Travel through the Three Kingdoms period to find Bao Zheng.
Hey everyone! 👋 Your budget-conscious travel blogger is back online!
Who says Hefei is an underrated provincial capital? This underestimated "hegemon" hides the battlefields of the Three Kingdoms period and the gentle water towns of the Jianghuai region. The key is—**the prices are incredibly affordable!** 💰
This time, I'm bringing you a **3-day, 2-night Hefei itinerary for two people, priced at 4000 RMB**. No need for intensive, check-in-the-box tours; the focus is on **"eating and drinking well + cultural strolls"**, making the most of your money! 👇
💰 Budget Breakdown (For Two, Including Food, Accommodation, and Activities)
*Total Budget: 4000 RMB (More than enough for two people, with even some left over for souvenirs!)*
1. **Transportation (Round Trip):** 1000-1200 RMB*** Hefei has convenient high-speed rail/airplane access; high-speed rail tickets to surrounding cities are often only 100-200 RMB.
2. **Accommodation (2 Nights):** 700 RMB*** *Strategy:* Choose **Baohe District (near Hefei University of Technology)** or **Luyang District (Sipailou/Sanxiaokou)**.
*Recommendation:* Ji Hotel (Baohe Avenue Branch) or Atour Hotel (Sanxiaokou Branch), average price 350 RMB/night, good environment and convenient transportation.
3. **City Transportation + Entrance Fees:** 300 RMB*** Hefei's subway system is very developed, basically covering all attractions; taxi fares start at around 10 RMB.
*Most parks and museums are free! Only a few attractions, such as Bao Gong Temple, charge admission.
4. **Food and Drinks:** 1200 RMB*** This is the key point! Is Hefei a food desert? No! It's a carbohydrate paradise! You can eat your fill on 200 RMB per person per day.
5. **Emergency Fund:** 800 RMB*** Sufficient for buying local specialties, milk tea, and taxi fares.
🗺️ 3 Days 2 Nights - No Backtracking
Day 1: Travel Through the Three Kingdoms, Searching for Bao Qingtian
* **Morning**: Arrive in Hefei → Drop off luggage at the hotel (recommended choice: **Baohe District**, convenient for getting around).
* **Lunch**: Enjoy Anhui cuisine at **Luzhou Taitai (Suzhou Road Branch)**!
* **Must-Try:** **Luzhou Roast Duck** (crispy skin and tender meat, comparable to Beijing roast duck), **Cao Cao Chicken**, **Sanhe Rice Dumplings** (fried to a golden brown, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside). 60 RMB per person.
* **Afternoon:** Bao Gong Park (Entrance fee 35 RMB, combined ticket 50 RMB; buying only the 35 RMB ticket for Bao Gong Temple is sufficient).
* **Highlights:** Visit Bao Gong's Tomb and Qingfeng Pavilion. The gardens here are exquisite, with red walls and black tiles that are particularly photogenic, and a pond full of withered lotus leaves (creating a poignant beauty in winter).
* **Evening:** Huaihe Road Pedestrian Street + Xiaoyaojin Park.
* **Activities:** The pedestrian street is lively; visit Li Hongzhang's Former Residence (located on the pedestrian street, entrance fee 20 RMB) to see the mansion of a prominent late Qing Dynasty official.
* **Dinner:** Tongqinglou (Pedestrian Street branch) for authentic stinky mandarin fish (if you don't like stinky fish, you can order stir-fried eggs with stone ear fungus or Hu Shi's One-Pot Dish). Average cost per person: 80 RMB.
Day 2: Cultural Heritage Exploration + Lobster BBQ (Lobster is a must-try in summer!)
* **Morning:** Anhui Provincial Museum (New Building) (Free! Advance reservations are required and difficult to obtain; set an alarm!). * **Highlights:** The museum's prized possession, the "Zhuke Bronze Cauldron" (Chu Cauldron), is truly awe-inspiring. The building itself resembles a giant bronze cauldron.
* **Lunch:** Have some **knife-cut noodles** or **Huainan beef soup** (a Hefei specialty, 20 RMB for a filling meal) near the museum.
* **Afternoon:** Visit the **Crossing the Yangtze River Campaign Memorial Hall** (free admission, located by Chaohu Lake) to learn about the history of "a million soldiers crossing the Yangtze River." Then head to **Luogang Park**, with its huge lawn and the remains of an airport runway, perfect for a city walk.
