Getting to Anji from Shanghai or Hangzhou
Four ways, compared honestly — including the two we do not sell. Times are door-to-door, prices are 2026 indications.
Short answer: if you are two or more people with luggage, book a private charter from Shanghai (2.5–3 h, ¥1,100–1,400 per car) or Hangzhou (1.5–2 h, ¥650–900). It is usually the same total as rail plus two taxis and saves an hour. Travelling solo on a budget: high-speed rail via Hangzhou East to Anji Station (about ¥110 total), then a 25–35 minute taxi. From HGH airport, a car is the only sensible option (1.5–2 h).
Two cities, four ways, one valley
220 km from Shanghai
2.5–3 hours by expressway. About 70 km and 1.5 hours from Hangzhou.
Anji Station
30–40 min from Hangzhou East, about 1.5–2 h from Shanghai Hongqiao with one easy transfer.
HGH is closest
Hangzhou Xiaoshan 1.5–2 h; Shanghai Pudong or Hongqiao 3–3.5 h by car.
Four ways to arrive
Private charter car — what most of our guests choose
包车（我们最推荐）| Route | Time | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai downtown → your homestay | 2.5–3 h door-to-door | ¥1,100–1,400 per car, one way | 5-seat sedan or 7-seat van; no transfers, luggage safe |
| Hangzhou downtown → your homestay | 1.5–2 h door-to-door | ¥650–900 per car, one way | Best combination of price and comfort |
| PVG/SHA airport → Anji | 3–3.5 h | ¥1,300–1,600 per car | Driver waits at arrivals with a name sign |
| HGH (Xiaoshan) airport → Anji | 1.5–2 h | ¥800–1,000 per car | Our most common arrival route |
| Full-day charter around Anji | 10 h | ¥680 (5-seat) / ¥880 (7-seat) per day | Fuel, tolls, parking, driver included |
High-speed rail — the budget pick
高铁（省钱之选）| Route | Time | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Hongqiao → Hangzhou East | 45–60 min | ¥73 second class | Trains every 10–20 min, book on Trip.com/12306 |
| Hangzhou East → Anji Station | 30–40 min | ¥35–45 second class | Same ticket hall, easy transfer |
| Shanghai Hongqiao → Anji (direct where available) | 1.5–2 h | about ¥100 | Direct trains run on some days; we check for you |
| Anji Station → county town / sights | 15–35 min taxi | ¥20–60 | Taxis at the rank; DiDi works with foreign cards |
Direct shuttle buses
景区直通车| Route | Time | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hangzhou East railway station → Yunshang Grassland | 2 h | About ¥110 one way | Departs 07:00 / 09:00 / 10:00 / 12:00 |
| Shanghai long-distance bus terminal → Yunshang Grassland | 4 h | About ¥128 one way | Departs around 12:50; book a day ahead |
| Shanghai → Anji county bus station | 4–5 h | ¥90–120 | Slow but the cheapest scheduled option |
Self-drive rental (possible, not always wise)
自驾租车| Route | Time | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent in Shanghai / Hangzhou → drive | 2.5–3.5 h | ¥250–450 per day + fuel + tolls | Foreign licence + translation needed; mountain roads narrow |
| Tolls & fuel, Shanghai → Anji | — | About ¥230 total | Navigation in English works with Amap (Gaode) |
Prices are indicative and change with season. Confirm the current price with us before you travel.
Need a guide, not just a driver?
Our drivers speak basic English and know every mountain road. For deep history, bamboo-forest stories and restaurant ordering help, add a licensed English-speaking guide (about ¥600/day). Guides in Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian and Malay are arranged on request — book 7 days ahead.
| Service | Indicative price |
|---|---|
| Licensed English-speaking guide (8 h) | About ¥600 / day |
| Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian or Malay guide | On request · book 7 days ahead |
| Driver-guide (basic English, 10 h) | Included in charter price |
| Airport meet-and-greet with name sign | Free with any charter |
| Child seat | Free — tell us the age |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book Anji tickets in advance as a foreigner?
Yes for weekends, holidays and Yunshang Grassland in July–August. All major parks take passport real-name booking; we register your tickets for you when you travel with us, free of charge.
Is Anji stroller- and wheelchair-friendly?
Partly. The Bamboo Sea boardwalk and Yucun are easy; mountain cliff paths are not. Tell us who is travelling and we will pick the right routes and the right stay.
Is there halal / vegetarian food in Anji?
Anji is a rural county — dedicated halal restaurants are rare. We arrange halal-style farmhouse cooking with a Muslim-friendly shopping list, or vegetarian menus at selected homestays. Tell us 3 days ahead and it is handled.
Do Google Maps, WhatsApp and Google Pay work?
WhatsApp and Google services need international roaming or an eSIM — buy one before you fly. Navigation in English works on Amap. Cash is still accepted everywhere; WeChat/Alipay accept foreign cards.
What about prayer rooms?
Hotels in the luxury band can arrange a quiet room on request. We mark prayer-friendly stays and plan prayer stops into mountain itineraries — just ask when booking.
