I've returned from Anji, and my perspective on spending has completely changed.
"Easily recognizing the face of the east wind, thousands of colors all represent spring." April in Anji is a dreamlike place where nature has spilled its palette of colors🎨 Thousands of acres of bamboo forests roll like green waves, azaleas bloom wildly across vast areas, and tea mountains are shrouded in mist - every frame is a stunning spring wallpaper. Grab this guide and start a romantic date with spring!
Pre-trip Essentials
- Transportation: Anji is easily accessible. Self-driving is recommended for freedom to explore various attractions. From Hangzhou, it's about a 1.5-hour drive; from Shanghai, you can reach Anji in about 2.5 hours.
- Weather: Mountain weather is changeable, so check the forecast before departure and bring rain gear and warm clothing.
- Tickets: For popular attractions like Cloud Prairie and Zhongnan Baicao Garden, it's advisable to book tickets in advance through official WeChat accounts or major travel platforms to avoid queuing.
Itinerary Planning
- Classic 3-Day Tour:
- Day 1: Arrive in Anji in the morning and visit China's Great Bamboo Sea. Stroll along bamboo forest boardwalks and breathe in the fresh bamboo fragrance. In the afternoon, head to Zhongnan Baicao Garden to see cute animals, explore flower fields, and enjoy amusement facilities.
- Day 2: Visit Yu Village in the morning to experience the charm of the "Green mountains and clear waters are gold and silver mountains" concept. In the afternoon, check out Anji Bamboo Expo Park to explore the wonderful world of bamboo and meet adorable pandas.
- Day 3: Spend the whole day at Cloud Prairie, challenging yourself with cliff swings, rainbow grass sliding and other exciting activities while overlooking breathtaking mountain views.
- Relaxing 2-Day Tour:
- Day 1: Visit the White Tea Viewing Platform in the morning to enjoy vast tea plantations and experience tea picking and processing. In the afternoon, head to Xiaohangkeng, known as "Little Xinjiang," for amazing photos.
- Day 2: Explore Lingfeng Temple in the morning to purify your mind in the ancient temple's zen atmosphere. In the afternoon, visit the Bamboo Expo Park for an educational bamboo journey.
Four Ways to Play
1. Thrilling Adventures: Cloud Prairie is absolutely an adventurer's paradise! The cliff swing lets you feel your heart race at a thousand-meter height, while rainbow grass sliding sends you zooming down from 18 meters high🌈 There are also nerve-wracking plank walks, aerial bicycles and other activities that will keep you screaming throughout.
2. Family Time: Zhongnan Baicao Garden combines a zoo, botanical garden, and amusement park. Children can interact with cute animals and enjoy various rides. The adorable giant pandas at Anji Bamboo Expo Park will definitely melt your children's hearts🐼
3. Cultural Exploration: Enter Anji Bamboo Expo Park to learn about the past and present of bamboo and appreciate exquisite bamboo crafts. Visit Lingfeng Temple to explore the historical charm of the thousand-year-old temple and experience the profound Buddhist culture.
4. Nature Sightseeing: The vast bamboo waves of China's Great Bamboo Sea, the grassland lakes of Xiaohangkeng, and the rolling tea mountains at the White Tea Viewing Platform - each spot allows you to immerse yourself in nature's embrace, with every casual photo looking like a professional shot.
Accommodation Hit and Miss List
- Hits:
- Anji Yunbanjian Luxury Retreat: Surrounded by mountains and bamboo forests, it feels like staying in a paradise. Rooms feature high-end facilities and attentive service, plus outdoor hot springs where you can soak while stargazing at night - utterly delightful.
- Anji MOMA Moma Hotel: The hotel itself is an art gallery with a strong artistic atmosphere and sense of design. Every photo you take looks like an artistic masterpiece.
- Misses: Some remote small guesthouses have outdated facilities, questionable hygiene, and potential noise issues. Always check guest reviews before booking.
Food Radar
- Old Li's Home-style Restaurant: Must-try braised spring bamboo shoots - a seasonal delicacy so fresh it will blow you away. The free-range chicken soup is also exceptional, with rich broth and tender meat.
- Alujia Taste of Anji: Salt and pepper mulberry leaves are crispy and delicious, full of spring flavors. The dry-pot beef is spicy and appetizing, perfect with rice.
- Tao Le Le: A photogenic dessert shop where bamboo tube milk tea and matcha shaved ice are not only delicious but also incredibly Instagram-worthy with a 100% photogenic rate.
Seasonal Special Activities
- Spring Tea Picking: April is the harvesting season for Anji white tea. Wear tea-picking clothes, carry a small bamboo basket, and wander through the verdant tea mountains. Experience the "one bud, one leaf" picking standard firsthand, learn tea-making techniques from masters, and finally taste a cup of tea made by your own hands - fragrant and full of spring goodness.
- Flower Field Walks: The spring flower fields at Zhongnan Baicao Garden are incredibly romantic. Tulips, cherry blossoms, rapeseed flowers and more bloom together in a colorful display, like being in a fairy tale world. Strike any pose for beautiful photos.
🌳April in Anji is nature's most generous gift, with every scene telling a story of spring. Pack your bags and head to this spring rendezvous!