sample Itineraries
📅 7-Day Classic China ($400-600 budget)
- • Day 1-3: Beijing (Great Wall, Forbidden City, hutongs)
- • Day 4: High-speed train to Xi'an (4.5hrs, $60)
- • Day 5-6: Xi'an (Terracotta Warriors, City Wall, Muslim Quarter)
- • Day 7: Fly back or continue to Shanghai
📅 10-Day Nature & Culture ($500-800)
- • Day 1-2: Shanghai (city exploration)
- • Day 3-4: Hangzhou (West Lake, tea plantations)
- • Day 5-7: Guilin/Yangshuo (Li River, cycling, hiking)
- • Day 8-10: Chengdu (pandas, Sichuan food, tea houses)
📅 14-Day Epic China ($700-1,200)
Combine both itineraries above! Add: Zhangjiajie (Avatar mountains), Lijiang/Dali (ancient towns), or Tibet (if permits available). Use combination of trains and budget flights for long distances.