Where to Stay in Anji

The five bases

• First visit, without a car: Dipu, the county seat. Restaurants, supermarkets, a taxi rank and the widest choice of ordinary hotels.
• Families with children: Lingfeng, the resort zone north of the town, built around theme parks and large hotels with pools.
• Bamboo and cooler air: Tianhuangping, the mountain village below the pumped-storage plant, ringed by the densest bamboo in the county.
• Views and open grassland: Shanchuan, high on the ridge, where the cloud grassland sits above the tree line.
• Rivers and rafting: Baofu, in the south-west, with shallow rivers, stone bridges and guesthouses that open onto water.

What the county town solves

• Logistics: the railway station sits on the edge of town, so a late train does not become a late drive up a mountain road. The delta guide compares journey times from Shanghai.
• Food: a strong choice of ordinary restaurants, plus supermarkets and pharmacies. In a rural county this matters more than it sounds.
• Price: a third to a half of resort rates, which frees the budget for a better room elsewhere on a longer trip.

Built for children

• Facilities: a dense cluster of hotels with indoor pools, playrooms and grounds, which is what a rainy day needs.
• Parks: the theme park and the big garden-park next door are both a short drive away, so a day out does not require planning.
• Rooms: family suites and connecting rooms are standard here, unlike in the village guesthouses further south.

Bamboo at the window

• Setting: the village sits at altitude below the pumped-storage station, with bamboo on every slope and a temperature a few degrees below the county town.
• Trails: the bamboo sea and the reservoir road are close, and several guesthouses are within walking distance of a trailhead.
• Guesthouses: a mature cluster of family-run houses, most with dinner included and a terrace facing the valley.

Above the tree line

• Altitude: the grassland sits above the tree line, with grass, wind and long views rather than bamboo tunnels.
• Photography: sunrise and cloud inversions are the reason people come up here, and staying on the ridge removes the pre-dawn drive.
• Summer: cooler nights than the valley, which matters in July and August.

The water is the point

• Water: clear, shallow rivers with stone bridges, swimming holes and rafting sections nearby.
• Groups: guesthouses with courtyards and kitchens, priced per house rather than per room, suit six to ten people.
• Quiet: far enough from the resort zone that weekends feel like weekdays, except in August.
• Combine with: Moganshan is two hours north, for a mountain after the rivers.

By season

• March to May: bamboo shoots, green hills and good walking weather. Rain is frequent but short.
• June to August: hot and humid in Dipu, five degrees cooler on the ridge. Rafting peaks, and so do weekend prices.
• September to November: dry, clear and the most settled months of the year. Book two weeks ahead for weekends.
• December to February: cold, often grey, and very quiet. Some guesthouses close between the New Year and the spring festival.

Rail services are limited

Direct trains from Shanghai run a handful of times a day, not the twenty-minute frequency of the Suzhou line. Check the return service before you book the room, not after.

Foreign guest registration

Most resorts and established hotels are licensed to receive foreign passports. Village guesthouses are hit and miss. Ask directly and keep the written reply, especially for cheaper listings.

Dinner is often the only dinner

In Tianhuangping, Shanchuan and Baofu there may be no restaurant within walking distance. Most guesthouses cook, but they need to know by mid-afternoon and they expect cash or a QR payment.

Driving at night is not a plan

Mountain roads are narrow, unlit and shared with scooters. Arrive in daylight, and do not schedule a late transfer on the day you land.

Primary documents

• Rail fares and timetables: China Railway's English booking site lists every service and the fare band it sells. The ranges on this page are those on sale in October 2026; fares move by departure, so read them as bands rather than prices.
• The county itself: The Anji county government publishes the county's transport and scenic area notices, including the bamboo forest.

How do I get to Anji from Shanghai?

Direct high-speed trains run from Shanghai Hongqiao in 1 hour 20 to 1 hour 40 minutes for ¥92 to ¥111, but only a few times a day. By car it is two and a half to three hours, which gives more flexibility for the valleys.

Do I need a car in Anji?

Yes for Tianhuangping, Shanchuan and Baofu. Ride-hailing exists but supply is thin in the valleys, especially after dark, and some guesthouses sit three kilometres from the nearest junction. Dipu and Lingfeng can be done without one.

Is Anji good for families?

Yes, particularly the Lingfeng resort zone, which has pools, parks and family rooms within a short drive. The bamboo villages suit older children who can walk, and Baofu's rivers work best for groups in summer, when the water is low.

How many days do I need in Anji?

Two nights for one valley, three for two. The county is large and the roads are slow, so a day trip from Hangzhou sees very little of it. With one night, base yourself in Dipu or Lingfeng and stay put.

When is the best time to visit Anji?

Late spring and autumn. Summer works if you stay high on the Shanchuan ridge, where nights are cooler than in the valley. Winter is quiet and often grey, and some guesthouses close between the New Year and spring.