Anda
Introduction
Anda is a county-level city in western Heilongjiang province, situated on the Harbin-Manzhouli Railway roughly 30 kilometres southeast of Daqing and about 110 kilometres northwest of Harbin. It falls under the administration of Suihua City.
Anda is known as home to China's forage and dairy industries, and grasslands make up more than half of its total area, giving the surrounding landscape an open, pastoral character.
Before you go
Before you go, it helps to know a little of Anda's wartime history. During the Pacific War, Japanese attempts to win over poor Filipinos with the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere" failed badly, and the arrests, punitive expeditions and summary executions that followed only hardened Filipino resistance. Successful guerrilla movements in the extreme east of Bohol meant no Japanese units were left to oppose US forces when they landed on Anda beach on 11 April 1944. A monument to the US liberators greets visitors today, though there is none celebrating the local guerrillas who made those landings unopposed. On the town beach, you will find relatively few sea urchins if you stay within about 60 m of the high water mark, but their wounds can heal slowly and often turn septic. Wearing something on your feet is wise unless you are opposite the entrance to Little Miami.Getting there
Most travellers reach Anda by way of Tagbilaran, so check the Tagbilaran guide for the routes that get you there. From Tagbilaran, take a tricycle to the bus station and ask for a mini van heading to Anda; the ride takes about an hour and a half, and large bags may be counted as an extra seat. A yellow Ceres non-air-conditioned bus is the other option on the same route. Tagbilaran is served by fast ferries from Cebu City, Dumaguete and Siquijor, while ferries from Cagayan de Oro and Camiguin dock at Jagna instead — worth knowing, since Anda sits closer to Jagna than to Tagbilaran. If you are coming from Leyte, bankas run from Hilongus to Ubay, and vans from Ubay toward Tagbilaran are frequent; get off in Guindulman and arrange transport for the short remaining stretch to Anda.Getting around
Anda is served by rail, with Anda railway station acting as the city's rail gateway and the most clearly documented way to reach the city. If you are planning a trip, check current schedules and ticket availability for Anda railway station before you travel, since services and timings change and should be confirmed at the time of booking. Build your itinerary around the railway station, as it is the confirmed point of arrival and departure.
- Confirm local transport options on arrival, for example by asking at the railway station or at your accommodation.
- For local buses, taxis, and walking conditions, treat arrangements as something to verify locally rather than assume.
- If you are flying in, confirm the nearest arrival airport and onward ground transport as part of your trip planning.
- Double-check schedules and tickets close to your travel date, as transport details are subject to change.
Where to stay
Most places to stay sit along the coast outside the centre, in Virgen and Candabong, rather than in the town itself. In Virgen you'll find Flower-Beach Resort, with solid houses that each have their own terrace and sea view, a choice of standard or larger deluxe rooms, and a restaurant, beach bar and PADI dive centre on site; transport can be arranged to points across Bohol and to Cebu. Also in Virgen is 1PEACE beach resort, a chilled-out, friendly spot on a small beach where you can snorkel the coral wall, rent motorbikes, bicycles or kayaks, and join other guests around a big table for a family dinner that changes with what people want.
In Candabong, Kims Garden is a quiet place and a good base for snorkeling, while Anda Cove Beach Retreat lies a short drive from the town centre. Closer to town, Little Miami Beach is reached on foot — cross the grassed plaza by the church to the sea's edge, turn right and follow the water for about 300 m, as there's no road access. Its small, well-kept cabins each have a tiny verandah, air-con, cable TV and an en suite shower, with volleyball and table tennis available.
Food & drink
For cheap eats, head to the food center behind the Anda market, a long, open-air covered area with eight stalls serving Filipino food alongside pizza and pasta; it operates from dawn to dusk, making it a handy stop at either end of the day. In the city center by the market, On The Road Resto & Bar runs from late afternoon until the early hours and draws both locals and foreigners, with BBQ, fresh beer and cocktails, a range of music, Wi-Fi and Apple TV. Over on Quinali Beach in Poplacion, Old Castle is a European-style building set among palm trees on the sand, serving good food from a mostly European menu.What to see and do
Anda rewards those willing to move beyond the shoreline. Head north out of town on the concrete road that begins a block east of the church, following it until it ends at the cemetery; from there, take the track right and then swing left along the eastern cemetery wall, climbing uphill beneath the power line and letting the sound of tumbling water guide you to Anda Falls. If the salt water has left your eyes stinging, the large, deep concrete cistern at the base of the falls offers a fresh-water swim. The area is also riddled with water caves and underground rivers, their transparent water flowing down from the mountains to the sea. For more active days, you can rent tandem kayaks, standard and mountain bikes, or motorbikes through Anda adventures at 1PEACE beach resort. On weekends, skimboarders gather at Quinale beach in Poblacion, where Anda Bohol Skimboarderz runs sessions on the sand.Three days in Anda
Day one: Start in Anda itself, getting your bearings in the town before branching out. The wider province is reachable by road, with Tagbilaran as the main gateway and Ceres buses connecting onward to Cebu City, Dumaguete, Siquijor, Cagayan de Oro, Camiguin and Jagna. If you are arriving from Tagbilaran, settle in and take the day slowly.
Day two: Head for the coast and the water. Bohol's diving is the draw here, and Anda sits close to sites that suit both beginners and experienced divers. Wearing the right gear matters, and local operators can kit you out. Little Miami is one name worth knowing in this part of the island.
Day three: Use the day to travel further afield. Routes run to Ubay and Guindulman, and onward connections reach Leyte and Hilongus. From Tagbilaran you can also push on to Cebu City, Dumaguete, Siquijor, Cagayan de Oro, Camiguin and Jagna, so plan your onward leg before you set out.