About Hefei
What to see and do in Hefei
Weather in Hefei
Airport in Hefei
Visa
Hefei (Wade-Giles: Hofei; literally: "Junction of the (South) Fei Rivers"; former names: Ho-fei, Luzhou, Luchow) is a prefecture-level city and the capital of Anhui province, China. Located in central Anhui, it borders Huainan to the north, Chuzhou to the northeast, Chaohu to the southeast and Lu'an to the west.
Cuddled in the very heart of Anhui, Hefei, the capital of the province, is an ancient town with more than 2,000 years of history. Unfortunately much of this is not overly noticeable, and most travelers will neglect the area, or merely pass it en route to Anhui's more scenic spot, Huangshan, to the southeast. The most stirring interest with the city is in the ancient tales from this area, partly immortalised in the book The Three Kingdoms (Sanguo yanyi). This book is still known today, one of the series of four ancient classics whose other titles include The Water Margin (Shui huzhuan), The Journey to the West (Xi you ji) and The Dream of the Red Chamber (Honglou meng).
To better understanding the ingrained culture of Hefei, you have to watch the performances of the Lu Opera. Lu Opera is a popular local opera which originated in Hefei. It became an independent style of opera in the era of Emperor Jiaqing of the Qing Dynasty and evolved from many artistic forms such as folk songs and folk dances. The arias are rich and various, and the performance is vivid. 'Natural and simple' is what makes Lu Opera a popular drama appreciated by all. It is really a highlight you should never miss when visiting Hefei.
If you are one of those people who regard food as their prime requirement, you should try the local delicious food and special cuisine which is on offer, whenever you pay a visit. Luzhou Roast Duck is the first recommended delicacy in Hefei and it tastes very good. Other special, high quality products will also satisfy your appetite such as Mabing (sesame cake), Honggao (baked cake), Cunjin (sesame cookie) and Baiqie (white sesame slices). Also, dumpling-making in Hefei is a delicate and intricate process and, there are various shapes of dumplings that will excite and satisfy your appetite.
Hefei is located in the centre part of East China, and its transportation system is well-developed. With the whole city's transportation system linked by airport, railway and highway, a solid transportation network is at your service. Due to its fast development in recent years, transportation within and around Hefei is very convenient, especially for tourists.
Hefei is a scientific and educational city and boasts of many talents both past and present, such as the famous upright officer Lord Bao in Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) along with the Nobel Prize for Physics winner, Yang Zhenning, whose hometown is Hefei. The University of Science and Technology of China, and the Hefei Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences are both located in Hefei. There is no doubt that talented people in Hefei are foremost in China.
Hefei is not so big city to have great places to see, but, anyway, there are some spots, that one can enjoy. One of them is Shu Shan Mountain), situated in the western part of Hefei. The mountain has the Television Tower on the top and can be seen from far away places. You can get there by taxi (around RMB 25) or by bus (any bus, which goes to the end of Chang Jiang Lu or Huang Shan Lu) The place is crowded on weekends and holidays, mostly younger people go there, because you have to make a long and difficult way up the mountain, climb thousand of steep stairs. You get the top when you are out of breathe and power, and feel you can't make anymore step upwards. A beautiful scenery of modern Hefei opens up to your eyes from the very top and you can make a deep breathe of the stairs conqueror.
If you feel too bored and life seems to be too quiet, go to Walk Street, you will find your hotel room a piece of paradise then) The Walk Street is a kind of shopping place with supermarkets of cheap clothes on both sides of the street. Parkson Central Place is a small iceland where you can feel that Europe hasn't disappeared yet. Here you can find a KFC, McDonald's and a very nice Korean Restaurant inside.
Leisure Ford Park
The contradictorily named Leisure Ford (Xiaoyao jin) is well known in modern China as a famous battlefield.
In the last years of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD), a general called Sun Quan, afterwards to become king of the Wu Kingdom, led a troop of 100,000 soldiers towards Hefei, with plans to take the city. The city general, a subordinate of the famous Caocao, named Zhang Liao, had but 7,000 troops under his command. Troops were fearful and restless awaiting the onslaught that was sure to result in the sacking of the city. So Zhang thought he would try to even up the odds.
