Xinjiang Travel Budget Guide
How to allocate money for a trip to Xinjiang: daily rates for chartered cars, price ranges for different accommodations, total costs for tickets and shuttle buses, differences between peak and off-season, and money-saving tips.
Where the Big Expenses Are
The major expenses of traveling in Xinjiang are transportation by car (chartered car costs several hundred to over a thousand yuan per day depending on the vehicle type and season) and long-distance transportation within Xinjiang (flights and long bus rides). Surprisingly, tickets are not the biggest expense.
Accommodation Levels
Chain hotels in county towns cost 100 to 300 yuan; boutique hotels in city areas cost 300 to 600 yuan; wooden cabins and yurts in scenic areas cost 200 to 500 yuan, and prices double during peak season. Prices increase significantly during the golden autumn and apricot blossom seasons.
Tickets and Shuttle Buses
For large scenic areas, the total of "tickets + shuttle buses" generally ranges from 100 to over 200 yuan; for itineraries covering multiple scenic spots, the total estimated cost per person for the whole trip is 300 to 600 yuan.
Money-Saving Tips
Sharing a car with four people to split the charter fee is the most cost-effective; buy flights within segments in advance; avoid the peak seasons of golden autumn and apricot blossoms to get prices down by 30%. Eating at local small restaurants saves half compared to scenic area restaurants.