Huzhou Transportation

Huzhou (湖州市) lies on the southern shore of Lake Tai in northern Zhejiang, between Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing and southern Anhui. Its tourism resources are widely distributed across Wuxing District (吴兴区), Nanxun District (南浔区), Deqing County (德清县), Changxing County (长兴县) and Anji County (安吉县). Central Huzhou and Nanxun are located on relatively flat plains, while Deqing and Anji contain extensive hills, bamboo forests and mountain roads. Changxing combines lakeside routes, wetlands and inland countryside.

Huzhou does not operate an urban metro system, but its railway access has improved considerably. The opening of the Shanghai–Suzhou–Huzhou High-Speed Railway on December 26, 2024 added Huzhou Nanxun and Huzhou East stations and reduced the fastest Shanghai Hongqiao–Huzhou journey to about 55 minutes. The line includes Shanghai Hongqiao, Shanghai Songjiang, Suzhou South, Shengze, Huzhou Nanxun, Huzhou East and Huzhou stations.

For most leisure travellers, the best transportation strategy is to use a high-speed train to reach the station closest to the intended tourism area and then continue by taxi, ride-hailing car, local bus or private vehicle. Public transport is practical for central Huzhou and Nanxun, while self-driving or a private transfer is usually more efficient for Mogan Mountain, Anji’s bamboo valleys and the rural attractions of Changxing.

How to Get to Huzhou

By High-Speed Train

High-speed rail is the most convenient way to enter Huzhou from Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing and other major cities in eastern China. However, “Huzhou” is served by several stations, and choosing the wrong one can add considerable road-transfer time.

From Shanghai

The fastest and simplest route is now a direct train from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station to Huzhou Nanxun, Huzhou East or Huzhou Station. Shanghai Hongqiao to Huzhou Nanxun can take as little as approximately 43 minutes, while the fastest service to Huzhou Station takes approximately 55 minutes. Travellers visiting only Nanxun should get off at Huzhou Nanxun rather than travelling through central Huzhou.

A practical Shanghai itinerary is Shanghai Hongqiao – Huzhou Nanxun – Nanxun Ancient Town, followed by a private car to central Huzhou, Changxing or Deqing. This arrangement avoids unnecessary backtracking.

From Hangzhou

Direct high-speed trains connect Hangzhou with Huzhou, Deqing, Changxing and Anji. Travellers heading to Mogan Mountain should normally choose Deqing Station, while visitors to downtown Huzhou and South Lake Tai should choose Huzhou Station. Anji Station is appropriate for Anji, but it remains some distance from the county’s main hotel and scenic clusters.

For a combined mountain itinerary, a convenient route is Hangzhou – Deqing and Mogan Mountain – Anji – Huzhou, using a private car between the mountain areas.

From Suzhou

The Shanghai–Suzhou–Huzhou line provides direct access from Suzhou South Station and Shengze to Huzhou Nanxun, Huzhou East and Huzhou. This is particularly useful for combining Suzhou’s water towns with Nanxun Ancient Town. The railway opened in December 2024 and forms an important east–west connection across the southern Lake Tai region.

From Nanjing and Northern China

Huzhou Station is connected with Nanjing and the wider national high-speed rail network through the Nanjing–Hangzhou corridor. Travellers arriving from Beijing, Jinan, Xuzhou or Nanjing should generally use Huzhou Station unless their train offers a more suitable direct stop in Changxing or Anji.

Getting to Huzhou by Air

Huzhou does not have a major airport providing regular commercial passenger flights. Deqing Mogan Mountain Airport is classified as a general aviation airport rather than a standard scheduled passenger gateway. Most international and long-distance domestic travellers therefore arrive through Hangzhou or Shanghai.

From Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport

Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport is the most practical air gateway for Deqing, Mogan Mountain and southern Huzhou. The most reliable public-transport route is:

Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport – Hangzhou East Railway Station – high-speed train to Deqing, Huzhou or Changxing.

A private airport transfer is preferable for families, groups with large luggage or travellers continuing directly to a mountain resort. Airport intercity-coach schedules can change, and the airport advises passengers to verify same-day services before travelling.

