Hefei Weekend Complete Guide｜Luzhou Fireworks + Artistic Secret Spots, Unlock Jianghuai Charm in 2 Days and 1 Night

Spend your weekend in Hefei, where you can touch the historical essence of the Three Kingdoms and the integrity of Bao Zheng, check in at a prison-turned-artistic cultural park, enjoy the lakeside scenery of Chaohu, and savor Huizhou delicacies like stinky mandarin fish and Sanhe rice dumplings that hit your taste buds! This tested and practical guide helps you avoid crowds and pitfalls, using two days to fully explore Hefei’s “ancient and modern dual faces,” with every moment worth flooding your social media～ 📌 Pre-trip Must-See · Core Information (Avoid Wasting Time) • Transportation: Metro lines 1, 2, 3, and 5 cover major city attractions. Download the “Hefei Rail Transit” app for convenient QR code rides; taxi starting fare is 11 RMB, travel time between attractions is mostly 15-20 minutes, shared bikes are suitable for short distances. • Reservation Tips: Anhui Museum (book tickets 7 days in advance at 6 PM via the official “Anhui Museum” WeChat), Bao Park (free but requires timed reservation via “Hefei Bao Park” WeChat), Hefei Science and Technology Museum (reserve via WeChat 1 day in advance at 8 AM). Without reservations, you’ll likely miss out! • Dress Suggestions: Wear a light jacket and long pants in spring and autumn; bring sunscreen and an umbrella in summer (rainy season); wear down jackets and fleece pants in winter (damp and cold without heating). Layering is recommended due to large indoor-outdoor temperature differences. • Essentials: ID card (required for entry), power bank (photos drain battery fast), thermos (hot water available at attractions), some cash (small old shops may not accept mobile payments). 📅 Day 1: City Cultural Leisure Route · History and Fireworks Intertwined Morning: Bao Culture + Jianghuai Civilization Origins • 09:00-10:30 Bao Park: Free reservation required, cultural landmark of Northern Song Dynasty’s honest official Bao Zheng! Stroll along Bao River, see the Qingfeng Pavilion’s vermilion flying eaves reflected in the water, incense fills Bao Zheng Temple, and AI interaction can recreate the “Zha Mei Case” scene. Try the Bao Gong crisp pastry at the north gate, flaky and crumbly, said to originate from Bao Zheng’s case-handling rations, 10 RMB/box, a must-try. • 11:00-12:30 Anhui Museum (New Hall): 10-minute taxi from Bao Park. Focus on the 3rd floor “Anhui Civilization History Exhibition” and 5th floor “Jianghuai Treasures” exhibition! Don’t miss the museum’s treasure, the Warring States cast guest tripod (prototype of the national memorial tripod), and the Western Zhou “router” cloud-patterned bronze five-pillar vessel. Rent an audio guide (30 RMB/device) to hear the stories behind the artifacts for a richer experience. Noon: Taste Explosion · Luzhou Classic Flavors • 13:00 Lunch: Check in at Luzhou Roast Duck Restaurant (Hongxing Road branch), a local old brand! Must-order duck oil biscuit (3 RMB each), 18 layers of crispy pastry wrapped with duck oil aroma, crumbly when bitten; paired with half a Luzhou roast duck (45 RMB/half), dipped in special mustard sauce, flavor far surpasses Beijing roast duck, about 35 RMB per person to eat to fullness. Afternoon: Three Kingdoms Legacy + Slow Stroll in Old Town • 14:00-15:30 Xiaoyaojin Park: 15-minute walk from the restaurant, an ancient Three Kingdoms battlefield turned city lounge! Feel the historical storm in front of Zhang Liao’s statue who dominated Xiaoyaojin, Su-style garden of Qu Zhuang framed with a Ferris wheel, a stunning clash of ancient and modern scenes; if with kids, enjoy the elephant slide, pirate ship, and the cost-effective 7D flight cinema. • 15:40-17:00 Huaihe Road Pedestrian Street + Li Hongzhang Former Residence: 10-minute walk to the pedestrian street lined with shops on both sides of bluestone pavement. The Li Mansion (Li Hongzhang’s former residence) is hidden in the street, 35 RMB/person to visit the late Qing dynasty mansion and experience the legendary life of the Huai Army leader; try the Luyang sugar painting (20 RMB/portion) on the street, an intangible cultural heritage skill performed live, sweet and photogenic. Evening: Laijie Night Market · Fireworks Carnival • 18:00-20:00 Laijie: Directly accessible via Metro Line 1 Bao Park Station, Huizhou-style architecture with red lanterns creates a full night atmosphere! Must-eat Xiatao biscuit (15 RMB each), with live “air tossing” skill performance by the chef; also stinky mandarin fish (90 RMB/portion), loach noodles (65 RMB/bowl), and Huangmei opera performances during dinner time, a perfect combo of eating and watching. 