Sanhe Ancient Town
三河古镇
A Jianghuai water town described as “surrounded by three rivers, with eight kinds of ancient heritage.” It features the battlefield of the 1858 Sanhe Victory of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the former residence of Nobel laureate Yang Zhenning.
Sanhe Ancient Town lies in the south of Feixi County. It takes its name from the three rivers that flow through it, the Fengle, Hangbu and Xiaonan rivers, and has a history of more than 2,500 years. It is a national 5A-level scenic area. The town is known for its “Eight Ancients”: ancient rivers, ancient bridges, ancient polders, ancient streets, ancient lanes, ancient residences, ancient teahouses and an ancient battlefield. Hui-style houses with white walls and black tiles are built along the water. Main attractions include the battlefield site of the 1858 Sanhe Victory, where Taiping forces annihilated the elite Xiang Army; the former residence of Nobel Prize in Physics laureate Yang Zhenning; Liutong Xinglong Villa; Helu Cottage; One-Person Lane; and the Wannian Opera Stage. The streets and lanes are free to enter, and some sites require a combined ticket (about several dozen yuan; confirm on site). Must-try foods include Sanhe rice dumplings, Sanhe crisp sugar candies and lamb soup, and you can ride a sculling boat on the river. The town is about 40 km from downtown Hefei, roughly 50 minutes by car, or you can take a bus or tourist shuttle. Holidays bring heavy crowds, so visiting on a weekday is recommended.
Opening hours
Old town open all day; attractions about 08:00–17:30
Nearby sights
- Sunac Land Hefei
- Laoshan Island
- Anhui Celebrities Museum
- Yangtze River Crossing Campaign Memorial Museum
- Anhui Innovation Museum
- Tangchi Hot Springs (Lujiang)
- Zhongmiao Temple, Chao Lake
- Binhu Wetland National Forest Park