Planning a Trip
Getting There
Located about 8km (5 miles) northwest of town, Tunxi airport has daily flights to Shanghai (1 hr.), Beijing (2 hr.), and Guangzhou (1 1/2 hr.), and less frequent flights to Hong Kong (2 hr.) and Hefei (40 min). Tickets can be bought at the Airport Booking Office (Minghang Huang Shan Shoupiao Zhongxin) at Huashan Lu 23 (tel. 0559/293-4111). Taxis to the airport cost ¥20 ($2.60/£1.30).
There are two trains a day connecting Tunxi to Shanghai (N204, 12 hr.; ¥252/$33/£16 soft sleeper, ¥175/$23/£11 hard sleeper). Tickets can be bought at the railway station (tel. 0559/211-6222), at CITS, or at hotel tour desks.
Tangkou-bound buses (1 1/2 hr.; ¥13/$1.70/85p) regularly leave from Tunxi's bus station (qichezhan) and the square in front of the railway station. They start as early as 6:30am to catch arriving train passengers and run until around 6pm. Buses become less frequent in the afternoon and only depart when full.
Getting Around
Taxis charge ¥5 (65¢/35p) for 3km (2 miles), then ¥1.50 (20¢/10p) per kilometer thereafter until 10km (6 miles), then ¥2.70 (35¢/20p) per kilometer. Smaller miandi (van) taxis charge ¥3 (40¢/20p) per 2km (1 1/4 miles) or ¥5 (65¢/35p) for destinations in town. Private taxi rental out to Yi Xian will run around ¥300 ($39/£20), subject to negotiation.
Tours & Guides
CITS at Binjiang Xi Lu 1 (tel. 0559/251-5303; fax 0559/251-5255) can arrange private day trips to surrounding areas like Yi Xian and She Xian. Car rental for a day (guide not included) will run ¥300 to ¥400 ($39-$52/£20-£26) depending on your itinerary; an English-speaking guide will cost another ¥100 to ¥200 ($13-$26/£6.50-£13).
Fast Facts
Banks, Foreign Exchange and ATMs -- The Bank of China at Xin'an Bei Lu 9 (tel. 0559/251-4983) is open for foreign exchange Monday through Friday from 8am to 5:30pm. There is an ATM outside the bank.
Internet Access -- There is a 24-hour Internet cafe at the southern end of Xianrendong Lu; it charges ¥2 (25¢/15p) per hour. If you have your own computer, the UBC Coffee Shop next to the Bank of China has free Wi-Fi access.
Post Office -- The post office (tel. 0559/231-8875; July-Oct 8am-noon and 3-6pm; Nov-June 8am-noon and 2:30-5:30pm) is in the southern part of town at Qianyuan Nan Lu 39.
Visa Extensions -- The PSB is at Changgan Lu 108 (tel. 0559/232-3093; July-Sept 8am-noon and 3-6pm; Oct-June 8am-noon and 2:30-5:30pm).
Planning a Trip
Getting There
Located about 8km (5 miles) northwest of town, Tunxi airport has daily flights to Shanghai (1 hr.), Beijing (2 hr.), and Guangzhou (1 1/2 hr.), and less frequent flights to Hong Kong (2 hr.) and Hefei (40 min). Tickets can be bought at the Airport Booking Office (Minghang Huang Shan Shoupiao Zhongxin) at Huashan Lu 23 (tel. 0559/293-4111). Taxis to the airport cost ¥20 ($2.60/£1.30).
There are two trains a day connecting Tunxi to Shanghai (N204, 12 hr.; ¥252/$33/£16 soft sleeper, ¥175/$23/£11 hard sleeper). Tickets can be bought at the railway station (tel. 0559/211-6222), at CITS, or at hotel tour desks.
Tangkou-bound buses (1 1/2 hr.; ¥13/$1.70/85p) regularly leave from Tunxi's bus station (qichezhan) and the square in front of the railway station. They start as early as 6:30am to catch arriving train passengers and run until around 6pm. Buses become less frequent in the afternoon and only depart when full.
Getting Around
Taxis charge ¥5 (65¢/35p) for 3km (2 miles), then ¥1.50 (20¢/10p) per kilometer thereafter until 10km (6 miles), then ¥2.70 (35¢/20p) per kilometer. Smaller miandi (van) taxis charge ¥3 (40¢/20p) per 2km (1 1/4 miles) or ¥5 (65¢/35p) for destinations in town. Private taxi rental out to Yi Xian will run around ¥300 ($39/£20), subject to negotiation.
Tours & Guides
CITS at Binjiang Xi Lu 1 (tel. 0559/251-5303; fax 0559/251-5255) can arrange private day trips to surrounding areas like Yi Xian and She Xian. Car rental for a day (guide not included) will run ¥300 to ¥400 ($39-$52/£20-£26) depending on your itinerary; an English-speaking guide will cost another ¥100 to ¥200 ($13-$26/£6.50-£13).
Fast Facts
Banks, Foreign Exchange and ATMs -- The Bank of China at Xin'an Bei Lu 9 (tel. 0559/251-4983) is open for foreign exchange Monday through Friday from 8am to 5:30pm. There is an ATM outside the bank.
Internet Access -- There is a 24-hour Internet cafe at the southern end of Xianrendong Lu; it charges ¥2 (25¢/15p) per hour. If you have your own computer, the UBC Coffee Shop next to the Bank of China has free Wi-Fi access.
Post Office -- The post office (tel. 0559/231-8875; July-Oct 8am-noon and 3-6pm; Nov-June 8am-noon and 2:30-5:30pm) is in the southern part of town at Qianyuan Nan Lu 39.
Visa Extensions -- The PSB is at Changgan Lu 108 (tel. 0559/232-3093; July-Sept 8am-noon and 3-6pm; Oct-June 8am-noon and 2:30-5:30pm).