📅 Day 2: Ancient Town Nature Route · Water Town and Artistic Collision Morning: Sanhe Ancient Town · Millennium Water Town Stroll • 08:00-09:00 Departure: Take a bus from Hefei South Station directly to Sanhe Ancient Town (1-hour ride, 15 RMB/person), or charter a car round trip for 200 RMB/car (carpooling possible). • 09:30-12:00 Ancient Town Exploration: Free admission, core attraction combo ticket 45 RMB/person (includes Yang Zhenning’s former residence, Sanhe Battle Museum, etc.). Bluestone alleys run through the town, Taiping Army city wall ruins hold war stories, take a rowboat (50 RMB/person) drifting along the Xiaonan River, lanterns on both banks reflect on the water like a fallen star river; the main street is commercialized, but exploring alleys around Sun Liren’s former residence offers an authentic water town life experience. • 12:00-13:00 Ancient Town Lunch: Eat authentic Sanhe rice dumplings (14 RMB/portion), glutinous rice skin wrapped with five layers of native pork, fried to look like golden ingots; paired with the shop’s homemade rice wine, a modern revival of Taiping Army rations. Afternoon: Hechai 1972 · Artistic Cultural Park Check-in • 14:00-17:00 Hechai 1972: 1-hour taxi from the ancient town, a prison-turned-cultural park with great style! The vintage TV wall in the home appliance story hall and the giant “Hefei” neon sign wall are photo hotspots; red brick arches and tall factory spaces create strong visual impact, wear solid colors for artistic photos; the rainbow stairs and cyberpunk mechanical installations in the park make every shot a hit. • 17:30 Return: Metro Line 3 Hechai Station directly back to the city, ending a pleasant weekend. 🏨 Accommodation Recommendations · Choose According to Needs Without Pitfalls • Cost-effective Choice: Hanting Hotel (Hefei Huaihe Road Pedestrian Street branch), 300-400 RMB/night, 5-minute walk from metro, ample floor heating, right outside is a food street. • Unique Experience: Hefei Huayuan Homestay, 600-800 RMB/night, Huizhou-style courtyard design, rooms with scenic terraces, only 1 km from Bao Park, suitable for those who like quiet. • Family-friendly: All Season Hotel (Hefei Binhu Wanda branch), 400-600 RMB/night, spacious rooms, children’s play area, 20-minute taxi to Binhu National Forest Park. 🍜 Must-Eat Food List · Local Recommendations Handpicked Food Recommended Shop Price Feature Description Duck Oil Biscuit Luzhou Roast Duck Restaurant (Hongxing Road branch) 3 RMB each 18 layers of crispy pastry, rich duck oil aroma, Hefei breakfast top pick Sanhe Rice Dumplings Authentic Sanhe Rice Dumplings (Tongling Road branch) 14 RMB/portion Glutinous rice skin + native pork filling, fried crispy outside and soft inside Stinky Mandarin Fish Shanfang Stinky Mandarin Fish Huizhou Restaurant 90 RMB/portion Smelly but tasty, tender meat, top Huizhou dish Xiatao Biscuit Xiatao Biscuit (Laijie branch) 15 RMB each Taiping Heavenly Kingdom army ration improved, live tossing skill show Loach Noodles Chaohu Renjia (Binhu branch) 65 RMB/bowl Wild loach with earthy smell removed, paired with noodles, fresh and flavorful 📌 Pitfall Avoidance Tips · Locals’ Secrets 1. Missing 5 appointments at Anhui Museum within 30 days will result in a 180-day booking ban, be sure to attend on time. 2. Rain flower stones and pearls on Sanhe Ancient Town’s main street are mostly fake; for souvenirs, choose vacuum-packed Sanhe rice dumplings or dried silver fish from Chaohu. 3. Best photo time at Hechai 1972 is 3-5 PM when sunlight filters through red brick arches, creating stunning light and shadow effects. 4. Laijie is crowded on weekends; popular shops allow online queue numbers in advance to avoid long waits. 5. Bao Park offers free entry without reservation for citizens with the surname “Bao” nationwide and up to 3 accompanying persons, just show ID for direct entry. 💰 Weekend Budget Reference (Per Person) • Transportation: Bus + metro + taxi + charter = 200-300 RMB • Accommodation: 300-800 RMB (1 night, flexible) • Tickets: Li Mansion 35 + Sanhe Ancient Town combo 45 = 80 RMB • Food: 400-600 RMB (3 meals + snacks over 2 days) • Total: 980-2000 RMB, allowing you to visit historical sites and artistic landmarks with excellent cost performance. A weekend in Hefei is a symbiosis of history and modernity, a collision of fireworks and art—feel the culture of integrity at Bao Park, encounter the slow water town life in Sanhe Ancient Town, unlock artistic masterpieces at Hechai 1972, and finish with authentic Huizhou cuisine, perfect!