* **Evening:** Leijie Street—the pinnacle of Hefei's nightlife! * **Food:** This is a food paradise! We recommend **Luzhou Roast Duck Restaurant (Leijie Branch)** or any **lobster barbecue** (Hefei lobster is also exceptional; we recommend **A Pang Lobster**).
* Grab a cup of **Kawanka** (a local Hefei milk tea, a must-try! We recommend the full set). * **Average cost per person:** 80 RMB.
Day 3: Huan Chaohu Avenue, enjoy morning tea while watching the "sea"
**Morning:** Take a taxi to the shore of Chaohu Lake (e.g., Hongshizui Park, free).
* **Highlights:** Hefei's only "sea"! Watching the waves crash against the rocks is incredibly therapeutic. If you don't mind the cold, you can take a speedboat.
**Lunch:** Enjoy the "Three Whites of Chaohu" (whitefish, white shrimp, and silverfish) at a farmhouse restaurant by Chaohu Lake, or have a bowl of "Lujiang Little Red Head" (a local specialty, oily, sweet, and fragrant snack).
**Afternoon:** Stroll around Sipailou, eat and shop for local specialties.
**Must-buys:** Zhanji Peach Crisp (the king of imperial peach crisps, best eaten fresh out of the oven, worth the queue!), Baigenzhu melon seeds.
* Find a public bathhouse (e.g., the Water Cube) for a soak and a pedicure, and you're done! * *Estimated Daily Expenses:* Lunch 100 + Local Products 100 + Transportation 50 = **250 RMB**
🏨 Detailed Accommodation Recommendations (Choose according to your needs)
1. **Value-for-Money Option (Students/Special Forces):**
* **Location:** Near Sanxiaokou/Sipailou
* **Recommendation:** Home Inn Select, Hanting Premium.
* **Reason:** Located in the city center, within walking distance of Huaihe Road Pedestrian Street and Xiaoyaojin Park; plenty of restaurants downstairs; Metro Line 2 runs east-west.
* **Price:** 250-300 RMB/night.
2. **Quality/Quiet Option (Couples/Leisure Travel):**
* **Location:** Baohe District/Near Hefei University of Technology
* **Recommendation:** All Seasons Hotel, Atour Hotel, Mercure Hotel.
* **Reason:** Close to the South High-Speed Railway Station; many universities nearby; many affordable restaurants; convenient access to the Provincial Museum and Luogang Park.
* **Price:** 350-450 RMB/night.
3. **High-End/Scenic Choice:** *** **Location:** Swan Lake/Government Affairs District
* **Recommendation:** Grand Hyatt Hefei, Kempinski Hotel (will exceed your budget, but worth considering if you want to see the Swan Lake night view).
* **Reason:** Hefei's most modern area, like Manhattan in New York.
🥘 Hefei Food Red and Black List (Blogger's Personal Tests)
**✅ Red List (Blindly Recommended):**
1. **Luzhou Roast Duck**: A must-try! Crispy skin, tender and juicy meat, served with sweet bean sauce and lotus leaf pancakes.
2. **Zhanji Peach Crisp**: Not only peach crisps, but also cream puffs and pork floss rolls are excellent, a top choice for souvenirs.
3. **Kawanka Milk Tea**: The pride of Anhui, excellent service. If you don't like it too sweet, order the "Golden Pineapple" or "Black Full Set".
4. **Sanhe Rice Dumplings**: Deep-fried, crispy on the outside, with a very fresh rice flour filling.
5. **Wushan Tribute Goose**: Strongly braised, perfect with alcohol.
**❌Avoid/Try with Caution:**
1. **So-called "local specialty restaurants" in Hefei**: Some small, unassuming eateries actually taste quite good, but be aware of hygiene.
2. **National chain restaurants**: Since you're in Hefei, skip Haidilao and save room for Anhui cuisine!
3. **Stinky Mandarin Fish**: Love it or hate it. If it's your first time, try a small piece first.
📝Blogger's Summary: Hefei isn't the kind of city that immediately wows you, but it's **very worth savoring**.
It has the grandeur of a large lake, the lively atmosphere of an old city, and the scholarly air of the University of Science and Technology of China.
**For 4000 yuan, two people can live like "tycoons" here!** They can eat until their bellies are round and still have a bunch of peach shortbread to take home!
**Hefei, an underrated Jianghuai town, is waiting for you to discover!** 🥟🏯
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