Afficher 2backpacks – China sur une carte plus grande

It’s the paradise for the greedy ones, it’s the paradise for foodies… China has learnt how to please everyone’s wishes. Of course, we are always tempted to splurge and it’s quite hard to keep on the budget track when some many bargains keep crying « buy me! ».

Accomodation: after two months running up and down, staying not more than three days in each city and plenty of time inside the trains, we decided to rent a flat during our stay in Beijing. Sure 29 euros per night is more than we would pay for a hostel, but if we take on board our wish of feeling home and the high-quality of the appartment, this price was so worth to pay.  The place was so good that we stuck around for ten days! In fact, accomodation is where, as a general rule, we slide off the predictions. Our stay in Qingdao cost us 20 euros for two nights. In Shanghai this price doubled: 20 euros per night in the best hostel we ever stayed! Xian falled in the average of the last two: 14 euros per night.

Sightseeing: Differently of other countries, there’s no such a « tourist fee » for the monuments and museums, what makes really cheap visiting around.

Transports: trains in China are good and reliable. Not as cheap as in Uzbekistan or India, but still good value for money – specially when we can save the money of a hotel in an overnight journey. Shanghai to Xian cost us 33 euros each for a 11 hours ride in hard sleeper. In the cities, métro is dirty cheap, around 30 centimes of euro a ride. Taxi drivers in China are the best we found so far, no need to argue about the fare or to turn on the meter! Besides, riding a taxi is also really cheap.

Food: the paradise! So much choice! So cheap! So good. Four course meal for two with drinks for a maximum of 10 euros. Gimme more!!!

Shopping: You can find a fake of anything you dreamed about. Bargaining is a tiring activity, though. But it’s well worth the effort when you can get quality goods for a tenth of what they cost back home.-

Budget: We have planned 45 euros per day for two. Because of extensive shopping and splurges in mid-range hotels, we end up with an average of 55 euros per day. Ok, it can be problematic in a long run, but this part of the trip was so great that we don’t regreat one single penny spent.

China, to be done and re-done.