The advantages of Serbia are visa-free, truly able to 'walk away'
Having traveled to the Balkans, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, both former Yugoslav countries, have visa-free entry for Chinese citizens with US visas, and you can also take a detour to Montenegro and Albania (Montenegro is visa-free for US citizens; Albania offers visa-free entry during the tourist season for those with US visas, and it's always visa-free for those with US visas). However, it's worth noting that the Kosovo region is particularly special. Although nominally a part of Serbia, it has effectively become an independent state.
With the US leading the way, over 100 countries have recognized its independence, but Serbia continues to hold firm. China and Russia do not recognize its independence either. Therefore, Kosovo is not applicable for Chinese passport holders to enter visa-free; you must have a valid Schengen multiple-entry visa to enter Kosovo. I can only speak from a tourist's perspective; here's my summary of Serbia's pros and cons: Pros: Visa-free, allowing you to truly just walk away and enter.
Of course, you need money and time. If you're only going to Serbia, you should prepare at least 10,000 RMB (including flight and accommodation costs; flight and accommodation make up the bulk of the expenses), and you'll need about 7-10 days of leave. Generally, when visiting Serbia, you'll also (take a detour) to neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina for a round trip (the legendary Sarajevo, etc.). Otherwise, visiting only Serbia wouldn't be worthwhile. Bosnia and Herzegovina is also visa-free, and the prices are cheap. Together, these two countries could take around 10 days.
Prices are low, and everything – food, accommodation, transportation – is cheap. I feel that it's less than China's per capita income, which is about 6000 USD, while China's is about 10,000 USD. You can imagine how high the consumption there is. It's not just me exaggerating; compared to developed countries like the US, Europe, and Japan, the prices are so low that I almost want to laugh. I spent about five or six days in Serbia, and the total expenses were less than 3000 RMB. The hotel in Belgrade's city center cost around 200-300 RMB per night, which is about the same as domestic budget hotels.
The equipment is a bit old, but the room quality is still good, and even a good five-star hotel doesn't cost more than 1000 RMB. Transportation and food are about the same as in China's second and third-tier cities. A large meal costs around 50-60 RMB per person, city buses cost a few RMB, and a daily pass costs about 10-15 RMB. There are many cafes on the street, which are cheaper and better than domestic Starbucks' McCafe. People are very friendly, and there are few Chinese tourists; there are few crowded tourist attractions. If you are traveling solo or with a small group, it will be very quiet. However, with the promotion of domestic travel websites and travel agencies, the number of tourists is gradually increasing.