From Shanghai Hongqiao Airport

Shanghai Hongqiao Airport is especially convenient because it is integrated with Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station. After arrival, passengers can walk or use the internal airport connection to the railway station and take a direct high-speed train toward Nanxun or Huzhou.

From Shanghai Pudong International Airport

From Pudong Airport, continue to Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station by airport rail, metro, bus or private transfer before boarding a high-speed train. For groups travelling directly to Nanxun, a private vehicle from Pudong may be simpler than crossing Shanghai with luggage.

Huzhou Local Transportation

Public Buses

Public buses cover the central city, the railway stations and many county towns. They are inexpensive and useful for straightforward journeys, but travelling between distant counties or remote attractions may require several transfers. Scenic-area services and rural routes can have limited frequencies, especially in the evening.

Bus route numbers, departure times and stops occasionally change after new railway stations or transport hubs open. Travellers should check a live Chinese navigation application on the day of travel rather than relying entirely on an older printed timetable.

Taxis and Ride-Hailing Cars

Taxis and app-based ride-hailing services are widely used around Huzhou Station, Huzhou East, Huzhou Nanxun, Deqing Station, Changxing Station and Anji Station. They are practical for central urban journeys and station-to-hotel transfers.

Availability becomes less predictable in remote villages and mountain areas. Guests staying in Mogan Mountain, Tianhuangping, Daming Bamboo Sea areas or western Anji should ask the hotel to arrange the return vehicle in advance.

Private Cars and Tour Vehicles

A private car with a driver is the most efficient option for a multi-county itinerary. It is especially useful for international travellers, elderly guests, families and groups carrying luggage. It also allows the itinerary to connect stations, hotels, villages and scenic entrances without repeated bus transfers.

A private vehicle does not always provide direct access to the interior of a scenic area. Mogan Mountain and several large attractions operate their own internal shuttle systems or introduce temporary vehicle controls during busy periods.

Transportation in Wuxing District

Wuxing District contains the traditional centre of Huzhou, the South Lake Tai tourism area, Yishang Street, Xiaoxi Street, the Huzhou Museum, Xishanyang Wetland and numerous urban cultural attractions.

Huzhou Station is normally the most convenient arrival point. From the station, travellers can continue by bus, taxi or ride-hailing car to the city centre and the South Lake Tai lakeside area. Huzhou East Station may be more convenient for Zhili and eastern Wuxing, but it is not automatically the best station for the historic downtown area.

For visitors staying beside Lake Tai, a taxi or private transfer is more practical than transferring between several urban bus services, particularly when carrying luggage.

South Lake Tai and Moon Bay

The South Lake Tai tourism area includes the lakeside promenade, Fisherman’s Wharf, Moon Bay and the landmark crescent-shaped hotel. The area is spread along the lake rather than concentrated around one pedestrian street. Walking works within each lakeside section, but taxis, hotel shuttles or bicycles are useful for moving between separate attractions.

Xishanyang Wetland

Xishanyang is suitable for a short urban cycling or walking excursion. Its scenic greenway includes sections separated from motor traffic, making it one of the more accessible recreational cycling areas for families and casual riders. Recent descriptions of the route identify approximately 8.7 kilometres of greenway and landscape works.

Transportation in Nanxun District

Huzhou Nanxun Station to Nanxun Ancient Town

Huzhou Nanxun Station is now the preferred arrival gateway for the ancient town. It is located approximately six kilometres from the scenic area. Bus 170 links the station with the western entrance of Nanxun Ancient Town, and dedicated station–scenic-area shuttle services have also operated. Exact departure times should be reconfirmed after arrival.

A taxi or prearranged hotel transfer is preferable for travellers arriving late, carrying large luggage or staying inside the historic town.

Getting Around Nanxun Ancient Town

The main historic area is best explored on foot. Stone bridges, narrow lanes and waterside streets are unsuitable for ordinary vehicle access. Tourist boats provide a scenic experience but should not be treated as the primary means of reaching every attraction.

