Hefei

Capital of Anhui Province, combining Baogong Park, Sanhe Ancient Town and the scenery around Chaohu Lake; lately its reputation as a "city of science and innovation" and its revitalized urban districts have made it a popular weekend getaway.

Hefei, the capital of Anhui Province, lies between the Yangtze and Huai rivers on the northern shore of Chaohu Lake. Known in the past as Luzhou, it was the Three Kingdoms battlefield where Zhang Liao famously routed his enemies at Xiaoyao Ford, and it is the hometown of Bao Zheng (Judge Bao) and Li Hongzhang. Today it is known for science and tech industries such as quantum technology, new-energy vehicles and display panels, and the contrast between old and new is striking. Sightseeing falls into three areas: the old town (inside the Ring City Park) has Baogong Park, Xiaoyaojin Park, Li Hongzhang's Former Residence and the Huaihe Road pedestrian street, while Lei Street in the south of the city is where locals go for late-night crayfish, barbecue and Luzhou snacks; around Swan Lake in the government district you'll find the new Anhui Museum, Hefei Grand Theatre and the city skyline; and the Binhu New Area in the south leads to Chaohu Lake, one of China's five largest freshwater lakes, where the Chaohu lakeshore road links the Crossing-the-River Campaign Memorial Hall, Zhongmiao Temple and Laoshan Island — a favorite route for cycling and road trips. About 30 km southwest, Sanhe Ancient Town is a well-preserved water town of the Yangtze–Huai region. The best seasons are Mar–May (cherry blossoms and rapeseed flowers around the lake) and Sep–Nov; the plum-rain season runs from mid-to-late Jun to early Jul, and Jul–Aug is hot and humid. Getting there: Hefei South Station is a high-speed rail hub for East China, about 1 hour to Nanjing, 2.5–3 hours to Shanghai and about 4 hours to Beijing; Xinqiao International Airport is about 35 km from the city, and the metro covers the old town, the government district and Binhu New Area. Plan on 2–3 days: one day for the old town plus Lei Street, one day for the museum and Chaohu Lake, and half a day to a full day for Sanhe. Local flavors include Luzhou roast duck, duck-fat flatbread, Sanhe rice dumplings, Chaohu whitebait and crayfish. Check official sources for ticket prices and museum reservation rules.

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