One, Budget Allocation Suggestions for Traveling in China

When traveling in China, budget allocation should consider the duration of travel, the consumption level of destinations, seasonal factors, and personal preferences. Below is a general proportion framework applicable to most international tourists:

1. Basic Budget Allocation Proportion

Note:
- Others: Includes entrance fees for attractions, shopping, insurance, visa fees, emergency expenses, etc.
- The proportions need to be adjusted according to the consumption level of cities (e.g., costs in first-tier cities like Beijing/Shanghai are higher than Chengdu/Xi'an).

Two, Detailed Classification Analysis

1. Transportation Costs

• International Flights: Account for 40%-60% of total transportation budget (booking 3-6 months in advance can save 20%-30%).
• Domestic Transportation:
• High-speed Rail: Cost-effective (e.g., one-way trip from Beijing to Shanghai costs approximately ¥553 and takes 4.5 hours).
• Airplane: More discounts during off-season (use apps like Ctrip/Flightradar24 for price comparison).
• City Transportation: Subway (¥3-10 per ride), taxi (Didi app, about ¥2.5-3.5 per kilometer in first-tier cities).
• Suggestions:
• Use the "Railway 12306" app to book high-speed rail tickets, and bind international credit cards with Alipay/WeChat Pay.
• Purchase "Transport Union Card" in advance or activate the "Travel" function on Alipay, which covers public transport across the country.

2. Accommodation Costs

• Economy Class: Youth hostels (¥50-150 per night), chain hotels (e.g., Hanting/Home Inn, ¥200-400 per night).
• Mid-range Class: Four-star hotels (¥500-800 per night), unique homestays (Lijiang/Dali areas ¥300-600 per night).
• High-end Class: Five-star hotels (¥1000+ per night, such as scenic rooms in Sanya/Shanghai Bund area).
• Suggestions:
• Book through platforms like Meituan, Ctrip, Booking.com, and pay attention to options that include breakfast.
• Avoid peak seasons (National Day/Spring Festival), when room prices may increase by 2-3 times.

3. Catering Costs

• Street Snacks: ¥10-30 per meal (e.g., Jianbing Guozi, Xiaolongbao).
• Local Restaurants: ¥50-100 per person (e.g., Sichuan cuisine, Cantonese cuisine).
• High-end Restaurants: ¥200+ per person (e.g., Peking Duck at Quanjude, Western restaurants on Shanghai Bund).
• Suggestions:
• Use Dazhong Dianping app to find highly-rated restaurants; some support English interface.
• Try "package discounts" (Meituan/Koubei apps) to save 20%-40%.

4. Other Expenses

• Attraction Entrance Fees:
• Palace Museum ¥60, Great Wall ¥40-60, Shanghai Disneyland ¥500+ (book online in advance).
• Shopping:
• Souvenirs (¥50-200), tea/silk (¥200-1000).
• Emergency Funds: It’s recommended to reserve 5%-10% of the total budget (e.g., medical care, unexpected traffic delays).

Three, Practical Budget Optimization Techniques

1. Alternative Inter-city Transportation Solutions:
2. Overnight trains (hard sleeper ¥200-400) save accommodation costs.

3. Carpooling (Didi Shunfengche) reduces long-distance taxi costs.

4. Flexible Accommodation Choices:

5. Choose central apartments in second-tier cities (Airbnb), more cost-effective than hotels.

6. Cost-saving Dining Strategies:

7. Experience local markets (e.g., Kunming Zhanxin Market, Chengdu Qing Shi Qiao Seafood Market) and self-purchase ingredients for processing.

8. Free/Low-cost Attractions:

9. West Lake in Hangzhou, Beijing's 798 Art Zone, Bund night views in Shanghai, etc.

Four, Case Reference (10-day Itinerary)

Five, Precautions

1. Payment Methods:
2. Alipay/WeChat Pay cover 90% of scenarios; VISA/MasterCard needs to be bound or a UnionPay card obtained.
3. Seasonal Impact:
4. Winter (December-February): Higher costs in Northeast regions due to winter tourism season. Summer (July-August): Tibet/Yunnan become popular.
5. Tip Culture: There is no mandatory tipping culture in China; high-end hotels/restaurants may offer optional 5%-10% tips.