I Traveled 2,000km Across China for Under ¥500 — Budget Transport Hacks

Kurokun

Stay2CN Community Update | Getting Around | May 2026

China has a reputation for amazing high-speed rail, which is true — but what people don't talk about enough is how CHEAP domestic travel can be if you know the tricks.

I recently went from Shanghai to Kunming (about 2,000 km) for under ¥500 total. Here's exactly how I did it.

Hack #1: Overnight Trains Are Your Best Friend

High-speed rail during the day from Shanghai to Kunming costs ¥800+ and takes 10–11 hours.

But the overnight sleeper train? ¥350 for a soft sleeper bed. You leave at 8 PM, sleep through the night, wake up in Kunming at 7 AM. You save a night of hotel costs AND arrive rested.

This works for tons of routes: Beijing-Xi'an, Shanghai-Chengdu, Guangzhou-Guilin, etc.

Hack #2: Budget Airlines Exist — And They're Actually Good

Spring Airlines (春秋航空), Lucky Air, and 9 Air are China's budget carriers. A Shanghai-Kunming flight can be as low as ¥200 if you book 2–3 weeks ahead.

Yes, they're no-frills. No free baggage, no meal, cramped seats. But for 3 hours? Totally fine.

Pro tip: Book through Trip.com in English. The budget airline apps are... not foreigner-friendly.

Hack #3: Shared Electric Scooters for City Transport

Everyone knows about shared bikes (Meituan, Hello Bike, DiDi Bike). But the shared electric scooters are the real game-changer for getting around cities.

They're faster, require less effort, and cost about ¥2–3 for 15 minutes. In cities like Chengdu and Kunming, I used them constantly for distances that were too far to walk but too short for a taxi.

Just scan with Alipay or WeChat, hop on, and go.

Hack #4: Long-Distance Buses Still Exist (And They're Dirt Cheap)

Forgotten by tourists but still used by locals: long-distance sleeper buses. Shanghai to Hangzhou? ¥40. Guangzhou to Shenzhen? ¥35.

They're slow, the toilets are... questionable, and the movies they play are loud. But if you're on a shoestring budget, they're unbeatable.

My Shanghai → Kunming Breakdown

• Shanghai to Kunming overnight sleeper: ¥350
• Metro/buses within cities: ¥50
• Shared e-scooters: ¥30
• One budget flight (Kunming back to Shanghai): ¥220

Total: ¥650 for a full round trip. Could've been even cheaper with a sleeper both ways.

What's your cheapest China transport hack? Or your favorite overnight train route?

Stay2CN Team