Huainan is incredibly beautiful, but I honestly don't recommend visiting in August because.............
Huainan Travel Guide (Including Price Guide)
Huainan, located in the north-central part of Anhui Province, is known as the "Hometown of Tofu" and the "Energy Capital." It boasts not only the millennia-old Bagong Mountain and the legend of Liu An, the King of Huainan, who refined elixirs and became immortal here, but also the Shouzhou Kiln (one of China's four ancient kilns), the shimmering Jiaogang Lake, and the mouthwatering Huainan Beef Soup. Below is a detailed guide covering transportation, accommodation, food, attractions, and expenses to help you explore Huainan!
1. Best Time to Visit
**Recommended seasons:** March–May (spring blossoms) and September–November (crisp autumn weather), ideal for hiking and lake tours.
**Avoid:** Summer (June–August) is hot and rainy; outdoor activities require sun and heat protection.
Winter (December–February) is chilly and damp, but you can enjoy hot springs (e.g., Bagong Mountain Hot Springs).
2. Transportation Guide
**1. Long-distance travel (getting to Huainan)**
- **High-speed rail/train:**
- Huainannan Station (high-speed rail): ~10 km from downtown, ~¥20 by taxi.
- Huainan Station (regular train): Located downtown, with direct buses to major attractions.
- **Flight:** The nearest airport is Hefei Xinqiao International Airport (~70 km from Huainan). Take an airport shuttle to Huainan (¥50/person, ~1.5 hours).
**Local transportation:**
- **Bus:** ¥1–2/person, covering major attractions (e.g., Bus No. 3, 8, 121).
- **Taxi:** Starting fare ¥7 for 3 km; short trips downtown cost ~¥10–20.
- **Shared e-bikes:** ¥3/20 minutes, great for short rides (e.g., around Bagong Mountain).
3. Accommodation Recommendations
Huainan’s lodging options are mainly in Tianjia'an District (downtown) and near Bagong Mountain, with budget-friendly prices.
- **Budget (¥100–200/night):** Chain hotels like Home Inn/Hanting (Tianjia'an District, ¥150/night, near shopping areas).
Bagong Mountain homestays (¥120/night, 10-minute walk to the scenic area).
- **Mid-range to upscale (¥300–500/night):**
- Huainan New Jinjiang Hotel (downtown, ¥400/night, with pool and gym).
- Bagong Mountain Hot Spring Resort (¥450/night, includes hot spring tickets).
- **Unique stays:** Inns in Shouxian Ancient Town (¥200–300/night, experience Ming-Qing architecture).
4. Must-Visit Attractions & Tickets
**1. Core attractions:**
- **Bagong Mountain National Forest Park (¥40/person):** Rich in history, where Liu An, the King of Huainan, refined elixirs and ascended to immortality, leaving behind the legend "When a man attains enlightenment, even his pets rise to heaven."
Highlights: Stone Forest, Wangqing Valley, Han Huainan King’s Palace (offers panoramic views of the Huai River).
- **Shouxian Ancient Town (free; city wall ticket ¥25/person):** One of China’s best-preserved Song Dynasty towns, with a 7.1 km-long city wall ideal for cycling or walking.
Must-see: Binyang Gate (East Gate), Tongfei Gate (South Gate), Shouxian Museum (free, houses artifacts like the Chu Great Ding).
- **Jiaogang Lake National Wetland Park (combo ticket ¥80/person, includes boat ride):** Known as the "East China Baiyangdian," offering boat tours, birdwatching, and lotus-picking (summer).
Experience: Fisherman’s feast (¥80/person, includes lunch + boat ride).
- **Tomb of the King of Huainan (free):** At the foot of Bagong Mountain, this Western Han Dynasty tomb features stone carvings, perfect for history buffs.
**2. Optional attractions:**
- **Shangyao Forest Park (¥20/person):** Blends nature and culture, with Dongshan Temple and a release pond, great for hiking.
