Back from a budget trip to Hefei, my spending habits have been turned upside down!
Hey guys, I recently went on a budget trip to Hefei. I had a great time and got a lot for my money! I'm going to share my travel experience with you now. If you want to go on a budget trip to Hefei, take note! 😎
Preparation
🧳 Luggage:
Since it was a budget trip, I only brought a small suitcase with a few changes of clothes 👚, toiletries, skincare samples, and most importantly, a power bank 🔋! After all, taking photos drains your battery quickly.
🎒 Small bag: ID card, student ID (many attractions offer student discounts, so a student ID is a must!), a small amount of cash (although it's easy to pay for things now, it's better to be safe than sorry).
Transportation
✈️ Plane: Hefei Xinqiao International Airport is a bit far from the city center, but don't worry, I took the airport bus 🚌, which only costs 25 yuan to get to the designated stop in the city center, which is a great deal! If you take a taxi, it will cost a lot more, which is not very budget-friendly.
🚄 High-speed rail: Hefei has Hefei Station and Hefei South Station. I got off at Hefei South Station, which has convenient transportation. You can see the subway entrance 🚇 as soon as you leave the station. The subway in Hefei can take you to many attractions, and the price is affordable, ranging from 2 to 7 yuan depending on the distance. I bought my ticket directly from the self-service ticket machine at the subway station, which was very convenient.
Transportation in the city:
In addition to the subway, I often rode shared bikes 🚲, which are everywhere in Hefei and have a low starting price. Sometimes when I went to attractions that were close by, I rode a bike to enjoy the scenery along the way and save on transportation costs, which was great.
Accommodation
I chose to stay in a youth hostel this time, which only costs 50 to 80 yuan per night for a bed, which is a great deal! There are also many people from different places in the hostel, so you can exchange travel experiences, which is very interesting 😜. The hostel I chose is in a great location, right in the city center, close to the subway station, and convenient for getting around. However, if you stay in a youth hostel, it may be less private, so you can choose according to your own situation.
Attractions
🎈 Anhui Museum: Free admission! But you need to make a reservation on the official account in advance. There are many exhibits here, from ancient artifacts to modern art, which will give you an in-depth understanding of Anhui's history and culture. I spent the whole morning there and felt like I had traveled through time and space and learned a lot 📚.
🎡 Hefei Sunac Resort: There are all kinds of exciting rides here, like the big pendulum and roller coaster 🎢, which made my heart race! Although it was a budget trip, I gritted my teeth and bought a ticket. However, there are discounts on tickets during the off-season, and I also did some research online in advance and bought a more affordable package, which saved me a lot of money. In addition to the rides, there are also wonderful performances to watch, which are really worth it!
🌳 Xiaoyaojin Park: Free admission. This is an old park in Hefei with beautiful scenery, large lakes, and green spaces. I walked and rowed a boat 🚣 in the park, enjoying the leisurely time and feeling like all my stress was gone.
Food
🍜 Luzhou Roast Duck: A must-try in Hefei! The skin is crispy, the meat is tender, and it's not greasy. Paired with a special marinade, it's a mouthful of happiness. A portion costs about 30 to 40 yuan. I shared it with my friends, and it cost less than 20 yuan per person, which was very satisfying.
🥟 Luzhou Soup Dumplings: Small and delicate soup dumplings with thin skin and a lot of filling, and rich soup. When you take a bite, the delicious soup bursts in your mouth, and the taste is amazing! A basket costs 10 to 15 yuan, which is affordable and delicious.
🍲 Feixi Old Hen: The soup is fresh and delicious, and the chicken is stewed until tender, which is nutritious and tasty. I ate at a small restaurant, and a set meal, including chicken soup, rice, and side dishes, only cost about 30 yuan, which was very filling.
🍢 Snack Street: There are many snack streets in Hefei, such as the snack street on Huaihe Road Pedestrian Street, where you can find all kinds of food. I ate stinky tofu, grilled gluten, candied haws, and more. I tried a little of everything, which didn't cost much, but I got to taste all kinds of delicious food 😋.
Travel tips
🎫 Tickets: Many attractions can be booked online in advance, and there are sometimes discounts, which can save you a lot of money. Remember to check the opening hours and notes of the attractions to avoid going there for nothing.
🕙 Time: Arrange your time reasonably and try to visit attractions that are close to each other on the same day, which can save you time and money on transportation.
🍜 Food: Don't eat at restaurants in the attractions, as they are expensive and may not taste good. You can go to the residential areas near the attractions, where there are many small restaurants that locals often go to, which are affordable and delicious.
Guys, I had a great time on this budget trip to Hefei. Although I didn't spend much money, I had a great time. I hope my guide can help you all have a fun and affordable trip to Hefei 🥰!
The stage performances and the iron flower fireworks at the 2026 Luzhou Spring Festival Lantern Festival (Xiaoyaojin Park) are absolute highlights. The stage revolves around historical dramas about Luzhou, such as "Traveling Through Zhang Liao," combined with ethnic dances and light and shadow illusions, creating a captivating blend of ancient and modern elements. The intangible cultural heritage of iron flower fireworks transforms 1600℃ iron sparks into a golden rain of light in the night sky, reflecting off the colorful lanterns in a breathtaking and romantic spectacle.
