HFE
Hefei
The transit stop with a great lake next door — and a science city hiding behind the old town.
Hefei is the capital of Anhui and, on most itineraries, a blur between Beijing and Shanghai — a flat, fast-growing rail junction most travelers only change trains in. That's the mistake. Twenty minutes from the center it wraps around Chaohu, one of China's five great freshwater lakes; inside the city sits Bao Park, memorial to Bao Zheng, the incorruptible judge every Chinese kid grows up hearing about. It's also the hometown of Li Hongzhang and, today, a national science capital — the University of Science and Technology of China, the EAST 'artificial sun' tokamak, and a quantum lab are all here. This seven-day guide slows you down: the lake and the old towns, the Justice Bao story, the Sanhe water town, and a look at the quiet city building the future.
Metro lines
6 lines (1/2/3/4/5/8), ~232 km, 171 stations; S1 airport line under construction
Airport
HFE — Hefei Xinqiao Int'l, ~32 km W; metro doesn't reach yet, take the 空轨专线 shuttle from metro Lines 2/6 or a taxi
Rail hub
HSR: Shanghai ~2.5–3h, Beijing ~3.5–4h, Nanjing ~1h
Population
~10.0 million (2024)
Best season
Apr–May, Sep–Oct (hot summer; cool winter)
Altitude
~30 m (Jianghuai hills & plain; wraps Chaohu Lake)
Plug
Type I, 220V
Suggested itinerary
Bao Park & the honest judge
Bao Park (包公园) is the city's heart — a complex built around Bao Zheng (包拯, 999–1062), the incorruptible magistrate whose name is shorthand for justice in China. Walk the 包公祠 (Bao Temple), the 包公墓 (tomb), and the 清风阁 pavilion; the ponds and bridges make it a gentle half-day. Just north, 淮河路步行街 is the old commercial spine, and one block off it sits the 李鸿章故居 (former residence of Li Hongzhang, the late-Qing statesman). Go early; both are popular.
Xiaoyaojin & the Anhui Museum
Xiaoyaojin (逍遥津) is a central park on a famous Three Kingdoms battlefield — where the general Zhang Liao held off an army; a statue and a small museum tell the tale, and the lake makes it a pleasant morning. Then the Anhui Museum (free, reserve ahead, closed Mondays): Chu-state bronzes, Huizhou architecture galleries, and good rotating shows. Plan 2–3 hours and you'll understand why this province punches above its weight in culture.
Sanhe ancient town — a 5A water town
About 40 km south, Sanhe (三河古镇) is a graded 5A water town where three rivers meet — the 'eight antiquities' of old streets, stone bridges, and Ming-Qing houses along the canals, plus the former home of physicist Yang Zhenning (杨振宁). It's flat, walkable, and far less crowded than the famous Yangtze towns. Bus or hired car from the city; a half-to-full day.
Chaohu Lake — one of China's five great lakes
Chaohu (巢湖), about 30 minutes out, is one of the five largest freshwater lakes in China — a wide, wind-blown expanse of water. At its north shore, the 中庙 (Zhongmiao Temple) sits on a spit, and a short boat ride reaches 姥山岛 (Laoshan Island) with its Song-dynasty 文峰塔. The lakeside wetlands draw winter birds; in summer the nearby 半汤温泉 is a draw. Hire a car or join a lake tour.
The science city — USTC, Science Island & the 'artificial sun'
Hefei is a national science center, and you can feel it. The University of Science and Technology of China (中科大) anchors the city's brain trust; out on 董铺水库, Science Island (科学岛) hosts the EAST tokamak — nicknamed the 'artificial sun' for fusion research — and a quantum lab led by Pan Jianwei. The island is a restricted research area (view from the causeway, don't expect a tour), but the 天鹅湖 (Swan Lake) CBD nearby shows the glossy new face. A half-day, metro + taxi.
A food day — roast duck, hotchpotch & crayfish
Hefei eats from the Jianghuai pantry. Start with 庐州烤鸭 (Luzhou roast duck, the local answer to Beijing's), then 李鸿章大杂烩 (Li Hongzhang hotchpotch — a messy, savory stew credited to the statesman), and 三河米饺 (Sanhe rice-flour dumplings, fried and stuffed). Stinky mandarin fish (臭鳜鱼) shows up from Huizhou to the south. In summer, crayfish (小龙虾) is a city-wide fever — head to 罍街 (Leijie food street) at night.
Huiyuan gardens, Swan Lake & the station trap
On your last morning, 徽园 (Huiyuan) compresses Anhui's landmark architecture into one park — a quick read of the whole province — and the 天鹅湖 CBD nearby is the city's showpiece new quarter. Then the trap: Hefei has three far-apart stations — 合肥站 (center, conventional + some HSR), 合肥南站 (the HSR hub), and 合肥北城站. Check which one your ticket uses before you brag about the crayfish. One last 米饺, then you're gone.
Local tips
- Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay and link your international card before you arrive — food streets are cash-light.
- Bao Park is the cultural heart (Justice Bao / 包公); the 包公祠 and the honest-judge story are the draw — go early.
- Sanhe ancient town is a graded 5A water town ~40 km south; pair it with Chaohu Lake on the same day.
- Chaohu is one of China's five great freshwater lakes, ~30 min out; 中庙/姥山岛 for the island temple.
- Hefei is a sci-tech capital — USTC, Science Island (EAST 'artificial sun'), quantum lab; the island is restricted, view from the causeway.
- Metro has 6 lines (~232 km); no direct metro to the airport yet — use the 空轨专线 shuttle from Lines 2/6, or a taxi (~32 km).
- Best months are Apr–May and Sep–Oct; summers are hot, winters cool and damp.
- Station trap: 合肥站 / 合肥南站 / 合肥北城站 are far apart — check your ticket before you brag about the food.
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