Taking almost all of his troops, Zhang initiated a night blitz upon the unprepared Sun barracks and the bloody battle that ensued was to eventually result in the rout of Sun's unprepared army. Sun is said to have escaped death by leaping the canal that ran beside the battle field.
Nowadays the area has lost much of its charm. It was turned into a park this century, and now covers a total of 31.3 hectares. The park is an uninspiring thing that is probably only of interest to Chinese history lovers, botanists and sadistic zoologists. The zoo in the southeastern corner of the park is typical of China's zoos, with small cages and poor facilities. The western corner has bonsai, rare Chinese plants, rockeries as well as mock versions of traditional Chinese architecture. There are also three islets on the lake, that between them hold a cenotaph of general Zhang Liao, a statue of him seated upon his horse and a bridge that is said to be the spot that Sun Quan leapt to freedom.
How to get there: The park is located in the northeastern part of town, not far from the Mingjiao Temple. A taxi drive from the railway station costs only RMB 6. Cost: RMB 5 for the entrance fee and RMB 4 for the shabby zoo. Opening hours: 06:00-18:00, daily.
Mingjiao Temple Mingjiao Temple (Mingjiao si), built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), is one of China's state-protected Buddhist complexes. The present day temple has a sixteenth century architectural look, after the renovations that took place then, despite the fact that the temple was partially destroyed by the Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) and restored in 1991. The temple is known for a number of reasons, including the fact that on the frequent windy days here, the bells in the eaves peal, and that the halls here house over 30 Buddhist statues. Visitors here would do well to try out the vegetarian restaurant that sits beside the temple.
The site is also alleged as the platform that Caocao, famously devious warlord and later king of the Wei Kingdom (220-265 AD), was to drill his troops before the battles against Sun Quan's Wu Kingdom (222-280 AD) army. Caocao is known for many feats, but nowadays he is most famous as a major character in the book "The Three Kingdoms", and for being the protagonist in the Chinese version of "Speak of the Devil" (Shuo caocao, caocao jiu dao).
Address: Huaihe lu, just to the south of Leisure Ford Park. The easiest way is to take a taxi directly there, which costs around RMB 6. Opening hours: 08:00-17:30, daily. Cost: RMB 10.
Baohe
Baohe Park (Baohe gongyuan) is one of a ring of parks that circle the old city walls of Hefei.
This park is the southeast section of the ring, while the others, in clockwise order, include the
Xinghua Park (Xinghua gongyuan), Hei Pond (Heichi) and the Leisure Ford Park (Xiaoyaojin gongyuan).
Baohe itself is mostly lake, although there is a memorial temple, several small tombs,
a number of pretty arched bridges, a small conifer wood and a profusion of willow trees
that drape their boughs over the water.
The park is named after a famous Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127 AD) official, Bao Zheng, whose name is now a synonym for incorruptibility and rectitude. Bao worked as a judge and was the final say in all important rulings in Kaifeng, including executions. In the middle of the park's Lord Bao Memorial Temple is a statue of this powerful and wise administrator, behind which stands the tools of his highest authority, three fixed hay cutters (Zhadao). Each cutter is marked differently, one dragon headed, one tiger headed and one dog headed, meant as indicators of the condemned man's social ranking. The statue's face is painted black, a colour that in opera tradition is the symbol of honesty. This idea is backed up by the Bao family motto, that adorns the hall, and preaches "familial piety" (Jia xun) to all who see it.
There are a few other sights of interest. The hexagonal pavilion, to the east of the Lord Bao Memorial Temple, contains a well that legend states is a measure of moral status. It is said that when corrupt officials drink the well water their heads will split. Also of interest are the garden houses, in typical Anhui architectural style, that Bao and his progeny used to live in, hidden away in the conifer forest and ideal for relaxation and study.
How to get there: From the railway station, take bus No.11 and get off at the Baohe stop. Opening hours: 07:30-17:30, daily. Cost: RMB 10 for entry into the park. Another RMB 10 for entry into the Lord Bao Memorial Temple.
