Hefei is stunning, but I honestly don’t recommend going in June because...

Hefei: Luzhou Fireworks × Sci-Tech Future × Lakes and Mountains, Unlocking the AB Sides of the Heart of Jianghuai (Baogong Temple × Xiaoyaojin Park × Sanhe Ancient Town × Science and Technology Museum full guide, Lobster feast, Chaohu sunset, Old street teahouse all at your fingertips) **🏯 【City Layers: Historic City × Sci-Tech Capital × Lakes and Mountains, Hefei’s Dialogue Through Time】 **🏛 Baogong Park "A Thousand Years of Integrity" 📍 No. 72 Wuhu Road, Baohe District, Ticket ¥50 (combo ticket includes Baogong Temple, Qingfeng Pavilion, etc.), Metro Line 1 Baogong Park Station. Must-visit: Baogong Temple: Between red walls and black tiles, feel the culture of the "Iron-faced and Impartial" Bao Zheng; ancient stone inscriptions and the Lianquan Well inside are worth savoring. Qingfeng Pavilion: Climb to the top for a panoramic view of Baohe, capture shots of ancient architecture alongside the modern cityscape, wearing Hanfu makes photos even better. Fuzhuang: Jiangnan garden-style courtyard with winding paths, perfect for artistic photos. Tip: Early morning or evening has fewer people and beautiful scenery; combo tickets are more cost-effective; nearby Ningguo Road Lobster Street is great for a quick visit. **🎠 Xiaoyaojin Park "Three Kingdoms Battlefield × Childhood Playground" 📍 No. 16 Shouchun Road, Luyang District, free admission, open all day, Metro Line 2 Sipailou Station. Must-visit: Zhang Liao Statue: A must for Three Kingdoms fans, learn the historical story of "Zhang Liao’s dominance at Xiaoyaojin." Elephant Slide: Childhood memory for Hefei’s 80s/90s generation, a retro photo spot. Ferris Wheel: ¥30/person, climb to the top for views of the old city and moat, stunning at sunset. Tip: Weekends are crowded with families, better to visit on weekdays; snack stalls inside recommend red bean paste (¥8). **🏮 Sanhe Ancient Town "The First Water Town of Jianghuai" 📍 Sanhe Town, Feixi County, free (some attractions charge), 1-hour drive or direct bus. Must-visit: Yiren Alley: Narrow stone-paved street, perfect for photos of blue bricks, black tiles, and lantern reflections; wearing qipao or Republic-era outfits fits the vibe. Yang Zhenning Former Residence: Learn about the childhood of the Nobel laureate and the scientific heritage of the city. Sanhe Battle Storm Museum: Uses sound, light, and electricity to recreate the Taiping Rebellion battle scenes, a must-see for history buffs. Must-eat: Sanhe rice dumplings (¥3 each), rice wine (¥15/bottle), Zhonghexiang pastries (century-old brand). Tip: Evening boat rides (¥60/person) to see lights on both banks, avoid midday sun; recommended stay at ancient town guesthouses (¥200+/night). **🌊 Chaohu "The Pearl of Jianghuai’s Lakes and Mountains" 📍 Chaohu City, free, 1-hour drive or high-speed train to Chaohu East Station. Must-visit: Zhongmiao Temple: A thousand-year-old temple, climb to capture panoramic views of Chaohu, the vegetarian meal inside (¥20/person) is worth trying. Hongshizui Park: Hefei’s version of "Little Sanya," great for photos of reefs, lighthouse, and lake sunsets; wearing a white long dress looks magical. Laoshan Island: Take a boat to the island (¥75/person), hike or bike around, climb Wenfeng Tower for a view of Chaohu. Must-eat: Chaohu silverfish steamed egg (¥38), white rice shrimp (¥45), Zhonggan tomatoes (local specialty). Tip: Mosquitoes are common by the lake in summer, bring repellent; autumn is crab season, try Chaohu hairy crabs (¥50 each). **🍜 【Food Highlights: Lobster Feast × Time-Honored Snacks × Jianghuai Flavors, Taste Hefei】 **🦞 Lobster Feast Apang Lobster (Ningguo Road Branch): Avg. ¥120 per person, choose from thirteen-spice, garlic, or chilled lobster, perfect with beer. Old Xie Lobster (Wuhu Road Branch): Avg. ¥100 per person, signature spicy lobster (¥98/jin), spicy and satisfying, paired with cold noodles dipped in sauce. Shidai Xiaoya (Huangshan Road Branch): Avg. ¥80 per person, clear water lobster (¥88/jin), original flavor, tastes fresher with vinegar. **🥢 Time-Honored Snacks Liu Hongsheng Dumpling & Noodle Shop (Suzhou Road Branch): Avg. ¥20 per person, mushroom chicken dumplings (¥15), shredded radish and fresh meat crispy pancakes (¥3). Luzhou Roast Duck Shop (Suzhou Road Branch): Avg. ¥30 per person, duck oil soup buns (¥8/basket), red bean paste (¥5), osmanthus red bean glutinous rice balls (¥6). Xiatangji Pancakes (multiple branches): Avg. ¥5 per person, sweet/savory flavors, crispy outside and soft inside, a Hefei breakfast staple. **🍲 Jianghuai Flavors Tongqinglou (Luzhoufu Branch): Avg. ¥150 per person, stinky mandarin fish (¥98), Wushan tribute goose (¥68), Hu Shi specialty hot pot (¥128). Geng Fuxing (Walking Street Branch): Avg. ¥80 per person, shrimp roe noodles (¥12), small steamed soup buns (¥15), crispy pancakes (¥3). Daobangxiang (1912 District Branch): Avg. ¥100 per person, Daobangxiang braised rice (¥38), Huangshan double stones (stone chicken + stone ear mushroom, ¥168). **🍵 Teahouses and Cafes Li Hongzhang Former Residence Teahouse (Huaihe Road Pedestrian Street): Avg. ¥50 per person, listen to Luzhou opera, taste Taiping Houkui tea, experience old Hefei’s slow life. Charing No. 84 Cafe (Laijie Branch): Avg. ¥40 per person, hand-pour coffee (¥45) + tiramisu (¥38), industrial style decor. Kawangka (multiple branches): Avg. ¥15 per person, full set milk tea (¥16), black full set milk tea (¥18), the pride of Hefei local milk tea. **🏨 【Accommodation Highlights: Old City Charm × Lake View Resorts × Convenient Business District, Sleep in Hefei’s Cozy Embrace】 **🏙 Old City Charm Hefei Gujing Holiday Hotel: No. 1104 East Changjiang Road, Luyang District, ¥500+/night, Metro Line 1 Dadongmen Station, walking distance to Huaihe Road Pedestrian Street. Hefei Baijing Holiday Hotel: Zhengwu Cultural New District, Shushan District, ¥400+/night, near Swan Lake and Hefei Grand Theater, ideal for business trips. **🌊 Lake View Resorts Chaohu Shenye Hot Spring Holiday Resort Hotel: Tangshan Road, Chaohu City, ¥600+/night, private hot spring + lake view rooms, top choice for family vacations. Zhongmiao Binhu City Country Garden Phoenix Hotel: Zhongmiao Street, Chaohu City, ¥500+/night, lake view rooms + buffet breakfast, great value. **🛍 Business District Convenience Hefei Intercontinental Hotel: No. 888 Qianshan Road, Zhengwu District, ¥800+/night, next to MixC Mall, Metro Line 3 Municipal Government Center Station. Hefei Grand Hyatt Hotel: No. 111 Qianshan Road, Shushan District, ¥700+/night, 45 floors with city skyline views, near Swan Lake. **📸 【Hidden Photo Spots: Social Media Like Magnets】 **🌇 Kaifu Temple "Hefei’s Little Forbidden City" 📍 No. 77 Yulan Avenue, Shushan District, Ticket ¥20, Metro Line 2 Dashushan Station. Must-shoot: Red walls, yellow tiles, flying eaves and dougong brackets, wear Hanfu for ancient-style photos, best light on sunny afternoons. **🌉 Nanfei River Bridge "City Skyline" 📍 Nanfei River Road, Baohe District, free, drive or take bus to Nanfei River Bridge Station. Must-shoot: Capture the bridge and city lights reflected at dusk, wearing bright clothes makes photos pop. 【Transportation and Tips: Survival Guide for Hefei】 **✈ Major Transport Air: Hefei Xinqiao International Airport, Metro Line 2 direct to city center, or airport shuttle bus (¥25). Train: Hefei Station, Hefei South Station, metro covers main stations. **🚇 City Transport Metro: Covers main attractions, supports Hefei Rail APP QR code rides. Bus: Supports Alipay ride code but infrequent, taxi recommended (starting fare ¥10). Shared bikes: Widely available in the city, good for short trips. **⚠ Avoid Pitfalls Ningguo Road Lobster Street prices are high, compare before buying; Sanhe Ancient Town is quite commercialized, visit early to avoid crowds; Chaohu has strong UV in summer, bring sunscreen and sunglasses; Hefei dialect is hard to understand, ask young people or use Mandarin for directions. **🌏 【In-depth Experiences: Unlock Hefei’s Hidden Gems】 **🚀 Sci-Tech Hefei "City of the Future" Anhui Innovation Pavilion: Yun Gu Road, Binhu New District, free, reservation required, showcases quantum communication, artificial sun, and other cutting-edge tech. iFlytek AI Experience Hall: No. 666 Wangjiang West Road, High-tech Zone, free, experience voice interaction, intelligent translation, and more. **🎭 Luzhou Opera and Huangmei Opera "Intangible Cultural Heritage Experience" Jianghuai Grand Theater: No. 252 Huaihe Road, Luyang District, tickets ¥50-200, watch traditional Luzhou operas "Butterfly Lovers" and "Qin Xuemei." Huangmei Opera Art Center: Intersection of Shitai Road and Swan Lake Road, Shushan District, tickets ¥80-300, watch "The Fairy Couple" and "The Female Prince." **🌾 Countryside Stroll "Pastoral Elegy" Xiaolingnan: Magang Village, Xiaomiao Town, Shushan District, free, rice fields, guesthouses, cafes, perfect for weekend relaxation. Weimei Motan: Dawu Town, Baohe District, free, lotus ponds, fishing boats, farm stays, great summer escape. **🌆 Travel Philosophy: Hefei’s fireworks are the spicy and fresh flavors of Ningguo Road lobster; Hefei’s sci-tech is the trajectory of quantum satellites piercing the sky; Hefei’s lakescape is the tenderness of Chaohu at sunset. 📌 One-click save to make Baogong Temple, Sanhe Ancient Town, and Chaohu sunset your most healing travel memories of 2025!