Only $468 to Explore Xichang! A Must-Save Money-Saving Guide for Students

🌟 **3 Days & 2 Nights Budget Travel Guide to Xichang | The Sunshine City for Just $468 Per Person** Who says travel has to be expensive? This cost-effective Xichang guide shows you how to savor Yi cuisine, tour Qionghai Lake, and visit Lushan Mountain for just **$468**—perfect for students and couples on a budget! --- 💰 **Cost Breakdown (Per Person)** ✅ Accommodation: $60 × 2 nights = $120 (hostel/shared guesthouse) ✅ Transportation: Round-trip bullet train from Chengdu $146 + local buses/shared e-bikes $30 = $176 ✅ Food: $20 × 6 meals = $120 (street snacks + budget eateries) ✅ Tickets: Lushan Guangfu Temple $5 + Qionghai Lake (free) = $5 ✅ Extras: BBQ split bill $40 + snacks $7 = $47 **Total: $468** (can be even lower with flexibility!) --- 🗓️ **3 Days & 2 Nights Itinerary** **Day 1: Budget Tour Around Qionghai Lake** - **Morning**: Take the bullet train to Xichang, then Bus 106 straight to Qionghai Lake ($2) - **Noon**: Grab street food (rice rolls $6 + Liangshan Snow yogurt $5) - **Afternoon**: **Free fun!** Hike or rent a shared bike to loop Qionghai (Wetland Park—Moonlight Town—Little Fishing Village) - **Evening**: Watch the sunset at Golden Scale Beach (no ticket) - **Night**: Share a table for firepot BBQ ($40/person, recommend roadside stalls in Little Fishing Village) **Day 2: Lushan Mountain + Yi Culture** - **Morning**: Take Bus 22 to Lushan, hike up/down (skip the cable car), but hide snacks from monkeys! - **Noon**: Buy fruit at the market (strawberries $5/lb) + cold noodles ($8) - **Afternoon**: Free visits to **Torch Square** and **Yi Ethnic Slave Society Museum** - **Night**: Try **Yi fast food** at the market (TuoTuo pork + buckwheat cakes $15) **Day 3: Low-Cost Hidden Gems** - **Option A**: Bus to **Hetao Village** for panoramic Qionghai views (no ticket) - **Option B**: Shop at **Nantan Farmers’ Market** for bitter buckwheat tea ($10/bag) - **Return**: Bullet train back to Chengdu (pack Yi-style buns for the ride) --- 🍢 **Eat Well on a Budget!** ▪️ **$5 range**: Rice rolls, Liangshan Snow yogurt, roasted potatoes ▪️ **$10 range**: Beef/lamb rice noodles, buckwheat cakes, fried potatoes ▪️ **$15 range**: Yi fast-food combo, tipsy shrimp (small portion) **Tip**: The cheapest, most authentic eats hide in markets and alleys! --- 🛏️ **Budget Stays** 📍 Qionghai International Youth Hostel ($30/bed, lakeside) 📍 Old Town guesthouses ($50/person for shared rooms, great transit) --- ⚠️ **Tips** 1️⃣ Book bullet train tickets 15 days early—opt for the cheapest **D-series** trains 2️⃣ Sun protection! Xichang’s UV is strong—hats + arm sleeves save money over sunscreen 3️⃣ Avoid Yi Torch Festival/National Week—hotel prices double --- **“$468 isn’t a limit—it’s another way to explore.”** Qionghai’s sunsets are free, Yi village songs cost nothing, and budget travel still fills your backpack with memories!