Anhui Provician Museum
The Anhui Provincial Museum (Anhui sheng bowuguan), built in 1956, is the largest and
most comprehensive museum in the province. The 9000-square-meters of space here houses
over 100,000 exhibits, many fossils or historical relics that date back over 2,000 years.
The museum has no English, however, and so is really only good either for those into their
Chinese history or Chinese readers.
A lot of the exhibits are related to the Three Kingdoms period (220-280 AD), a time immortalized by the book of the same name, although exhibits mainly concentrate upon the Cao family, most famously headed by the warlord and king of the Wei Kingdom, Caocao. Calligraphists will be pleased with the mostly Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) exhibition pieces of the Four Treasures of Chinese Calligraphy (Wenfang sibao, see shopping overview for details). The last hall in the complex also contains some examples of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) Huizhou architecture.
Address: Mengcheng lu, directly north along Jinzhai lu. Opening hours: 08:30-10:40 & 14:00-16:00, Monday-Friday; 08:30-11:40 & 14:00-17:00, Saturday and Sunday. Cost: RMB 10.
Chao Lake
The well-known Chao Lake is located in Hefei and is one of the five largest fresh-water lakes in
China covering an area of about 800 square kilometers (about 309 square miles). There is an
abundance of aquatic produce in the lake, amongst which the whitebait, the shrimp and the
crab are known as the three treasures of Chaohu Lake. The lake is embraced by surrounding
green mountains - layer upon layer of ridges and peaks. The 'moonlit night of the Chaohu Lake'
and the 'morning glow of the four peaks' are two of the ancient eight top scenic spots in Luyang
(present day Hefei).
With the assiduous support of the Parks' Horticulture Department, there are many parks built around Hefei City including Xiaoyaojin Park, Shushan Forest Park, Hefei Wild Animal Park, Hefei Arboretum and Huancheng Park which is the biggest among these parks covering an area of 137.6 hectares (about 340 acres). This open park connects six scenic areas which form a beautiful image of a 'Jade Necklace'. These six scenic areas are Baohe Scenic Area featuring the culture of Lord Bao; Yinhe Scenic Area featuring a waterscape; Xishan Scenic Area featuring animal sculptures; Hupotan Scenic Area featuring entertainment items, Huanbei Scenic Area featuring natural environment and wildlife and Huandong Scenic Area with a visitors' service area to enhance the garden visit. All the scenic areas contribute to Hefei ranking as one of the three 'National Park Cities' along with Beijing and Zhuhai. So, a visit to Hefei City is a must - a wonderful experience resembling visiting a pleasance
Hui Garden
Perhaps Hui Garden, located in Hefei Economic and Technological Development Zone,
is a window through which you can best learn about Anhui Province culture. It covers an area of
20 hectare (about 49 acres) around which the Yangtze and Huaihe Rivers flow. It is mainly
divided into two garden areas: Wanbei area featuring Imperial gardens and Wannan area
featuring the world famous Hui Architectural Style. There are many symbolic man-made
constructions in corresponding sections such as the beautiful Huangshan Mountain,
the Chaolu Lake, the Di Garden, etc. Never miss the opportunity to explore Hui Garden.
If cultural scenery is more suitable to your taste, then a visit to the historical and cultural landscapes of Hefei beckons. The most famous one is called Memorial Temple of Lord Bao which is located south of the city center in Baohe Park. It is built to the memory of Bao Zheng, a well-known honorable officer of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). The Memorial Temple of Lord Bao is a typical architectural complex built in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
The Former Residence of Li Hongzhang is another cultural destination which is a well preserved former home in Hefei. It is a typical residence of the south during the Qing Dynasty. Li Hongzhang was born in Hefei and held a civil and military position in the Qing Government. Here you can examine detailed materials that give comprehensive information of this eminent historical person.
Hefei's climate is fairly mild, with the four seasons distinctly separated. The average annual temperature is 15.7 C. January, the cities coldest month, has an average temperature of 2.4 C, and the lowest temperature at this time rarely falls below -5 C. The hottest months are July and August, which between them average 28.4 C.
The city suffers from relatively high rainfall, mostly falling in the transitional periods between spring/summer and summer/autumn. Average number of frost free days in 228 per annum.
