Getting Around Anshan: An Overview
Anshan is an inland city in Liaoning province, and getting around it is straightforward for most visitors. There is no metro or tram system here, so public transport relies on an extensive bus network that reaches most parts of the city. Anshan Railway Station sits at the centre of things and acts as a hub for many bus routes, which makes it a useful reference point when you are planning a journey.
Buses and Public Transport
Buses are the backbone of local transport in Anshan, with services running to just about every part of town from the area near the train station. Fares are low, and the network is frequent enough on main routes that you rarely need to plan far ahead.
- Fares: Most city buses cost around ¥1, with a few longer suburban routes costing ¥2. On the route out to Qianshan, you can expect to pay more for the full journey than for a short hop within the city.
- Paying: You can use cash (exact change is wise), a local public transport card, or a QR code via WeChat Pay or Alipay on many buses.
- Hours: Services generally start early in the morning and run until around 9–10 PM, with high frequency on the main routes.
- Finding your way: Bus stops usually display route maps and stop lists in Chinese. Real-time bus information is available through Baidu Maps, which is in Chinese.
- Where to catch them: Buses leave from the area around the train station square. Some depart from the local bus station at the northwest corner of the square, while others, including the service to Qianshan, leave from nearby streets behind the long-distance bus station.
- Accessibility: Buses have steps and are generally not wheelchair-friendly, though newer vehicles may have slightly better features.
A town map should show the bus routes, which makes it easy to match a route to your destination. If you are heading to Qianshan National Park, note that the bus terminates outside the park, and organised tour buses to Qianshan also depart from Anshan city.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are inexpensive in Anshan and are a convenient option for shorter trips or when you are carrying luggage. Licensed taxis have specific colours and a roof sign, and you can hail them on the street, pick them up at stands, or book through an app.
- Fares: Metered fares start at a low base rate for the first couple of kilometres, then charge per kilometre after that. Expect a night surcharge of roughly 20–30% after 10–11 PM.
- Negotiating: All taxis are metered, but for longer journeys you may negotiate the fare. A trip out to the Qianshan Mountains is a typical example of a longer run where a fixed price can be agreed.
- Ride-hailing: Didi Chuxing is the dominant ride-sharing app and has an English interface, which makes it the easiest option if you do not speak Chinese.
- Paying: Cash is accepted, but most drivers prefer WeChat Pay or Alipay.
- Tricycle taxis: In older parts of the city you may still see three-wheeled tricycle taxis, known locally as sanlunche.
Walking and Cycling
Anshan is not a city where you would rely on walking to cover long distances, but there are pleasant places to explore on foot. City parks, commercial pedestrian streets, and the extensive walking and hiking trails in Qianshan National Park are the most pedestrian-friendly areas. There are no established commercial walking tours in the city itself, though self-guided tours are perfectly feasible, and guided tours of Qianshan are often arranged through local tour operators or hotels.
Cycling is possible but requires caution. Dedicated bicycle lanes are limited, so cyclists share the road with cars and electric scooters, and traffic can be fast-moving and unpredictable. Dockless bike-sharing is operated by several companies, but using it typically requires a Chinese phone number, a deposit (sometimes refundable), and WeChat Pay or Alipay. Some hotels and guesthouses may offer bicycle rentals instead.
Car rental is generally not feasible for international tourists, since it requires a valid Chinese driving licence rather than an international driving permit. Chauffeur services are available as an alternative. If you do drive, note that China drives on the right and penalties for drink-driving are strict.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Anshan Teng'ao Airport (AOG) sits to the south east of the city centre, near the Anshan South exit of the Shenda Expressway, and is roughly half an hour away by car. The airport serves domestic routes only, with scheduled flights to and from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu flown daily throughout the year.
One useful quirk for travellers: in addition to the main terminal at Teng'ao, there is a city terminal on Qianshan West Road in Tiexi district. You can buy tickets, check in and obtain a boarding card at either terminal, and after checking in at the city terminal a coach takes passengers to the main terminal.
For international flights, the nearest major airport is Shenyang Taoxian International Airport (SHE), a major regional airport to the north of Anshan. Coaches run regularly between Anshan and Shenyang Airport, and a more frequent coach service runs from the centre of Shenyang. A taxi is the other main option: it is usually possible to negotiate a price for the trip between Anshan and Shenyang Airport, and sharing a taxi with other travellers can bring the per-person cost down considerably, though you will have to wait until the taxi is full before the driver sets off. If you book flights through a local travel agent or hotel in Anshan, the agent will usually be able to arrange a taxi to or from Shenyang Airport at a discounted rate.
There is also a third, smaller airport, Yingkou Lanqi Airport (YKH), to the south near Bayuquan city. It has only domestic flights to Beijing and Shanghai, but it can be more convenient for travellers visiting Haicheng or Xiuyan counties in the south of Anshan.
Arriving by Train or Long-Distance Coach
Anshan is on the main line between Dalian and Shenyang, with direct trains from most cities in Liaoning and neighbouring provinces such as Jilin, Heilongjiang and Inner Mongolia, as well as from Beijing and beyond. A high-speed rail line between Dalian and Harbin also passes through Anshan, served by Anshan West Railway Station. The high-speed line makes for quick journeys to Dalian and Shenyang, though in winter the line runs at reduced speed due to the cold weather.
Anshan's long-distance coach station is in the centre of town, on the southern side of the square beside the train station. Regular coaches run to Anshan from most neighbouring cities and other regions. Coaches to and from Shenyang run very frequently and effectively leave when full. Direct coaches also connect Anshan with Beijing's eastern long-distance coach station several times a day, with sleeper coaches at night.
Practical Tips
- Use Baidu Maps or another local map app for real-time routes, arrival times and transfers; you will need internet access for this.
- Learning basic Chinese numbers and the names of your destinations will make bus and taxi journeys much easier.
- Avoid morning and evening rush hours if you want a more comfortable ride.
- There are no specific no-go areas to worry about, but avoid walking or cycling on high-speed expressways and in heavily industrial zones.
- Accessibility infrastructure in Anshan is limited, so travellers with mobility needs should plan around taxis rather than buses.