- **Longhu Park (free):** A downtown park with a Ferris wheel (¥30/person) and boating (¥50/hour).
5. Food Recommendations
Huainan’s cuisine is known for its freshness, aroma, and spice, with local delights costing ¥30–50 per person.
**Must-try:**
- **Huainan Beef Soup (¥10–15/bowl):** Rich broth served with crispy baked flatbread, a breakfast staple.
- **Bagong Mountain Tofu Banquet (¥50/person):** A feast of 100 tofu dishes, like "Chrysanthemum Tofu" and "Liu An’s Elixir."
- **Shouxian Dajiugui (¥5/piece):** A flaky, sweet pastry named by Emperor Zhao Kuangyin of the Song Dynasty.
- **Jiaogang Lake Red-Yolk Duck Eggs (¥2/piece):** Oozy yolks, perfect as souvenirs.
- **Xiaji Mian Yuanzi (¥15/serving):** Glutinous rice balls stuffed with meat, soft and savory.
**Restaurant picks:**
- Lao Liu Beef Soup (Tianjia'an District, ¥12/bowl, locals’ favorite).
- Bagong Mountain Tofu Culture Village (inside the scenic area, ¥60/person, includes tofu-making demo).
- Shouxian Ancient Town Night Market: A hub for skewers, stir-fried rice jelly, and mung bean ball soup.
6. Itinerary (2-Day Classic Route)
**Day 1: Bagong Mountain → Tomb of the King of Huainan → Shouxian Ancient Town**
- Morning: Taxi to Bagong Mountain National Forest Park (~¥30), explore Stone Forest and Han Huainan King’s Palace (3 hours).
- Lunch: Tofu banquet at the scenic area (¥50/person).
- Afternoon: Visit the Tomb of the King of Huainan (free), then head to Shouxian Ancient Town to walk the city wall and museum (2 hours).
- Evening: Night market snacks (¥30/person), stay at an ancient town inn (¥200/night).
**Day 2: Jiaogang Lake → Longhu Park → Departure**
- Morning: Charter a car to Jiaogang Lake (~¥80 round-trip), boat tour and lotus-picking (combo ticket ¥80/person).
- Lunch: Fisherman’s feast (¥80/person, includes lake delicacies).
- Afternoon: Return downtown, visit Longhu Park (free), ride the Ferris wheel or boat (optional).
- Evening: Beef soup downtown (¥10/bowl), take high-speed rail back.
7. Estimated Total Cost (Per Person)
- **Transportation:**
- Long-distance (round-trip high-speed rail/bus): ¥200–400 (varies by origin).
- Local (bus/taxi/charter): ¥100–150.
- Boat ticket (Jiaogang Lake): ¥80.
- **Accommodation:**
- Budget: ¥150/night × 1 = ¥150.
- Upscale: ¥400/night × 1 = ¥400.
- **Food:** ¥80/day × 2 = ¥160.
- **Tickets:** Bagong Mountain ¥40 + Shouxian wall ¥25 + Jiaogang Lake combo ¥80 = ¥145.
- **Extras (souvenirs, activities):** ¥100.
- **Total (budget):** ~¥735–885
- **Total (upscale):** ~¥1035–1185
8. Tips
- **Tofu banquet reservation:** Book at Bagong Mountain Tofu Culture Village 1 day ahead.
- **Jiaogang Lake seasons:** Summer for lotuses, winter for migratory birds; spring/fall for lotus-picking and fishing.
- **Shouxian Ancient Town cycling:** The city wall path is narrow; rent an e-bike (¥20/hour) over a bicycle.
- **Beef soup pairing:** Locals swear by crispy flatbread (¥2/piece) dipped in the soup.
- **Cultural respect:** Keep quiet at the Tomb of the King of Huainan.
Huainan, an underrated gem.
Hike Bagong Mountain, savor a tofu banquet, wander an ancient town, and cap it off with steaming beef soup—that’s the essence of Huainan! 🍜🏯