Bicycles are better used outside the busiest pedestrian core, particularly along the canals, countryside roads and villages surrounding Nanxun. During weekends and public holidays, cyclists should dismount in crowded sections.

Travelling from Central Huzhou to Nanxun

Travelling between central Huzhou and Nanxun is possible by interdistrict bus, taxi or private vehicle. The bus is economical but slower. For a one-day tour combining the city centre and the ancient town, a private vehicle saves considerable transfer time.

Transportation in Deqing County

Deqing Station and Deqing Urban Area

Deqing Station is the main high-speed gateway for Deqing’s urban centre, Mogan Mountain, Xiazhuhu Wetland and surrounding countryside. Taxis and ride-hailing cars are normally available at the station, while tourism and local bus connections operate toward the county centre and Mogan Mountain area.

How to Get to Mogan Mountain

The basic journey is:

Deqing Station – Mogan Mountain or Yucun Tourism Distribution Centre – scenic shuttle bus – mountain scenic area.

A tourism service commonly identified as the Y1 route has connected Deqing Station with the Mogan Mountain visitor area. Service frequency should be checked locally because departure arrangements may change by season.

Visitors should not assume that a private car can drive directly through the mountain’s main sightseeing zone. Mogan Mountain uses tourism distribution and transfer centres, including the Yucun, Fatou and Houwu areas, and ordinary visitors may be required to park and use official scenic transport. Holiday rules, hotel-guest access and operating hours can differ, so accommodation and vehicle registration details should be confirmed before arrival.

Yucun and the Lower Mogan Mountain Area

Yucun, its historic streets, cafés, markets and nearby countryside can be explored on foot or by bicycle. Staying in Yucun is convenient for visitors who want easy access to restaurants and the mountain transfer centre.

Xiazhuhu Wetland and Xinshi Ancient Town

Xiazhuhu Wetland and Xinshi Ancient Town are geographically separate from Mogan Mountain. Travellers attempting to visit all three in one day may spend too much time on the road. A private vehicle is the most practical choice, while public-transport users should allow for local transfers through Deqing’s urban area.

Transportation in Changxing County

Changxing Station and County Transport

Changxing Station is the main railway gateway for Changxing’s urban area, the Ancient Ginkgo Corridor, Xianshan Lake and inland countryside. Taxis or private cars are usually the most practical choice for scenic attractions outside the county centre.

Taihu Dragon Dream

Taihu Dragon Dream is located in the Tuying tourism resort beside Lake Tai. It can be approached from both Huzhou Station and Changxing Station. Public bus services from Huzhou Station and Changxing’s urban area have served the resort, while taxis and private vehicles provide the simplest station-to-hotel transfer. Previously published transport information lists direct or connecting services from Huzhou Station and Changxing Station, but passengers should verify current routes before departure.

The resort itself is extremely large, containing hotels, performance venues, an animal park, a water park and the Taihu Ancient Town complex. Even after arriving at the resort, guests should check the hotel shuttle or internal transport arrangement for each attraction.

Ancient Ginkgo Corridor

The Ten-Mile Ancient Ginkgo Corridor in Badu Jie is in rural Changxing. Public transport is possible but less convenient, particularly during the autumn peak season. A self-drive car or private tour vehicle allows travellers to visit the different villages without relying on infrequent return services.

Taihu No. 9 Road

Taihu No. 9 Road is being developed as a combined driving, cycling, sightseeing-bus and waterfront tourism route. A 22-kilometre lakeside demonstration section has been completed, connecting recreational facilities and visitor-service points along the Changxing shoreline.

Transportation in Anji County

Anji Station to Central Anji

Anji Station is in Tianzihu Town in northern Anji, approximately 24 kilometres from the county centre. It should not be confused with a station located directly beside the main scenic attractions. Travellers must continue by county bus, taxi, ride-hailing vehicle or private transfer.

For a trip covering several attractions, prearranging a vehicle is strongly recommended. Anji’s attractions are distributed across Dipu, Lingfeng, Tianhuangping, Shanchuan, Yucun and other mountain or village areas.

