Russian Traveler Finds China's Budget-Friendly Side: Meals for Three Euros, Hotels for Thirty

A Russian travel blogger, writing for her personal blog 'It's Not Like There' on the Dzen platform, recently detailed the everyday costs visitors can expect in China. Her account paints a picture of a country with options for nearly every budget, from luxury dining to remarkably affordable daily staples.

She noted that while high-end restaurants exist, inexpensive local eateries, known as 'chifanki,' offer meals for as little as three euros per person. Prices can climb in city centers or tourist spots, she cautioned, where a single dish might cost 500-600 rubles. A practical tip: many cafes provide complimentary tea or warm water, helping to keep drink costs down.

Accommodation, according to her experience, also offers good value. The blogger and her husband stayed in clean, spacious, well-located hotels for about 60 euros per night. She added that decent options can be found for half that price, thanks to a vast selection of hotels. However, she was less impressed with the typically included breakfasts, often finding them insufficient and needing to buy additional food.

For shoppers, her advice was direct: head to the markets, but be prepared to haggle. Initial prices are often inflated two or three times, she warned, describing a theatrical negotiation process where sellers might 'roll their eyes or clutch their hearts.' Without active bargaining, she said, you won't secure a good deal.

In a previous post, the same blogger declared China a global benchmark for safety, citing an example where a bag left unattended in a park for an hour was found exactly where she left it.