Hefei Travel Guide

Hefei is the capital of Anhui Province in eastern China, lying between the Yangtze and Huai rivers in the Jianghuai region. The mild climate and the network of waterways brought people here early. The city still carries traces of its role as a Three Kingdoms battlefield, where the rival states of Wei and Wu clashed, and it is remembered as the hometown of Bao Zheng (Bao Gong), the upright Song-dynasty magistrate celebrated in folklore.

The main stop for history is Baogong Park, which contains the memorial hall and tomb dedicated to Bao Gong and serves as a popular green space for residents. Xiaoyaojin Park sits on the site of a Three Kingdoms battle in which the Wei general Zhang Liao held off a much larger Wu army — a draw for visitors interested in the period.

A short trip out of the city leads to Sanhe, an old water town preserving Ming and Qing streetscapes. Built where three small rivers meet, it is a cluster of stone-paved alleys and white-walled houses that rewards a slow walk. The regional food is Anhui cuisine (Hui cuisine), known for slow-braised freshwater fish with a deep, fermented aroma and for hearty hotpots that bring together mountain and sea ingredients.

Hefei has also grown into one of China's leading science and education cities, with a cluster of universities and research institutes keeping the older center more measured than frenetic. High-speed rail makes day trips from Shanghai or Nanjing realistic. A relaxed stop for history and food without the bustle.