Yucun Village

Yucun is best reached by car from central Anji or Anji Station. Once there, the village core is walkable, and bicycles can be used for the surrounding rural landscape. Public buses may be suitable for travellers with flexible schedules, but they are less convenient for carrying luggage or connecting to several attractions in one day.

China Grand Bamboo Sea

China Grand Bamboo Sea lies in the Tianhuangping area. The final approach uses local mountain roads, and a taxi or private car is normally more practical than multiple bus transfers. Travellers combining it with Jiangnan Tianchi should reserve a full day because the two attractions involve additional mountain driving.

Jiangnan Tianchi and Tianhuangping

The road from Tianhuangping toward Jiangnan Tianchi is famous for its continuous mountain bends and long climb. It is popular with experienced cyclists and motorists, but fog, rain, tunnels and steep descents require caution.

Zhongnan Baicao Garden, Hello Kitty Park and Lingfeng

Family attractions near central Anji and Lingfeng are easier to combine by private car than the more remote mountain attractions. Families arriving at Anji Station should arrange a direct hotel or scenic-area transfer rather than attempting several public-bus changes with luggage.

Transportation to Huzhou’s Major Scenic Areas

Self-Driving in Huzhou

Self-driving is one of the best ways to explore Huzhou because the city’s major attractions are divided between water towns, lakeside resorts and mountain counties. Expressways and major roads connect Huzhou with Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing and southern Anhui, while county and rural roads provide access to villages and mountain resorts.

Navigation applications should be used for the exact hotel entrance rather than only the name of the scenic area. Large destinations such as Mogan Mountain, Taihu Dragon Dream and Qiandao-style resort complexes may have several gates, parking areas and visitor centres.

Parking and Traffic Controls

Nanxun Ancient Town has official parking areas around the scenic zone. Vehicles should be left outside the narrow historic streets. Travellers staying inside the old town should ask the hotel which parking area is closest to the accommodation.

Mogan Mountain may require visitors to park at a tourism distribution centre and use a shuttle. Hotel guests should provide vehicle details to the property before travelling because access arrangements can differ from those for day visitors.

The Ancient Ginkgo Corridor, Yucun, Mogan Mountain and popular Anji attractions can experience congestion during autumn weekends, summer holidays and national holidays. Starting early and staying overnight near the attraction is more effective than attempting several mountain destinations in one day.

Recommended Huzhou Self-Drive Routes

Three-Day Water Town and Lake Tai Route

Day 1: Huzhou Nanxun Station or Shanghai – Nanxun Ancient Town
Explore the old town and stay overnight beside the canals.

Day 2: Nanxun – Central Huzhou – South Lake Tai
Visit Huzhou’s historic streets and continue to the lakeside resort area.

Day 3: South Lake Tai – Taihu Dragon Dream – Changxing
Visit the resort or continue along Taihu No. 9 Road.

Three-Day Mogan Mountain and Anji Route

Day 1: Hangzhou – Deqing – Mogan Mountain and Yucun
Leave the car at the designated transfer point where required.

Day 2: Mogan Mountain – Anji Yucun – Lingfeng
Follow the rural mountain route and stay in Anji.

Day 3: China Grand Bamboo Sea – Tianhuangping or Jiangnan Tianchi – Hangzhou
Allow extra time for mountain roads and weather changes.

Five-Day Complete Huzhou Route

Nanxun – Central Huzhou – South Lake Tai – Changxing – Anji – Deqing and Mogan Mountain

This route moves from the eastern water-town plain to Lake Tai and then through the western mountain counties. It avoids repeated returns to central Huzhou and is suitable for self-drive groups, private tours and family holidays.

Bicycle Touring in Huzhou

Huzhou is particularly suitable for cycling because it offers flat lakeside paths, water-town countryside, bamboo valleys and demanding mountain climbs. Casual riders should choose Wuxing, Nanxun or Lake Tai, while experienced road cyclists can attempt Mogan Mountain and Tianhuangping.