Zhang Liao's might shook Xiaoyaojin! So famous! It should be a must-see attraction in Hefei! Beautiful scenery! Free! (Rides have an entrance fee; the "Eye of Luzhou" Ferris wheel costs 60 yuan.) There are various amusement facilities, and the adorable Xiaoyaojin miniature train! Suitable for families with children! "The Silent Elephant" has a long queue! (A childhood memory for generations of Hefei children! Many cities no longer retain their old-fashioned park-style amusement parks...it's a real shame. Hefei's adults and children, come and play!) Although the ginkgo leaves have almost all fallen, the tall metasequoia trees add a touch of splendor to the autumn colors! (The sky is so blue! So beautiful! The park is perfect for taking photos!) There's a statue of Zhang Liao, the mighty general of Xiaoyaojin, at the entrance (a traditional military figure, but the hat from the Dynasty Warriors version is more distinctive...). The Flying Cavalry Bridge... (It's a stone bridge now, but they could consider making a wooden-look version, with a section of the broken bridge made of transparent glass so kids can fly around [JoyTears][JoyTears][JoyTears]). The Eastern Wu warship (It's really impressive, a concrete aircraft carrier from the Eastern Wu era [JoyTears][JoyTears][JoyTears]). There's also Cao Cao Mountain Street nearby... It's very close to Li Hongzhang's former residence from Xiaoyaojin, and not far to Bao Park either. There's a pedestrian street to stroll around; highly recommended!
Walk where ancient warriors once trained, now soothed by the whisper of willows and the dance of lotuses upon the tranquil lake – Xiaoyaojin, where history breathes beneath a canopy of green.
There must be a place for "it" in the childhood memory of Hefei people |Before coming to Hefei, I checked a lot about the city's 🏙️🉐history and cultural background and made a lot of must-see attractions 🌴strategies 🛠️. Among them, the one that impressed me the most was here 📌"Xiaoyaojin Park" 📍Location: Located in Luyang District, Hefei City, the geographical location is relatively convenient, not far from Baohe Wanda and Huaihe Road 🚶♀️Pedestrian Street. Take the subway 🚇Line 1 and Line 2 to Dongdaemun Station 🚉, and walk about 5️⃣ minutes from Exit H. 🌳Environment: It is quite large inside, it can be said to be a natural oxygen bar, and the air quality is very good‼ ️There are also some entertainment projects inside, such as Hefei's largest Ferris wheel 🎡, boating 🚣, and various amusement facilities suitable for children 👧🉐, etc. 🎟️Tickets: It is open to the public for free🆓, and no reservation is required. Opening hours: 0️⃣5️⃣: 0️⃣0️⃣~2️⃣1️⃣: 3️⃣0️⃣ The Ferris wheel inside🎡 is sold separately, 💰¥6️⃣0️⃣yuan/person, 6️⃣people per cabin, less than six people must share seats, or choose to book a separate cabin, 💰¥3️⃣0️⃣0️⃣/cabin. (The Ferris wheel ride time is about ⏰20 minutes)
Xiaoyaojin Park, located in Xiangyang District, Hefei City, Anhui Province, is a free and open comprehensive park with a long history, unique cultural connotation, and beautiful natural scenery. There are many towering trees, elm trees, and mega-sequoia trees in the park. The walks in the park are all under the shade, and it is very comfortable to walk. There is also a Zhangliao tomb in the park, which is also very historical.
It is said that Xiaoyaojin carries the memories of Hefei people from childhood to adulthood. Xiaoyaojin is located in the northeast corner of the old city of Hefei. It was the Zhoushui ferry in ancient times, so the name alone has a sense of history. The park is very large, and it takes some time to visit the entire park. There are many towering trees in the park. When autumn comes, the colors change. Although they are not as gorgeous as those in the north, they are more gentle. In addition to the scenery, there are also zoos, children's playgrounds, and Zhang Liao's tombs in the park. Even if you stay in the park for a day, you will not feel bored.
Hefei Xiaoyaojin Park is a very attractive attraction. It covers an area of 31.3 hectares, is fan-shaped, and the water system is divided into two parts. The park has beautiful scenery and dense attractions. Dongyuan has a youth activity area, animal exhibition area, etc.; The West Garden is mainly made of plants, and many scenic spots show the beauty of flowers and plants. The landscapes such as rockery stones and small bridges and flowing water of ghostly craftsmanship make people feel like they are in a fairyland. "Ancient Xiaoyaojin" has a deep background. It fully preserves Zhang Liao's coat and statues, and the restoration and reconstruction of the flying bridge adds connotation. It carries a heavy history and has been rejuvenated after the vicissitudes. It is now a comprehensive park and an important part of the tourist area of Hefei's famous and historic sites.
We used the statue of Zhang Liao as a slide, and polished his armor until it was shiny! The boat on the lake deliberately crashed into the waves, pretending to be a battle between the Three Kingdoms naval forces. I ate spicy noodles while waiting in line for the elephant slide, and the slide turned into a "fire-breathing dragon". I rushed to feed the pigeons with the old man in the corridor, but was "attacked" by bird droppings - this must be a hidden weapon of Cao's army! I played real-life chicken at the Dianjiangtai in the sunset, and my school uniform was covered with grass seeds when I went home. My mother picked and scolded: "You are wilder than Cao Cao's soldiers!"