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An Indian travel blogger has sparked heated discussions online after he documented his journey walking across China while constantly complaining that “everything is too expensive.” The man, who reportedly brought only about 150 yuan (around US$20) for the trip, said he had expected China to be “cheap” and was shocked to discover otherwise.
According to Chinese media reports, the blogger had planned a budget trip across China and believed that he could manage on a shoestring budget. Before setting off, he told his followers that he would survive mainly on bananas and that he expected basic living expenses in China to be low. However, once he began his journey, reality quickly shattered his assumptions.
He was surprised to find that a bunch of bananas cost more than four yuan per jin (500 grams), which he considered unreasonably high. In response, Chinese netizens pointed out that this is actually a standard retail price. Official statistics from China’s Ministry of Commerce show that the average wholesale price of bananas in 2023 ranged from 3 to 5 yuan per jin — meaning what the blogger encountered was perfectly normal.
“Even in small Chinese cities, you can’t eat three meals a day for less than 50 or 60 yuan,” one Chinese commentator wrote. “If he only brought 150 yuan, that’s not a travel budget — that’s a misunderstanding.”
In his videos, the blogger also complained about difficulties using ATMs in China, claiming they were “too complicated.” However, Chinese viewers who watched his footage said that his problem was caused by his own mistakes — he failed to select the correct language and withdrawal options.
Data from China UnionPay show that more than 90 percent of foreign bank cards work smoothly at Chinese ATMs, and most failures are due to card restrictions or user error.
Throughout the trip, many local residents reportedly offered the blogger help. Some people gave him food or directions, while others tried to explain how public transportation works. But even then, the blogger kept complaining that locals were “charging him money” when helping him buy tickets or find accommodation.
Chinese social media users found this attitude frustrating. “He thinks help should be free, and when it’s not, he feels cheated,” one Weibo user commented. “That kind of mindset doesn’t work anywhere in the world.”
Experts say the blogger’s complaints reflect a common misconception among some foreign visitors who still imagine China as a cheap destination. According to China’s National Bureau of Statistics, the country’s average per capita consumption expenditure in 2023 was 26,769 yuan, and the Consumer Price Index rose slightly by 0.2 percent that year. Although inflation is low, overall living costs have increased compared with a decade ago.
In major cities, subway fares usually start at 3 yuan, and even dormitory-style hostels can cost 80 to 100 yuan per night during peak season. A simple bowl of noodles in a small eatery typically costs at least 10 yuan. For travelers who don’t plan ahead, these basic expenses can quickly add up.
“China’s economy has developed dramatically in the past 20 years,” a Chinese commentator noted. “Per capita GDP rose from less than US$1,000 to over US$12,000. Naturally, goods and services are no longer priced like they were in the 1990s.”
The blogger’s story quickly went viral on Chinese social media platforms such as Weibo and Douyin, where opinions were divided. Some users sympathized with him, saying he might have been unprepared for modern China’s level of development. Others, however, accused him of being arrogant and ignorant.
One user joked, “He thought he was going to the China from his childhood geography textbook — cheap, backward, and full of surprises. Instead, he found himself in the world’s second-largest economy.”
Another wrote, “If you go to any country without checking prices, of course you’ll be shocked. You can’t expect the world to match your imagination.”
A few netizens even offered practical advice. “If he really wants to travel cheaply, he should research routes, carry a working bank card, and plan his meals,” one commenter said. “There are plenty of budget ways to explore China — but you can’t do it with 150 yuan and blind confidence.”
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