However, in spring and summer the natural landscape may be the most beautiful, thus April to October is the recommended time to visit. Meanwhile, you have to remember to bring rain gear because of the rainy season during June and July. In winter, you will have to be prepared with scarf and warm clothing when you go there.
January 6 C to -2 C
February 7 C to 0 C
March 13 C to 4 C
April 19 C to 11 C
May 24 C to 16 C
June 28 C to 20 C
July 31 C to 24 C
August 31 C to 23 C
September 26 C to 18 C
October 21 C to 12 C
November 15 C to 6 C
December 8 C to 32 C
Hefei Luogang International Airport is an airport in Hefei, Anhui, China (IATA: HFE, ICAO: ZSOF).
Hefei Luogang International Airport. Airport Code: HFE Location: south of Hefei City, about 12 kilometers (7 miles) from the downtown area.
Hefei Luogang International Airport is a modern airport offering more than 20 domestic airlines. The runway of the airport is 3,000 meters (about 3281 yard) long, 60 meters (about 66 yard) wide and the Terminal Building covers an area of 12-thousand-square-meter (about 14,352 square yards). It serves domestic flights to destinations such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Qingdao, Dalian, Chengdu, Xian, Wuhan, Shenyang, Changchun, Harbin, Hangzhou, Fuzhou, Xiamen, Wenzhou, Anqing, and Huangshan, etc. Hefei Luogang International Airport, capable of receiving jumbos, has nonstop regular flights to Hong Kong.
Airport Ticket Booking Office
Address: No.216 Changjiang Road
Getting there: Take No. 3, 9, 116, 125, 136 to arrive at Sanxiaokou Station.
Airport Transportation: From the airport to downtown Hefei, you can take the No.11 bus or take a taxi. The bus comes every few minutes. The bus fare is RMB 1 and the taxi fare is about RMB 20.
Airlines and other destinations of Hefei
Air China (Beijing-Capital, Chengdu)
China Eastern Airlines (Beijing-Capital, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Kunming, Shanghai-Hongqiao, Shanghai-Pudong, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Xi'an)
China Southern Airlines (Changsha, Guangzhou, Haikou, Harbin, Sanya, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Urumqi, Xiamen, Xi'an)
Hainan Airlines (Beijing-Capital, Guangzhou, Haikou, Taiyuan, Wenzhou)
Hong Kong Airlines (Hong Kong)
Shandong Airlines (Changsha, Qingdao)
Shenzhen Airlines (Harbin, Nanning, Shenzhen)
Sichuan Airlines (Chengdu)
To be able to travel to Hefei you need to have a valid China Visa, issue from your local government at the China Embassy, Chinese visa fall into four types: diplomatic visa, courtesy visa, service visa and ordinary visa. Ordinary visa is further divided into the following 8 categories each marked with a letter: (1) Tourist and family visit visa (L-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China for tourist purpose, family visit or other personal affairs.
(2) Business Visa (F-visa ) is issued to a foreign citizen who is invited to China for visit, research, lecture, business, exchanges in the fields of science, technology, education, culture and sports, or attending various kinds of trade fairs or exhibitions, or short-term study, intern practice for a period of no more than 6 months.
(3) Student Visa (X-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China for the purpose of study or advanced study for a period of six or more months.
(4) Work Visa (Z-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China to work and his or her accompanying family members, or to give commercial performances in China.
(5) Transit Visa (G-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who is to transit through China on his or her way to a third country (or region).
(6) Crew Visa(C-visa)is issued to crew member performing his/her duties on board an international train, or on an international airliner, to a sailor on board an international ocean-liner or freighter, and also to their accompanying family members..
(7) Journalist Visa (J-visa)is issued to foreign journalists. J-visa has two categories: J-1 visa and J-2 visa. J-1 visa is issued to resident foreign journalists in China and their accompanying spouses and under-age children, J-2 visa to foreign journalists who visit China for temporary news coverage.
(8) Permanent Residence Visa(D-visa)is issued to a foreign citizen who has been approved by China's public security authority to reside in China permanently.
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