Backpacker — $450 / week
- Hostel dorm or budget hotel: $20/night × 7 = $140
- Street food + cheap restaurants: $12/day × 7 = $84
- Subway, buses, occasional Didi: $5/day × 7 = $35
- HSR Beijing → Shanghai (2nd class): $77
- Attractions, tickets, Great Wall day trip: $90
- eSIM, snacks, buffer: $25
Mid-range — $950 / week
- 3–4 star hotel (shared room): $50/night × 7 = $350
- Sit-down restaurants, one nice meal: $30/day × 7 = $210
- Didi everywhere: $12/day × 7 = $85
- HSR (1st class) + airport transfers: $130
- Attractions, guide for Forbidden City: $130
- eSIM, drinks, buffer: $45
Comfort — $1,800 / week
- 5-star or boutique (shared room): $120/night × 7 = $840
- Hotel breakfasts + good restaurants: $60/day × 7 = $420
- Private driver in each city: $80/day × 4 = $320
- HSR (Business) or domestic flight: $200
- Private guides, tickets: $250
Where the savings hide
- Hotels. A $70 Atour or Hanting in China is materially nicer than a $200 Tokyo business hotel. Mid-range is the sweet spot.
- Transport. HSR 2nd class is comfortable; first class is rarely worth 50% more.
- Food. A street jianbing is $1.50 and excellent. A 5-star hotel breakfast is $40 and average. Eat where locals eat.
- Attractions. Most temples and museums are $5–15. The Forbidden City is $9. The Great Wall (Mutianyu) is $20 including cable car.
What blows budgets
- Booking from a Western OTA instead of Trip.com — adds 30%.
- Hotel bars and Western restaurants. A craft cocktail in Shanghai is $20.
- Tipping where it isn't expected (China is largely tip-free).
Compare to Japan and Korea, then map the spend to the 7-day itinerary or 14-day loop.