Best Things to do in China Under $50

China is full of places to visit and things to do, you can do them all if you’ve got an endless cash supply but if you’re on a budget you have to choose carefully. The country is great for those on a budget, checkout this list of the 10 best things to do in China under $50. I think you’ll be surprised how cheap some of these world class attractions are, more than one is free!

Guangzhou Baima Costume Market, Tiananmen Square, Yungang Grottoes, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, The Palace Museum, Summer Palace, The Bund, Temple of Heaven, Great Wall of China, Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum

• Guangzhou Baima Costume Market, China

  
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  I don’t think any trip to China is complete without picking up some bargains or dare I say it fake designer clothes. There are plenty of markets and malls to choose from but if you’re going to do it then go big and head to the Guangzhou Baima Costume market - the largest in the country. Get ready for a bit of chaos when you visit but I think that’s all part of the fun! There are over 1,000 wholesalers inside who supply clothes all over the world, have some fun haggling and hopefully pick up a good deal. Nothing should cost you over $50!

• Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China

  
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  Tiananmen Square is a place that most, if not all, of us have heard about for the wrong reasons. Located in the middle of the city it is an absolute must see when you’re in Beijing, I was blown away by how big it is - it covers 45,000 square meters, so it’s no surprise that it wins the award for largest square in the world. Here you can see the People’s Hereoes Monument (Center Square), The Great Hall (West Square), China National Museum (East Square) and Chairman Memorial Hall (South Square. It’s free to visit too!

• Yungang Grottoes, China

  
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  The Yungang Grottoes may not be the easiest to reach but they are well worth the effort, roughly 2 hours from Datong. This World Heritage Site has more than 50 caves and well over 50,000 stunning Buddhist sculptures that date back to the 5th century. The statues are stunning, they have been sculpted into the sandstone and have been extremely well preserved. I think that the entrance fee of 120 Yuan ($17) is cheap considering how well the local authorities have done keeping the carvings in such good condition.

• Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China

  
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  Have you seen Avatar? Well, this is where the movie comes to life because the mountains here are known as the Avatar Mountains. It costs 258 Yuan ($37) for a 3 day Park ticket. Located in Hunan Province, you’ll want to spend at least 3 days here exploring the mountains, beautiful streams, lush green surroundings and feeling at one with nature. Don’t forget your camera because just like being on the movie set there are lots of photo opportunities.

• The Palace Museum, China

  
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  The city is called forbidden because it used to be a palace city, so people like you and me were forbidden to enter. Some facts for you; it has more than 8,000 rooms, was home to 24 emperors, it is a World Cultural Heritage Site and listed in the 5 most important places on the planet. You’ll be overwhelmed by how big the Forbidden City is and it will take at least 3 hours to get around. The ticket costs 60 Yuan ($8.5).

• Summer Palace, China

  
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  This is the largest garden in the country (which means it’s massive!), it dates back to the Qing Dynasty. Known by locals as the Garden or Restful peace, it certainly lives up to its name. The temples, gardens and water make it a place you can happily spend a day exploring. A very important point - WEAR COMFY SHOES - you’ll be doing lots of walking so your feet need to be comfortable or you’ll pay for it later. The ticket costs 60 Yuan ($8.5).

• The Bund, China

  
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  The Bund is my favourite place in Shanghai, even if you haven’t been I’m sure you’’ recognise the skyline. You’ll be standing on the side with stunning colonial architecture which looks awesome when it's lit up at night. Then if you gaze over the water you’ll see Shanghai’s iconic skyline which is home one of the world’s leading finance districts. There are light shows in the evening which you have to watch at least once! The best part…..it’s absolutely free.

• Temple of Heaven, China

  
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  When you’re in Beijing the Temple of Heaven is an absolute must. The temple is stunning but so is the park and surrounding grounds. Get there early to see local people doing their morning exercises and other activities (tai chi, chess, dancing and more), it’s a great place to escape the chaos of the big city. You’ll want to buy a ‘through ticket’ for 30 Yuan ($4.5), that gives you access to the temple, park, plus Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, The Imperial Vault of Heaven and the Circular Mound Altar.

• Great Wall of China, China

  
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  The Great Wall stretches over 20,000 kilometers which means you can choose to visit different sections throughout the country. My recommendation is the Mutianyu Great Wall section, that’s due to many different factors; 1) it is close to Beijing (60km), 2) it is very well preserved compared to other sections and 3) it has less tourists than other sections. It costs 40 Yuan ($6) for the entrance ticket which is great value. Open 8am - 6pm.

• Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum in Xi'An, China

  
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  The Terracotta Army is located about an hour outside the city of Xi’an, so it’s easy to reach via bus, car or train. The entrance ticket costs 150 Yuan, a little over $20, it gives you access to the Terracotta Army Museum and the Mausoleum of Qin Shihunag. There are hundreds of life sized sculptures of soldiers which were buried underground over 2,000 years ago. There’s a lot of history to discover in this World Cultural Heritage Site.