This is actually a fairly good representation of costs for budget travel through China.  I stayed mostly in hostels where the were available, and had a good split between time in big cities and time out more towards the countryside.

This also includes the visa, which is about $140 for Americans.  Other nationalities may get it for a bit cheaper, so that cost is reduced as well.  The biggest expenses are the day at Jiuzhaigou (9/19) and the flight from Hotan back to Urumqi (9/29).  Flights, especially can usually be avoided because there’s a pretty solid train system running through most of China.  Hotan is just a particularly remote city that isn’t on a railway, and I needed to be back to Urumqi quickly to get out of the country before my visa expired.