Casual Cycling

The most suitable areas for families and less experienced riders are Xishanyang, Nanxun’s outer streets, South Lake Tai and the flatter sections of Taihu No. 9 Road. Use dedicated greenways where available and avoid the busiest pedestrian lanes inside Nanxun Ancient Town.

Mountain Cycling

Tianhuangping and Mogan Mountain require good fitness, effective brakes and confident descending skills. Riders should carry front and rear lights because mountain routes may include tunnels, shaded forest sections and sudden fog. Wet leaves, painted road surfaces and moss can become slippery after rain.

Bicycle Logistics

High-speed trains have restrictions on ordinary assembled bicycles. Riders should use a bicycle bag where permitted, ship the bicycle separately or arrange a support van. For an organised cycling tour, a vehicle should carry luggage, repair equipment, water and spare bicycles.

Motorcycle Touring in Huzhou

Huzhou’s rural and mountain roads can form an attractive motorcycle itinerary, particularly around Anji, Deqing, Changxing and Lake Tai. Suitable routes include Yucun – Mogan countryside, Anji – Tianhuangping, Changxing – Taihu No. 9 Road and the rural roads between Nanxun and central Huzhou.

Foreign visitors cannot legally rely only on an international or overseas driving licence. A traveller holding an overseas licence must obtain an appropriate Chinese driving licence or temporary driving permit, and the permit must include the relevant motorcycle category. Chinese regulations allow eligible short-term visitors to apply for a temporary permit, normally valid for up to three months, with longer validity possible for longer authorised stays.

Motorcycle travellers should not plan routes that depend on Zhejiang expressways. Provincial regulatory records include a notice prohibiting motorcycles on expressways, so journeys should be designed around legal national, provincial, county and rural roads and adjusted according to current roadside signs.

Use a legally registered motorcycle with valid insurance and licence plates. Wear an approved helmet and protective clothing, avoid riding after dark on unfamiliar mountain roads, and do not enter scenic roads closed to ordinary vehicles. Mogan Mountain’s internal traffic restrictions apply regardless of whether the vehicle is a car or motorcycle.

Transport Planning by Traveller Type

First-Time Visitors

Use high-speed rail to Huzhou Station or Huzhou Nanxun Station, stay in central Huzhou or Nanxun and use taxis for short transfers. A private day tour can be added for Mogan Mountain or Anji.

Families with Children

A private car is the most practical option for Taihu Dragon Dream, Anji family attractions and rural resorts. Child seats should be requested in advance because they may not be automatically provided by taxis or tour vehicles.

Elderly Travellers

Avoid itineraries involving repeated station transfers and long waits for rural buses. Choose the railway station closest to the hotel and arrange direct transfers to Nanxun, Mogan Mountain or Lake Tai.

Cyclists and Outdoor Groups

Use one hotel as a riding base and arrange a support vehicle for point-to-point mountain routes. Taihu No. 9 Road suits mixed-ability groups, while Tianhuangping should be reserved for experienced cyclists.

International Tour Groups

A guide and private vehicle provide the most dependable solution for a multi-county tour. The driver can coordinate station arrivals, scenic shuttles, hotel access, parking and luggage while the guide assists with ticketing and communication.

Complete Huzhou Tourism Transportation Table

Practical Transportation Advice

Train tickets should be booked through China Railway 12306, and passengers must check the full station name before payment. Huzhou Station, Huzhou East and Huzhou Nanxun are different stations, while Anji and Deqing serve different mountain regions.

Do not schedule a late-evening arrival followed by a long rural bus connection. Mountain and village services may finish earlier than urban routes, and ride-hailing vehicles may be difficult to find for the return journey.

During summer rain, typhoons or winter cold waves, check road conditions before travelling to Mogan Mountain, Tianhuangping and western Anji. Heavy rain can affect mountain roads, cycling routes and scenic shuttle operations.

For the most efficient Huzhou journey, use rail plus local transport for Nanxun and central Huzhou, private transport for Deqing, Changxing and Anji, and supported cycling or legally organised motorcycle travel for the region’s mountain and lakeside roads.