After spending a full month exploring China with our family, it's time to share our firsthand insights from this unforgettable journey.
We kept our planning light before departure, given China's vast size, and focused on Yunnan, Sichuan, and Guangxi provinces. While we skipped icons like the Great Wall and Forbidden City—saving them for a future visit—these regions delivered authentic adventures beyond our expectations.
We flew from Brussels to Chengdu with Hainan Airlines. Using our tried-and-true strategies for cheap tickets, we secured one-way fares for 1,000 euros total for all four of us.
A visa is mandatory before entering China. We paid 126 euros per person for a 30-day tourist visa. Using an agency adds processing fees, and if you're not near Paris, Marseille, Lyon, or Strasbourg, factor in travel to a visa center for fingerprinting (required since July 2019).
These upfront costs add up, but once inside, China offers exceptional value for travel, lodging, and dining.
China's payment scene is dominated by QR codes scanned via mobile apps—even street vendors use them. Cash is mostly for tourists now.
The currency is the Yuan (Renminbi). During our trip, the rate was 1 euro = 7.70 yuan. For context, 1 euro buys two metro tickets or a bowl of noodles from a street stall.
Our choices prioritized these key factors:
In China, we stayed in Chengdu youth hostels, budget gems in Shangri-La, and a pool-equipped hotel in Yangshuo. Prices ranged from 21 to 38 euros per night for four, and every spot was spot-on.
Pro Tip: Skip hotel breakfasts to save—use the provided kettle for coffee (from supermarkets), milk bricks for the kids, fruits, and biscuits. Grab stuffed breads from street stalls en route.
Food was a highlight, especially in Yunnan and Sichuan. We devoured noodle soups with unique flavors, Tibetan momos, pak choi in various sauces, stuffed babas, and countless unidentified delights.
Sichuan's cuisine shines with bold, spicy flavors from its namesake pepper. We'd point to photos, peek at neighbors' plates (they were game!), or let chefs surprise us with 3-4 dishes. No disappointments.
Meals cost 5 to 20 euros for four, depending on meat, at street stalls or local eateries (like our favorite hidden gem in Shaxi).
Chinese people greeted us with warmth and curiosity, despite language barriers. English is rare outside tourist hubs, so we relied on translation apps like Google Translate, photos of destinations (bus stations, panda center, temples), gestures for numbers (their finger-counting differs!), and basics like "Ni Hao" (hello), "Xièxiè" (thank you), and "Fàguó" (French).
Public transport made getting around simple: planes, metros, trains, buses, hitchhiking, and scooters.
We booked via Trip.com (small fee, but guaranteed seats—some sell out days ahead). Our daughter under 130 cm rode free on laps; others half-price. Collect tickets at stations with your booking code and passports.
Security checks tickets, passports, and bags. Trains offer restaurant cars with instant noodles, meal trays, fruits, and hot/cold water dispensers.
Stations have English-enabled machines: select destination and tickets. Kids under 130 cm free; fares average 3 yuan (0.50 euros). Bags scanned pre-entry.
Apps like Moovit helped. Lines numbered upfront; fares (often 2 yuan/person, free for our little one) shown outside—exact change into the box (no change given). For intercity, show destination and date at stations. Effortless!
Our night bus from Kunming to Mohan (Laos border) was clean, comfy, and fun—the kids raved about it.
Our 20-euro/month Free plan gave 25 GB in China with 4G everywhere—no VPN needed for blocked sites like Facebook, Instagram, or Google.
Hand-washing with hotel soaps/gels, dried on our compact Sea to Summit line. Some hotels charged 15 yuan/load; others (Shangri-La, Dali) offered free machines.
For 26 nights: 790 euros on transport (internal flight, 2 trains, buses including night bus to Laos border)—30 euros/day. Lodging: 800 euros, or 30 euros/night. Meals (local spots, full days): 25 euros/day. Extras (temples like Songzanlin, Chengdu massages at 100 yuan/13 euros for 4, panda center, carousels): 10 euros/day.
Total: 95 euros/day covering transport, lodging, meals, and extras for four.
Follow our full route on the blog: Chengdu to Shangri-La, Shaxi, Dali, and Yangshuo!
We fell in love with China and can't wait to return!
