Essentials
- Banking for Expats
- Alipay and WeChat Pay connected to international cards (Visa/Mastercard) are essential
- Accommodation
- DNA (Digital Nomad Anji) Co-living, local boutique guesthouses (Minsu)
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, extremely. Cash is rarely used; QR codes dominate
- Short Term Rentals
- Ctrip (Trip.com), Meituan, or DNA Anji community booking
- Budget Accommodation
- Anji Two-Path Hostel (Approx. 150 CNY/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Hello Kitty Park area or near the Great Bamboo Sea
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Xilong Tea Garden area (DNA Anji location) for community and infrastructure
- City
- Anji County, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Population
- Approx. 470,000
- Internet Speed
- 95 Mbps (Fiber common in co-living spaces like DNA Anji)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 USD ≈ 7.20 CNY, 1 EUR ≈ 7.80 CNY. Major banks: ICBC, Bank of China
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use bottled water or filtered dispensers
- Power
- 220V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type A, C, and I sockets
- SIM Card
- China Mobile, China Unicom (Approx. 100 CNY for 30GB)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- DNA (Digital Nomad Anji) in Xilong (Approx. 50 CNY/day or included in stay)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Deep Blue Coffee (Anji Branch) overlooking the quarry (Approx. 40 CNY/latte)
- Networking Events
- Weekly 'Nomad Night' at DNA Anji; Rural Revitalization Forums
- Social Events for Expats
- Hike & Hack weekends organized via WeChat nomad groups
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Didi Chuxing (integrated into Alipay/WeChat)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- HelloBike (Blue) or Meituan (Yellow) bike shares in the city center
- Best Beach Nearby
- None (Inland); Lake Taihu (Huzhou) is the closest major water body (1 hour)
- Top Regional Airline
- China Eastern Airlines (via Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport)
- Top International Airline
- Air China, Cathay Pacific (via Shanghai Pudong, 3 hours away)
- Highway Access
- S14 Hangchang Expressway connects directly to Hangzhou
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Anji Railway Station (High-speed rail to Shanghai and Hangzhou)
- Public Transport Passes
- Huzhou Transit Card (available on Alipay 'Transport' mini-app)
- Regional Travel
- High-speed train to Hangzhou (30 mins, 35 CNY) or Shanghai (1.5 hours, 110 CNY)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Anji County People's Hospital (People's Road)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Slow Life Yoga Studio near Phoenix Lake (Approx. 120 CNY/class)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Wanda Fitness Center (Anji City Center, Approx. 300 CNY/month)
- Laundry Services
- U-Clean Self-Service Laundry; most co-living spaces provide free machines
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Meituan Waimai, Ele.me
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Anji Bamboo Shoots (various preparations) and White Tea Chicken
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Pure Mind Vegetarian Restaurant (near Lingfeng Temple)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Maan Coffee (Wanda Plaza) for waffles and bingsu
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Century Mart (Anji Store) for local groceries
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Taobao, JD.com, Pinduoduo
- Grocery Delivery
- Meituan Maicai, Dingdong Maicai
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Classic Bar Street near the Anji Night Market
- Local Brewery
- Anji Bamboo Beer (found in local restaurants like 'Lao Anji')
- Wine Bars
- Vino Vibes (Boutique hotel bars in the mountains)
- Street Food Stalls
- Anji Night Market (Xingguang Night Market) for stinky tofu and BBQ skewers
- Popular International Cuisine
- The Kitchen (Italian) located in the JW Marriott Anji
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Anji Bamboo Expo Park, China Bamboo Museum
- Museums & Art Venues
- Zhejiang Natural History Museum (Anji Branch)
- Historical Sites
- Lingfeng Temple (Tang Dynasty origins)
- Religious Sites
- Bustling Lingfeng Temple for Buddhist rituals
- Annual Events
- Anji White Tea Festival (Late March/April)
- Cultural Districts
- Xilong White Tea Town
- Theater Venues
- Anji Grand Theater (Ecological City Center)
- Local Markets
- Dazhuyuan Morning Market (Fresh mountain produce)
- Music Scene
- Occasional live folk music at Sky Land (Tianhuangping)
- Street Art
- Rural murals in 'Art Village' projects like Yucun
- Cooking Classes
- Traditional Tea Ceremony classes at the White Tea Museum
- Art Galleries
- U-Gallery in the DNA community area
- Historic Buildings
- Old residential compounds in Xiaofeng Town
- Local Heritage
- Anji White Tea (Grown at high altitudes, UNESCO heritage potential)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Tianhuangping Pumped Storage Power Station (Scenic drive and mountain views)
- National Parks Nearby
- Longwang Mountain Nature Reserve (Source of the Huangpu River)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The cycling track around Phoenix Lake
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The 'Small Tibet' mountain road (Tianhuangping Road)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Hidden Valley (Canglong Baipu) waterfalls area
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Camping grounds at 'The Field' near DNA Anji
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- SF Express (Shunfeng), Cainiao Stations
- Tech Repair Services
- Huawei/Apple authorized repair centers in Wanda Plaza
- Table Tennis Spots
- Anji Sports Center Public Tables
- Language Classes
- Mandarin coaching available via DNA community tutors
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Anji County Library (Modern, quiet, fast Wi-Fi)
- Community Centers
- Acorn Community Hub in Xilong
- Gaming Lounges
- Wangba (Internet Cafes) found downtown near People's Road
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Strictly illegal in mainland China
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 15,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 600,000 CNY)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 10,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 400,000 CNY)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 14,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 840,000 CNY)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 9,500 CNY per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 570,000 CNY)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 13,500 CNY per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 1,080,000 CNY)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 9,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 720,000 CNY)
- Corporate Tax
- Standard 25% (Small/low-profit enterprises may get 5-20%)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% (can be lower via tax treaties)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for residents (>183 days)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45%
- VAT
- Standard 13% for most goods
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, China has robust CFC and anti-avoidance rules
- Property Tax
- No annual property tax for residential use (Trial Basis only in select cities)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Deed tax 1-3%, VAT 5.6% if held <2 years
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Limited; residency rules apply. However, rural startup incentives exist for business owners