China is one of those trips that feels overwhelming to plan but is genuinely transformational for kids — walking on the Great Wall, standing next to 8,000 terracotta soldiers, watching giant pandas in Chengdu, and riding the world's fastest train into a Shanghai skyline that looks like a sci-fi movie. The challenge for Australian families is that China's cost range is enormous: budget hostels at AU$20/night sit alongside luxury hotels at AU$800, and most "China family trip" content is either backpacker guides or group-tour brochures that include everything at $10,000+ per person.
The short answer: budget CNY 55,000–75,000 all-in (~AU$12,100–16,500) for a family of four on a 14-night China trip with mid-range hotels, bullet trains between cities, and shoulder-season flights. The SaveToRoam template sits at CNY 55,000 (~AU$12,100) — comparable to a 14-day Japan trip but with lower daily costs offset by slightly higher activity fees.
The Trip Outline: 14 Nights, Four Stops
- Beijing, 4 nights — the historic capital. Great Wall (Mutianyu section, less crowded, has a toboggan for kids), Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, hutong rickshaw tour, and Peking duck.
- Xi'an, 3 nights — ancient Silk Road gateway. Terracotta Warriors, Ancient City Wall cycling, Muslim Quarter street food, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and Tang Dynasty cultural show.
- Chengdu, 4 nights — Sichuan capital and panda base. Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (arrive at 8am before crowds), Jinli Ancient Street, Leshan Giant Buddha day trip, Sichuan opera face-changing show.
- Shanghai, 3 nights — modern China finale. The Bund, Yu Garden, Shanghai Tower observation deck, Nanjing Road, Shanghai Museum, and a Huangpu River cruise for the skyline at night.
Why this route: Beijing → Xi'an → Chengdu → Shanghai follows a logical west-to-south-to-east arc with excellent bullet train connections. Each city has a distinct personality, so kids don't get "temple fatigue." The Chengdu pandas break up the historical sites perfectly.
How the Mid-Range Template Breaks Down (CNY)
Accommodation (~CNY 16,800 for 14 nights)
- Beijing, 4 nights — CNY 1,200/night for a family room near Wangfujing or Dongcheng. Target: The Opposite House, Novotel Beijing Peace, Holiday Inn Express Dongzhimen, Courtyard by Marriott Beijing.
- Xi'an, 3 nights — CNY 900/night near the Bell Tower. Target: Sofitel Legend People's Grand, Gran Meliá Xi'an, Wyndham Grand Xi'an South.
- Chengdu, 4 nights — CNY 1,100/night near Chunxi Road. Target: The Temple House, Holiday Inn Express Chengdu Gulou, Shangri-La Chengdu (upper).
- Shanghai, 3 nights — CNY 1,500/night near the Bund. Target: Les Suites Orient Bund, URBN Hotel Shanghai, Hyatt on the Bund, Fairmont Peace Hotel (upper).
Total: CNY 16,800 (~AU$3,700). Shanghai pushes the average up — it's the most expensive city in China for family hotels. Consider Pudong-side hotels for 20–30% savings with the same Bund views.
Flights from Australia (~CNY 18,000 shoulder)
- SYD/MEL → Beijing (PEK) on China Southern, China Eastern, or Qantas codeshare: AU$800–1,200 per person return shoulder, AU$1,500–2,200 peak. Family shoulder total: AU$3,200–4,800 (~CNY 14,500–21,800).
- Shanghai (PVG) → SYD/MEL for the open-jaw return.
- Template assumption: CNY 18,000 shoulder (~AU$3,960) open-jaw family fare.
Bullet trains between cities (~CNY 4,200)
- Beijing → Xi'an: 2nd class CNY 515/person (4.5 hrs) = CNY 2,060 family
- Xi'an → Chengdu: 2nd class CNY 263/person (3.5 hrs) = CNY 1,052 family
- Chengdu → Shanghai: 2nd class CNY 780/person (but 12+ hrs — fly instead at CNY 400–600/pp) ≈ CNY 2,000 family flight
- Template: CNY 4,200 (~AU$924). Kids under 1.2m ride free; 1.2–1.5m pay half fare — check your kids' heights.
