Hefei short trip|Two-day cultural and food tour of Sanhe ancient town, stay at Jizao Hotel to unwind
No need to travel far to find Jiangnan. Hefei hides the 5A-rated water town of Sanhe ancient town where three rivers meet. Paired with Hefei Jizao Hotel, it creates a fully relaxing two-day short trip. The ancient town offers free admission. A complete one-stop guide for dining, lodging, and activities is ready for you to follow on your trip!
📍Location: Sanhe ancient town, Feixi County, Hefei
📍Accommodation: Hefei Jizao Hotel
[Complete two-day itinerary with full details]
Day 1: First visit to the ancient town · Stroll the water town nightscape
1. Transportation: Depart from Hefei Jizao Hotel. Drive 1 hour directly to the ancient town visitor center. Parking costs 10 yuan per day. For public transport, take the tourist shuttle line. It takes 40 minutes and costs 15 yuan one way with no transfers needed.
2. 9:00 AM|Start at Dajie Gate. Walk slowly along Ancient West Street, stepping on thousand-year-old bluestone slabs. On both sides are white walls and black tiles of Huizhou-style residences. Pass by Zhonghexiang century-old pastry shop and try freshly baked jiao qie su tang. Stop by One-Person Alley, the narrowest street in the town at only 70 cm wide, where you must turn sideways to pass. This was the alley Yang Zhenning used to walk through as a youth. Snap vintage-style portraits here.
3. 12:00 PM|Find a local home-style restaurant on Ancient South Street. Avoid the main street’s popular shops and choose an old store favored by locals to immerse yourself in Sanhe’s signature cuisine.
4. 2:00 PM|Buy a combined ticket to visit cultural exhibition halls. First, tour Yang Zhenning’s former residence, a five-section Huizhou courtyard restored to show his youth. Then visit Liu Tongxinglong Manor, a late Qing wealthy merchant’s mansion, featuring exquisite wood and brick carvings that showcase the old commercial prosperity. Climb the seven-story Moon Viewing Pavilion for a panoramic view of the town’s waterways and ancient bridges. On sunny days, the view is clear; on cloudy days, it feels like a traditional ink painting.
5. 5:30 PM|At Quezhu Covered Bridge, take a hand-pulled black awning boat for 40 yuan per person. The boatwoman hums local Jianghuai folk tunes as you glide along the Xiaonan River. Watch the sunset light spread across the water and the reflections of ancient houses ripple with the waves. The 40-minute ride is deeply soothing.
6. 7:00 PM|The town lights up completely. Red lanterns on Quezhu Covered Bridge reflect on the water. Stroll the riverside night market, browse handmade pickles and rice wine stalls. After a long day, return to Hefei Jizao Hotel to escape the town’s crowds and noise.
Day 2: Off-the-beaten-path deep tour · Morning market flavors and souvenirs
1. 6:30 AM|Wake early to visit the local morning market, avoiding tourist crowds. Mist covers Sanxian Bridge, where you can step into Feixi, Lujiang, and Shucheng counties at once. Eighteen century-old stone lions add a timeless feel and make for exclusive aerial photo spots.
2. 9:00 AM|Leisurely walk along Erlong Street to see the late Qing stone archway and visit Wannian Stage. Free Lu Opera performances are held on holidays. Choose intangible cultural heritage experiences like DIY feather fans or handmade rice dumplings to immerse yourself in Jianghuai folk customs.
3. Before noon, shop for souvenirs. Sanhe rice wine, chicken juice tea tofu, and handmade shrimp paste from old alley shops offer better value and portability than main street stores.
[Sanhe ancient town exclusive food guide, divided into snacks and main dishes]
🔹Must-try street snacks (about 10 yuan per person to fill up)
1. Sanhe rice dumplings: The town’s signature dish. The outer skin is made of indica rice flour, fried to golden crisp. The filling includes Chaohu white rice shrimp, soft tofu, and pork belly. Look for Dong Dajie’s old shop on Ancient South Street. Best freshly fried from 7 to 9 AM. Three for 10 yuan. They sell out quickly later in the day.
2. Han Baba: Thin indica rice skin wrapped around pickled vegetable and shrimp filling, pan-fried to a crispy exterior. 8 yuan each, perfect for eating on the go.
3. Stinky Baigan and white glutinous rice balls: Made fresh at alley stalls, 5 yuan per serving. Soft and sticky to balance flavors.
🔹Authentic local main dishes (50–60 yuan per person)
4. Sanhe stir-fry: Tea tofu, river shrimp, and shredded pork stir-fried over high heat with rich wok aroma. A perfect match for rice.
5. Sanhe crispy duck: Local mallard slow-cooked over firewood for 4 hours. Tender meat and crispy bones, paired with chilled rice wine to cut the richness.
6. Sanhe shrimp paste: Fresh river shrimp ground into a paste, enhanced with pork cracklings. Mix with rice for extra servings.
7. Crispy duck yuanbao and Li Hongzhang’s assorted stew: Classic Huai Army banquet dishes. Recommended to order a full table when dining with a group.
[Hefei Jizao Hotel stay experience]
After a full day exploring the ancient town, you need a quiet and comfortable place to rest. Hefei Jizao Hotel perfectly suits short trips. The rooms are spacious with simple, soft decor. High-resilience, skin-friendly bedding blocks outside noise. After a day of walking, you can lie down and relieve leg fatigue. The hotel offers leisure public areas for afternoon breaks. Facilities are simple and smart, with separate wet and dry bathrooms and soft lighting, showing thoughtful details. No need to stay in crowded guesthouses in the ancient town. Return to Jizao Hotel for a peaceful sleep environment and double the travel comfort.
From the thousand-year-old water town where three rivers meet to the quiet comfort of Jizao Hotel, unlock a healing short trip in Hefei without rushing. Perfect for weekends with friends, family, or kids, capturing both the town’s lively atmosphere and restful sleep.
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