If you’re looking for a weekend getaway to recharge in the mountains, you can’t miss Anji in Huzhou, the ultimate vacation destination near Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang provinces!
With its deep blue sky, floating clouds, rolling mountain peaks, and lush bamboo forests, along with old farmers herding their leisurely grazing cattle, it’s like a Zhejiang version of the “Little Altay,” so beautiful it’s almost surreal.
However, traveling to Anji without a plan might lead you into some pitfalls. So, the editor has compiled an “Anji Travel Guide” for you. Let’s find some free time and escape into the mountains together.
Anji: A Journey to Breathe Fresh Air
Anji boasts 1.01 million mu (about 165,000 acres) of bamboo forests, with a forest coverage rate and greening rate consistently above 70%. The air quality excellence rate exceeds 85%, making it a natural oxygen bar. The bamboo forests stretch like a long scroll painting, attracting worldwide attention. More than 4,000 years ago, Pengzu, the world’s longest-living person, lived here in seclusion for health and longevity. During the Northern Song Dynasty, a royal palace was built here, making it a true hidden paradise.
Here, you can find villages, small forests, streams, waterfalls, large lawns, camping sites, amusement parks, museums, zoos, and resorts. In summer, you can even go rafting, making it an ideal summer vacation destination.
Anji: Transportation Suggestions
🚅 High-speed rail: Anji Station
About half an hour from Hangzhou; about 2 hours from Shanghai
🚗 Self-driving
About 1.5 hours directly from Hangzhou city center; about 3 hours directly from Shanghai city center
Anji’s attractions are relatively scattered, and there are certain distances between each scenic spot. The editor suggests you choose to travel by car or rent a car at the high-speed rail station, both of which are very convenient 😎~
Anji: Attraction Guide
📌 Cloud Grassland
Cloud Grassland is a must-visit for almost everyone who comes to Anji. The scenic area is large, so it’s recommended to reserve 5-6 hours for your visit.
There are numerous recreational activities in the scenic area: rainbow grass sliding, cliff swings, aerial bicycles, cloud sea plank road, cloud rail cars, and more. However, many projects require a height of at least 1.2 meters, so if you’re traveling with children, it’s advisable to lower your expectations. Thrill-seeking parents can go and play separately. Basically, 3-4 major projects are enough to make the ticket price worthwhile~
Recommended Routes
Adult Route: Cliff Swing – Sky Walk – Cliff Crossing – Sky Street – Cliff Swing – Cloud Sea Plank Road – Eight Houses (Dining) – Cloud Rail Car -童心谷 Amusement Park – Rainbow Grass Sliding
Parent-Child Route: Green Grassland – Cloud Slide – Pet Paradise – Hobbit Town – Cloud Mini Train – Donut Grass Sliding – Rotating Helicopter – Bouncing Cloud – Cloud Mini Train – Troll Roller Coaster
🎫 Ticket: 180 yuan, Cable car 180 yuan
🕐 Hours: 8:30-17:00
📌 Hello Kitty Park
If you’re a Sanrio fanatic or have girls in your family, the editor recommends visiting Hello Kitty Park! It’s pink and dreamy, and entering it will overflow your heart with girlish feelings~
Colorful Ferris wheel, flower car parade, Hello Kitty’s house… The park’s projects and facilities are not scary and are all spinning types that children can handle. So, if you have kids, feel free to visit (some facilities have a height limit of 1m and above)!
🎫 Ticket: 210 yuan
🕐 Hours: 10:00-17:00
📌 Zhongnan Herbal Garden
Zhongnan Herbal Garden is one of the hottest attractions in Anji, a large outdoor park that includes a zoo, botanical garden, and amusement park, suitable for taking kids (if you bring children, you can rent a stroller, or else it will be very tiring to walk around)!
In addition to animals and plants, there is also an amusement park here, where most of the common rides are free and unlimited. (Children under 1 meter tall can only ride the self-controlled airplane and carousel)
🎫 Ticket: 200 yuan
🕐 Hours: 8:00-17:00
📌 Bamboo Expo Park
The main reason to visit Anji Bamboo Expo Park is to see the giant pandas. Compared to the Chengdu Panda Base and many popular panda pavilions, there are fewer people here, and you don’t need to queue.
The park area is not large, so it’s pleasant to walk around. There are performances at 14:30 in the afternoon. If you don’t want to walk, there are also sightseeing vehicles, suitable for the elderly, children, and the whole family to travel together~
🎫 Ticket: 70 yuan
🕐 Hours: 8:00-16:30
📌 Canglong Hundred Waterfalls
Hidden within the mountains covered in endless green bamboo, there is a scenic area with deep ravines, winding paths, and cascading waterfalls – Canglong Hundred Waterfalls. The hundred-meter-high cliffs and magnificent waterfalls are all visible at a glance, attracting many hiking enthusiasts.
