🇦🇺 Australia · backpacker · November 2025

Olivia's 10-day China trip — $720 total

Chengdu → Lijiang → Kunming → Dali

Last updated: June 16, 2026

These budgets are editorial estimates built from cited public prices (as of 2026), not actual user-submitted trip reports. Real traveler submissions will replace estimates as they accumulate via our lead form.

Quick Answer

How much does a 10-day China trip from Australia cost?

Olivia (Australia) spent 10 days across Chengdu, Lijiang, Kunming, Dali on a backpacker budget, totaling $720 ($72/day) in November 2025. "Yunnan is the China backpackers haven't figured out yet. Go now."

Source: NihaoVisit editorial estimates (cited 2026 public prices)

Cost breakdown

Category	USD	% of total
flights	$240	33%
accommodation	$130	18%
meals	$180	25%
transit	$110	15%
attractions	$40	6%
misc	$20	3%
Total	$720	100%

Day-by-day itinerary

Illustrative day-by-day itinerary derived from this editorial estimate.

Day 1 · Chengdu
~$72
- Arrived in Chengdu· 1 link
- Chengdu panda base at 7am — empty cages by 8:30· 1 link
Day 2 · Chengdu
~$72
- Slow travel: 2 nights each in Lijiang, Dali, Kunming· 1 link
Day 3 · Chengdu
~$72
- Tiger Leaping Gorge day hike (the lower trail, 14 km)
Day 4 · Lijiang
~$72
- HSR/transit from Chengdu to Lijiang· 3 links
- ¥15 hostels, ¥25 streetside rice bowls, ¥3 metro rides· 1 link
Day 5 · Lijiang
~$72
- Chengdu panda base at 7am — empty cages by 8:30· 1 link
Day 6 · Lijiang
~$72
- Slow travel: 2 nights each in Lijiang, Dali, Kunming· 1 link
Day 7 · Kunming
~$72
- HSR/transit from Lijiang to Kunming· 2 links
- Tiger Leaping Gorge day hike (the lower trail, 14 km)
Day 8 · Kunming
~$72
- ¥15 hostels, ¥25 streetside rice bowls, ¥3 metro rides· 1 link
Day 9 · Kunming
~$72
- Chengdu panda base at 7am — empty cages by 8:30· 1 link
Day 10 · Dali
~$72
- HSR/transit from Kunming to Dali· 2 links
- Slow travel: 2 nights each in Lijiang, Dali, Kunming· 1 link

Payment evidence

3 illustrative asset placeholders (Alipay top-ups, HSR tickets, hotel check-ins, metro QR scans) — to be replaced with real screenshots once lead-form submissions accumulate.

Alipay Tour Pass ¥300 (28 Degrees Mastercard)Day 1 · ¥300 CNYAUD ~63. 28 Degrees has 0% FTF.
Lijiang Old Town ATM — ¥400 cash for guesthousesDay 4 · ¥400 CNY¥12 fee. Old town merchants often cash-only.
Chengdu hostel dorm — 2 nights @ ¥60/nightDay 1 · ¥120 CNYBooked on Hostelworld. Foreign card via Trip.com.

Trip highlights

Chengdu panda base at 7am — empty cages by 8:30
Slow travel: 2 nights each in Lijiang, Dali, Kunming
Tiger Leaping Gorge day hike (the lower trail, 14 km)
¥15 hostels, ¥25 streetside rice bowls, ¥3 metro rides

Visa for Australia

Australian citizens are 30-day visa-free. Olivia used the full 30-day window by adding 5 days in Vietnam after China.

Payment in China

Alipay Tour Card loaded with AUD 200 worked almost everywhere in Yunnan. Rural Lijiang still wanted cash for some guesthouses.

In Olivia's words

"Yunnan is the China backpackers haven't figured out yet. Go now."

Frequently asked questions

How much does a 10-day China trip from Australia actually cost?

Olivia spent $720 total ($72/day) on a backpacker-tier 10-day trip in November 2025. Of that, flights were $240, accommodation $130, meals $180, transit $110, attractions $40, and misc $20.

Do Australia citizens need a visa for China?

Australian citizens are 30-day visa-free. Olivia used the full 30-day window by adding 5 days in Vietnam after China.

What's the best way to pay in China as a Australia visitor?

Alipay Tour Card loaded with AUD 200 worked almost everywhere in Yunnan. Rural Lijiang still wanted cash for some guesthouses.

What cities did Olivia visit on this trip?

Chengdu, Lijiang, Kunming, Dali. The 10-day route was: Chengdu → Lijiang → Kunming → Dali.