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Hefei: China’s Science City, and the Gateway to Huangshan

Cities
Sep 17, 2026
Glass office towers of Hefei's Zhengwu district reflected in Tianehu Swan Lake under a blue sky

Hefei is the Chinese city most foreign travellers only see from a train window. It is the capital of Anhui, the province with Huangshan and the Hongcun villages, so people change trains here and move on. That is a pity, and a slightly odd one. Over the last twenty years Hefei has made itself one of China’s serious science and electric-vehicle cities, and it still keeps a judge’s temple, an old water town and a very good free museum within easy reach.

This guide treats Hefei as a place worth one or two days on its own — and as the most practical base for southern Anhui, now that high-speed rail reaches the mountains in about two hours.

Hefei in Brief

The city sits between the Yangtze and Huai rivers, on the northwest shore of Chaohu, one of China’s five great freshwater lakes. It has been Anhui’s capital since 1952. For centuries it was known as Luzhou, a name that survives in local dishes and brands.

Its modern story starts in 1970, when the University of Science and Technology of China moved here from Beijing. Research institutes followed, and the city now hosts one of the country’s national comprehensive science centres. Much of what makes the place different today grows out of that single move.

Why Hefei Is Worth a Stop

A science city you can feel from the street

Hefei is home to a large share of China’s quantum research and to EAST, the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ experimental fusion reactor. You will not tour a lab on a holiday, of course. Still, the city’s student energy is real. USTC, Hefei University of Technology and Anhui University all sit here, which keeps food cheap and neighbourhoods young.

The city that bet on NIO

In April 2020 the electric-car maker NIO was close to running out of money. A group of investors led by the city government put in 7 billion CNY, and NIO moved its China headquarters to the city in return (Caixin Global, 2020). The bet paid off, and “the Hefei model” became shorthand in China for a city government acting like a venture fund. Car plants now ring the city, which explains all the new EVs on its roads.

Lord Bao, the judge everyone in China knows

Bao Zheng, the incorruptible Song dynasty official known as Judge Bao, was born in Luzhou, today’s Hefei. He is to Chinese courtroom drama roughly what Sherlock Holmes is to detective fiction — endlessly retold, black-faced in opera, famous for a crescent moon on his forehead. His memorial temple and tomb are the city’s best-known sights, and they help explain an idea of justice that Chinese viewers grow up with.

Best Time to Visit Hefei

There are four clear seasons here, and two of them are pleasant. April–May and late September–November are the months to aim for. July and August are hot and very humid, whereas January is damp and close to freezing. Rain gathers in June during the plum-rain season. If you are combining the city with Huangshan, autumn is the strongest choice, but avoid the first week of October when every scenic area in Anhui fills up.

Getting to Hefei

By rail

Hefei South is the main high-speed station, with fast links to Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Wuhan and Beijing. The line into the southern Anhui mountains is the one to know. Since the Hangzhou–Nanchang railway opened fully in December 2023, trains from Hefei South reach Qimen South, in Huangshan prefecture, in as little as 1 hour 59 minutes (Hefei Evening News, 2023). Services to Huangshan North take about two hours too.

By air, and the 240-hour transit rule

Hefei Xinqiao International Airport lies northwest of the city. Since December 2024 it has been a port for China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy, and the permitted stay area covers the whole of Anhui (State Council Information Office, 2024). That means eligible travellers flying on to a third country can spend up to ten days in the provincial capital and the Huangshan region. Our guide to visa-free transit in China sets out who qualifies.

What to See in Hefei

Anhui Museum, and which building to pick

The Anhui Museum is free, and it has two sites. The new Shushan building, near Tianehu (Swan Lake), holds the major collections — Huizhou architecture, bronzes and the “Four Treasures of the Study.” From 4 July 2026 it requires real-name booking on weekends and public holidays, up to seven days ahead; Tuesday to Friday, you can walk in. It closes on Mondays. The older Luyang building needs no booking and closes on Tuesdays instead. Both open 9:00–17:00, with last entry at 16:30 (Anhui Museum, 2026).

Baogong Park

Lord Bao’s memorial temple, his tomb, the Qingfeng Pavilion and the Fuzhuang garden sit along a moat in the old city. Since 1 May 2024 the whole park has been free. Entry still needs a real-name booking, made through the park’s WeChat account, Meituan or Trip.com, or at the offline window with a valid ID. Hours are 9:00–17:00, with bookings for entry until 16:30 (China National Radio, 2024).

Sanhe Ancient Town, Hefei’s only 5A

About an hour southwest of the centre, Sanhe is a 2,500-year-old water town, named a national 5A scenic area in October 2015 (People’s Daily Online, 2015). Walking the streets and canals costs nothing, though individual sights charge. One of them fits the science theme neatly: the childhood home of Chen Ning Yang, the physicist who shared the 1957 Nobel Prize.

Tianehu and Chaohu

For modern Hefei, walk round Tianehu at dusk, when the government towers and the grand theatre light up across the water. For open space, head to the Chaohu shore on the south side of the city; the lakeside parks there are where locals go at weekends.

Hefei in Two Days: A Simple Plan

Two days is enough to see the city properly without rushing. Treat the plan below as a starting point rather than a timetable, and swap the days if a Monday or a public holiday gets in the way.

  • Day 1, the old city: Baogong Park in the morning, when it is quiet. After lunch, walk to the Huaihe Road pedestrian street and the former residence of Li Hongzhang, the late-Qing statesman who was born here. Finish with Luzhou roast duck for dinner.
  • Day 2, the new city: the Shushan building of the Anhui Museum when it opens at 9:00, then lunch around Tianehu. Spend the afternoon at Sanhe Ancient Town, or keep it short and watch the lights come on over the lake instead.
  • Day 3, optional: an early train south to Huangshan North, with your bags, so the mountain gets a full day.

That order is deliberate. The Shushan building closes on Mondays, while Baogong Park opens every day, so if you arrive on a Sunday, do the old city on Monday and save the museum for Tuesday.

What to Eat in Hefei

Anhui’s Hui cuisine is one of China’s eight great cuisines, and the capital is a good place to try it without mountain-resort prices. Order stinky mandarin fish (臭鳜鱼), which smells far stronger than it tastes. Luzhou roast duck (庐州烤鸭) is the local classic, usually eaten with sesame flatbread brushed with duck fat. In summer, spicy crayfish takes over the late-night food streets.

Practical Tips for Visiting Hefei

  • Getting around: the metro links Hefei South station with the city centre. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are cheap.
  • Bookings: museums and parks use real-name booking. A passport works at the window, even when a mini-program is fussy about foreign ID numbers.
  • Payment: Alipay and WeChat Pay are standard. Our guide on how to pay in China explains linking a foreign card.
  • Language: English is limited outside hotels and universities, so keep a translation app ready.
  • Onward trips: Hongcun and Xidi and Mount Jiuhua both work as rail trips from the city.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Hefei

  • Going to the new museum on a Monday. It is closed; the old Luyang building is open instead.
  • Turning up at Baogong Park without booking. Entry is free but not walk-in.
  • Treating the city as only a transfer. One night here makes the Huangshan leg less rushed.
  • Arriving in Anhui during Golden Week. Trains and scenic areas sell out days ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hefei

Is Hefei worth visiting?

For a day or two, yes — especially paired with southern Anhui. It is not a replacement for Shanghai or Xi’an.

How far is Hefei from Huangshan?

About two hours by high-speed train to Huangshan North or Qimen South.

Can I use visa-free transit through Hefei?

Yes, if you qualify. Hefei Xinqiao is a 240-hour transit port, and the stay area covers all of Anhui.

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