Hefei Swan Lake

Hefei

合肥 · Science & Technology Capital

🏛️ 5A National Attractions

Last verified 26 Jul 2025

Hefei's official 5A roster is refreshingly simple: one entry—Sanhe Ancient Town in Feixi County—so you can devote a relaxed half-day to a water-town time warp instead of racing between multiple sites.

One 5A site, countless time-layers—No Tourist Traps. No BS.

1 Quick Metrics

Total 5A sites
1 – Sanhe Ancient Town 🏛️
Theme
Water-town streetscapes & Ming-Qing riverfront heritage
Ticket range
¥80 base • combo ¥100 (incl. boat + museum)
Real-name QR
Required – WeChat mini-prog "三河古镇预约"
Transit reach
46 km SW of Hefei South HSR; direct tourist bus (1 h)

2 Why It Matters

Water-Town DNA — Unlike the tourist-polished Suzhou or Wuzhen, Sanhe keeps working teahouses, rice-wine presses and river-market barges in daily use.
"Eight Ancients" in one stroll — Ancient rivers, bridges, streets, residences, teahouses, battlegrounds, forts and levees line a walkable 2 km loop.
Battlefield layers — From Taiping Rebellion cannon pits to 1938 flood levees, the town reads like an open-air military archive guarding Hefei's southern flank.

3 Pro Tips

1
First boat 08:30 – Catch morning mist over the Fengle River before tour groups arrive (10:30 onward).
2
Combo ticket hack – Spend the extra ¥20; it bundles the river punt, Wangyue Tower climb and Mint Bureau museum, each costing ¥15 à la carte.
3
Tea break like a local – Grab a bamboo stool at Lao She Teahouse on Old Street; ¥12 bottomless green tea, mah-jong soundscape included.
4
Night-lamp strolls – Free entry after 20:00; lantern reflections on the Jishui River make tripod-worthy frames without daytime crowds.
5
DIY transport – Tourist Bus K6 every 30 min from Hefei South HSR; QR-pay ¥10, last return 19:00.

4 The Full 5A List

🏛️
Water Town · Feixi County
Sanhe Ancient Town / 三河古镇

2,000-year water-town at river confluence; "Eight Ancients" heritage; ¥80 base / ¥100 combo; 08:00–21:30; real-name QR required.