When is Anji best for Southeast Asian guests?
March–May for tea and bamboo shoots, June–August for the cool mountain (the No.1 reason guests fly from the tropics), September–November for colours and fewer crowds. Winter is quiet, with a small ski field.
Send us your flight number. We will handle the rest.
Name-sign pickup, child seats, halal stops, and a driver who calls ahead when your flight is late. Airport transfers start at ¥800 from Hangzhou.
5, 7 or 15 seats — pick by luggage, not by price
Rates are per vehicle, one way, door to door, in a 2026 quote we would honour. A 5-seat car for four people with four big suitcases is how families end up uncomfortable for three hours.
| Vehicle | Travellers | Luggage | From Shanghai | From Hangzhou |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5-seat sedan / SUV | 1–3 travellers | 2 large + 1 cabin | ¥1,100–1,400 | ¥650–900 |
| 7-seat MPV (GL8 class) | 4–5 travellers | 4 large + 2 cabin | ¥1,400–1,800 | ¥800–1,100 |
| 15-seat minibus | 8–12 travellers | 12 large | ¥2,200–2,800 | ¥1,300–1,700 |
5-seat sedan / SUV
Best value for couples. Child seat free on request.
Shanghai ¥1,100–1,400 · Hangzhou ¥650–900
7-seat MPV (GL8 class)
The default for families. Reclining second row, room for a pram.
Shanghai ¥1,400–1,800 · Hangzhou ¥800–1,100
15-seat minibus
Groups and multi-family trips. Luggage trailer available.
Shanghai ¥2,200–2,800 · Hangzhou ¥1,300–1,700
All rates are per vehicle, one way, door to door — not per person. Included: driver, fuel, tolls, parking, meet-and-greet with a name sign at any Shanghai or Hangzhou airport or rail station, and 60 minutes of free waiting for flight delays. Not included: guide, tickets, meals, overnight driver allowance (¥300) if you keep the car past 22:00.
Who walks you through it
Per day, up to 9 hours, entry tickets for the guide included. A driver is not a guide — if you want the history, the plant names and the restaurant ordering, book the guide line.
| Guide | Per day | Lead time | What that means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese-speaking driver-guide | ¥500 / day | Every day | Licensed driver who also handles tickets, queues and restaurant orders. Not a licensed tour guide for commentary. |
| English-speaking guide | ¥600 / day | Every day | Licensed guide, fluent English, meets you at the airport or your hotel. Most of our guests book this for the Yunshang Grassland day. |
| Thai / Vietnamese / Indonesian / Malay-speaking guide | ¥800 / day | 7 days' notice | Arranged through partner agencies in Hangzhou. Please book early — this is the most requested and least available service in Anji. |
| Filipino-speaking guide | ¥800 / day | 7 days' notice | Tagalog-speaking guide with English as backup. Popular with Manila family groups. |
How each option works, step by step
The part other guides skip: what you book, what you pay, what happens when it goes wrong.
- How to book
- Message us on WhatsApp with dates, group size and luggage count. You get a fixed price and the driver's name and plate number 24 hours before pickup.
- How to pay
- 30% deposit by card or PayPal, balance in cash to the driver or by WeChat/Alipay. No meter, no surcharge for traffic.
- What to know
- Your driver waits inside the arrivals hall holding a name sign. Send a photo of your exit door if the airport is busy. Tipping is not expected in China.
- How to book
- Trip.com or the official 12306 app. 12306 now accepts foreign passports and most international cards; Trip.com is easier if yours is declined.
- How to pay
- Card online. Print nothing — your passport is the ticket. Swipe at the gate and again on the platform.
- What to know
- Shanghai Hongqiao → Hangzhou East → Anji. Book the transfer with at least 30 minutes between trains. Anji Station is 25–35 minutes from town by taxi (¥50–70); our driver can meet the train instead.
- How to book
- Ask us to reserve — seats are sold through local agents, not online in English. Departs Shanghai People's Square and Hangzhou East around 07:00–08:00.
- How to pay
- Cash or WeChat to the agent, or prepaid through us.
- What to know
- Cheapest per person (¥110–128 each way), slowest, and drops at Anji bus station rather than your homestay. Fine for solo travellers on a budget, poor for families with luggage.
- How to book
- Rent in Shanghai or Hangzhou with an IDP plus your home licence. Chinese licence holders can use apps; foreign licences cannot be used alone.
- How to pay
- Card deposit ¥3,000–5,000, released after the car is returned.
- What to know
- Mountain roads are narrow and unlit at night, and homestay parking is often a steep gravel slope. We do not recommend self-drive for first-time visitors.
- How to book
- Didi (English interface available). Taxis are scarce outside the county town — do not rely on hailing one at a scenic area at 17:00.
- How to pay
- Didi binds to a foreign card; street taxis are cash or WeChat.
- What to know
- Budget ¥80–150 for a scenic-area hop. Save your homestay's Chinese address as a screenshot: drivers call to confirm and rarely speak English.