Daily family budget (~CNY 11,200 for 14 days)
- Food: Chinese restaurants CNY 40–80/person/meal, Western CNY 100+. Family of 4 mid-range = CNY 500–700/day.
- Metro + Didi rides: CNY 80–120/day
- Water + snacks: CNY 50/day
- Template: CNY 800/day × 14 = CNY 11,200 (~AU$2,464)
Activities & entry fees (~CNY 4,800)
- Great Wall (Mutianyu) + cable car + toboggan: CNY 220/family
- Forbidden City: CNY 60/adult = CNY 120
- Temple of Heaven: CNY 34/adult = CNY 68
- Terracotta Warriors: CNY 120/adult = CNY 240 (kids under 1.4m free)
- Xi'an City Wall bike hire: CNY 180/family
- Chengdu Panda Base: CNY 55/adult = CNY 110
- Leshan Giant Buddha (boat + entry): CNY 350/family
- Shanghai Tower observation: CNY 180/adult, CNY 120/child = CNY 600
- Huangpu River cruise: CNY 400/family
- Shows + miscellaneous: CNY 2,500
Total: CNY 4,800 (~AU$1,056)
The All-In Number
| Category | CNY | AUD (approx) |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (14 nights) | 16,800 | 3,700 |
| Flights (family of 4) | 18,000 | 3,960 |
| Bullet trains / domestic flights | 4,200 | 924 |
| Daily budget (14 days) | 11,200 | 2,464 |
| Activities & entry fees | 4,800 | 1,056 |
| Total | 55,000 | ~12,100 |
When to Go
Best months: April–May and September–October. These shoulder seasons avoid the brutal summer heat (Beijing 38°C+, Xi'an 40°C+) and the Golden Week crowds (first week of October — avoid at all costs). Spring has cherry blossoms in Shanghai; autumn has clear skies at the Great Wall.
Visa note: Australia passport holders need a Chinese visa. Apply 4–6 weeks before travel. The 10-year multiple-entry tourist visa costs AU$109/person. Transit visa exemptions (144-hour) exist for Shanghai/Beijing but don't cover a multi-city trip.
Tips for Families
- Mutianyu over Badaling — Mutianyu is the family-friendly Great Wall section. Less crowded, has a cable car up and a toboggan slide down (kids love it), and the wall condition is excellent for walking.
- Panda Base at 8am sharp — pandas are active in the morning and asleep by 11am. The first hour is magical; after 10am it's packed and the pandas are logs.
- Download WeChat Pay before you go — cash is increasingly hard to use in China. International visitors can now link Visa/Mastercard to WeChat Pay. Set this up before departure.
- VPN for Google/Instagram — Google, Gmail, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook are blocked in China. Download a VPN before arrival (ExpressVPN, Astrill).
- Bullet trains are the highlight — kids genuinely love the 350km/h trains. Book window seats on the left side for the best scenery on the Xi'an → Chengdu route through the mountains.
Use the Template
The SaveToRoam China template loads all 4 stops with estimated accommodation costs and builds a savings plan that counts down to your departure date. Pick your dates, adjust the budget, and start saving.
Start with this template
Load a pre-built itinerary with stops, costs, and local tips. Your weekly savings target updates as you customise.
Free to start — no card required.
Related guides
Iguazú Falls & Patagonian Glaciers: 14 Days for AU$13,345
Waterfalls, glaciers, and lake mountains. 14 nights in Argentina spans from subtropical jungle to Patagonian ice — dramatic geography packed into one south American adventure.
How Much Does a Family Trip to Borneo Cost in 2026?
Orangutans in the wild, proboscis monkeys on river cruises, and Kinabalu's cloud forests. 10 nights exploring Borneo's jungle heartland — adventure without leaving kid-friendly comfort.
Caribbean Island Escape: Beaches & Rum Punch for AU$13,345
Island-hopping without cruise ships, hiking Piton peaks, Caribbean warm water year-round. 10 nights hopping Barbados and St Lucia — Atlantic side ease with Caribbean soul.