ANJI BAMBOO FOREST Tired of Shanghai? Do you miss the mountains? Here you are a cool weekend getaway: Anji Bamboo Forest. I went there during Mid-Autumn festival and I want to share this ¨Survival Guide for Laowais¨ with my SAS colleagues because:

-­‐ the place is beautiful -­‐ they are probably the closer mountains around –not counting Sheshan– :-) -­‐ it is not crowed at all, just the opposite

OUR TRAVEL PLANS SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 29, 2012 FROM SHANGHAI TO ANJI We took a bus from Shanghai Railway Station to Anji at 08:55 a.m. It cost 75 RMB and it took 4h13´ (243 km.) After we took the bus it stopped at Shanghai South Railway Station, so it would be more convenient to buy the ticket and catch the bus there. But the best option would be to take a fast train from Shanghai Hongqiao Train Station to Hangzhou –about an hour, 80RMB- and then a bus from Hangzhou to Anji –about every 30´, 1h, 28 RMB-. http://www.chinatrainguide.com/shanghai-­‐railway-­‐station/hangzhou.html  

   

FROM ANJI TO MR. CHEN´S HOUSE We stayed at one of the local houses. This is the address. It is not the only one around, there are more options. You may need the help of one of your Chinese friends to make a reservation in advance, as they don´t speak English. We paid 120 RMB/room(double)/night. We had our breakfasts, meals and dinners there –apart of the price-. Mr. Chen – the owner of the house- came to pick us up to the Anji bus station. His house is 16 km. away from Anji, a 20´ car ride. It is not in the city but in a very peaceful place, surrounded by mountains.

That afternoon you could walk at the Bamboo Forest, walking distance from his home.

 

   

 

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012 Mr. Chen took us to some waterfalls, 15 km. from his home. We explored the area and went back to his home by public bus -4.5 RMB-. Our walk: If you only have two days you could go back to Shanghai catching the last bus from Anji that departs at 2:30 p.m., or go to Hangzhou catching a fast train there. Or you could stay another night that is what we did.

 

 

 

MONDAY OCTOBER 1, 2012 Mr. Chen took us to Tianhuangpingzhen and from there we took a public bus -4.5 RMB- to Anji, then a bus from Anji to Hangzhou -28 RMB- and then a bus from Hanghzou to Shanghai -188km. / 2h24´/ 68 RMB- NOTES: - You can read about this getaway at CNNgo.com: http://www.cnngo.com/shanghai/play/Anji-Shanghai-day-trip - You can see some pictures of the place here: https://plus.google.com/photos/114698741214157812143/albums/5795476632129769105   - Podéis leer sobre este viaje en español aquí: http://basurde.blogia.com/2012/100501-bosque-de-bambu-de-anji-provincia-de-zhejiang-china-.-29-ix-30-ix-1-x-2012.php - In the movie ¨Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon¨ two of the main characters fight in this bamboo forest. Have fun! Basurde http://basurde.blogia.com/