This area boasts the largest waterfall cluster in Zhejiang, with over 100 waterfalls. As you enter the scenic area, the sound of gurgling water from the lush forest fills your ears, instantly making you feel cool and refreshed. Following the ascending trail, you’ll be greeted by the sight of dense bamboo groves, towering cliffs, flying waterfalls, flowing springs, and peculiar rock formations.
🎫 Ticket: 60 yuan
🕐 Hours: 8:30-16:00
📌 Jiangnan Tianchi
The azure pool is surrounded by green mountains, and you can stargaze at night. There are three famous check-in points here:
🎫 Ticket: 70 yuan, Mini train 5 yuan
🕑 Hours: 8:00-17:30
📌 White Tea Observation Deck
Anji white tea is renowned far and wide. The Anji White Tea Observation Deck is an enchanting paradise that captivates people. The scenery along the way is stunning, with endless tea plantations stretching as far as the eye can see, and the aroma of tea leaves permeating the air. (No ticket is required for the observation deck, and it takes about half an hour to walk up the mountain, saving the 10 yuan sightseeing bus fee)
Here, you can check in at the popular tea house “One Leaf,” which has a floor-to-ceiling window where you can take photos of the tea plantation, and it’s very beautiful. However, please note that if you visit during holidays, it can get quite crowded.
🎫 Ticket: Free
🕐 Hours: All day
📌 Deep Blue Project
Some people say that the Deep Blue Project is the “Little Iceland of Anji.” It used to be an abandoned mining pit but has been transformed into its current style, which is very popular.
The lake water here is crystal clear, and there are many camping tents and chairs, perfect for sunbathing, relaxing, and taking photos that turn out great. It’s also pet-friendly, so friends with furry companions can bring them along to play~
🎫 Ticket: 68 yuan (ticket can be exchanged for any drink)
🕐 Hours: 9:00-18:00
📌 Xiaohangkeng
Known as the “Little Xinjiang of Anji,” it’s truly stunning. There are two campsites: Campsite 1 for taking photos and checking in, and Campsite 2 for dining and accommodation.
Here, you can see mountainsides covered in bamboo forests, lush green lawns, shimmering lake water, grazing cattle, a “spitting” volcano, and cloud installations where you can cool off. The campsites are pet-friendly, and parking is free.
🎫 Ticket: 50 yuan (includes both Campsites 1 and 2)
📌 Changgu Dongtian
The waterfall isn’t very big, but it’s still beautiful and suitable for those who don’t like walking. The entire scenic area can be explored in 40-50 minutes. If you visit on a non-holiday, the entire valley is very quiet, perfect for breathing fresh air and experiencing nature.
🎫 Ticket: 38 yuan
🕐 Hours: 8:30-16:30
📌 Waterfall Cafe
There are three different waterfalls in the campsite, all in Balinese style. You can choose your favorite spot to sit. Sipping coffee while admiring the waterfall and listening to music in the forest is incredibly cool!
🎫 Ticket: 79 yuan (includes one drink)
🕐 Hours: 8:30-18:30
Anji: Accommodation Recommendations
For accommodation, the editor recommends choosing a homestay/hotel in the mountains. Staying in the city area of Anji would be too dull and would diminish the sense of leisure and seclusion that comes with a vacation.
If your budget allows and you want to maximize your holiday experience, the editor strongly recommends 【Anji Banyan Tree】. The hotel is built along a stream, and the lobby is a square courtyard that incorporates natural elements such as light, wind, rain, and snow, changing its appearance with the seasons, like a dynamic scroll painting of Jiangnan landscape.
What’s stunning is that the lobby bar of Banyan Tree connects to the outdoors, offering an unobstructed view of the lake and mountains. The long and narrow scenic pool brings the beauty of sunrise and sunset. The Chinese charm is evident in every brick and tile, making it hard not to fall in love with it.
Anji: Precautions
- The mountain roads in Anji are flat, and the attractions are scattered, making it suitable for self-driving tours. Convenience stores are scarce in the mountains, so it’s essential to prepare snacks, supplies, and travel necessities before setting off;
- Many scenic areas have little shade, so it’s necessary to take sun protection measures;
- There are many mosquitoes in the mountains, so it’s advisable to bring mosquito repellent and ointment to prevent mosquito bites;
- If you plan to go rafting, it’s recommended to prepare waterproof bags and slippers in advance.
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