One question every self-drive traveller asks before entering China: what does it cost? Here is a realistic breakdown based on how road trips in China are actually priced.
Fuel
Petrol is roughly 7–8.5 CNY per litre (prices vary slightly by province and season). A mid-size SUV uses about 8–11 L/100 km, so budget roughly 0.6–0.95 CNY per kilometre for fuel.
Tolls
Most national expressways charge about 0.4–0.6 CNY per kilometre. Provincial roads and national highways (G-routes) are free. A 2,000 km expressway-heavy route adds roughly 800–1,200 CNY in tolls. Note: on Hainan island, tolls are included in fuel prices.
Accommodation & food
Standard hotels: 150–400 CNY per night in most towns; 400–900 CNY in resort areas like Sanya. Two people eating locally: about 100–250 CNY per day.
Example daily budgets (two people, per day)
- Qinghai Lake loop: 400–700 CNY
- Duku Highway: 500–900 CNY
- G318 Sichuan–Tibet: 600–1,000 CNY
- G219 border highway: 700–1,200 CNY
What is often forgotten
Scenic-area tickets (many parks charge 60–300 CNY per person), a fuel reserve in remote areas, and the agency fee for your vehicle entry paperwork — which is a one-off, clearly quoted cost. Plan an extra 10–15% buffer and you will be comfortable.