Plan at a glance
Open area and visit time
Sanhe Ancient Town is in Sanhe Town, Feixi County, Hefei. The town has no single formal gate and its streets connect in several directions. The Visitor Centre at the North Gate is the main service and gathering point, and it is a practical starting point for a first visit. The town streets can be visited all day; the reference operating hours for the individual attractions and daytime rowing boats are 08:30–17:30.
The free area takes about 1–2 hours for a walk through the bridges, lanes, and part of the old streets. Plan 3–4 hours if you also want to visit paid attractions, see the town at dusk, and try a night boat. Night boats, evening lighting, and the last transport services depend on the day.
Tickets and paid activities
Entry to the town streets is free. Individual attractions such as the Former Residence of Yang Zhenning and Wangyue Pavilion charge separately, and combination passes are also available. The reference price for a four-attraction adult pass is CNY 50 per person, covering the Former Residence of Yang Zhenning, Liu Tongxing Longzhuang, Wangyue Pavilion, and the Sanhe Battle Exhibition Hall. The five-attraction adult pass is CNY 65 per person and adds the Sanxian Bridge Folk-Customs Garden. Boat tickets, combination passes, and individual attractions use different pricing; when buying, check the current price and what is included.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
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Bridges and lanes
Sanxian Bridge is linked to the local story that three counties meet here and helps explain the town’s older spatial layout. Quezhu Covered Bridge (鹊渚廊桥) offers views along the river and streets. One-person Lane (一人巷) is very narrow and only needs a short stop; Wangyue Pavilion is one of the higher points in town, and access to the upper levels depends on the day.
Water-town experience and evening visits
The Xiaonan River rowing boat is a separate paid experience, with the boat type, sailing times, and night service confirmed on the day. If a night boat is operating and the weather is suitable, an evening visit can include the daytime streets as well as the lit bridges and waterways.
Who this visit suits
The town suits visitors who enjoy a slow walk, old-street buildings, and local snacks. Families and older travellers can stay within the free area and keep the visit relaxed. For photography, useful points include Quezhu Covered Bridge, One-person Lane, the area around Wangyue Pavilion, and the large “Sanhe” character wall near the entrance; the other paid attractions can be chosen according to interest.
Build your day
A 1–2 hour walking route
Start at the Visitor Centre, walk to Sanxian Bridge, then continue to Quezhu Covered Bridge. Follow West Street, stop for Sanhe mijiao (三河米饺), a local rice-flour dumpling, pass through One-person Lane, and finish near Wangyue Pavilion. The main route is walkable, and you can decide along the way whether to enter any paid attraction that is open.
A 3–4 hour evening route
Arrive at around 16:00, walk through West Street and South Street, and then visit the paid attractions that interest you. Go to the Wangyue Pavilion area around dusk. If you want to take a night boat, look at the day’s sailings when you arrive, then decide how long to stay in the evening.
Choosing paid attractions
If you only want to explore the streets, the free area is enough. Visitors interested in local figures, the town’s commercial history, or battle-related exhibitions can choose from the Former Residence of Yang Zhenning, Liu Tongxing Longzhuang, Wangyue Pavilion, the Sanhe Battle Exhibition Hall, and the Sanxian Bridge Folk-Customs Garden. At the ticket counter, confirm what the pass includes and which sites are open that day.
Get there
Public transport
From the coach centre at Hefei South Railway Station, you can take a tourist shuttle to Sanhe Ancient Town. The journey takes about 1 hour and the reference fare is CNY 15. Another option is Metro Line 1 to Jiulianwei Station, followed by a short-distance shuttle; the full journey takes about 45 minutes and the reference fare is CNY 5. Transfer details and the last service should be checked before departure.
Driving and parking
If driving, navigate to the Sanhe Ancient Town Visitor Centre car park. The reference parking fee is CNY 20 per visit. The Visitor Centre is close to the North Gate service area, where you can check the map, tickets, and return plan before entering the streets.
Know before you go
Return journey
Sanhe Ancient Town is some distance from central Hefei, and ride-hailing cars or taxis may be hard to find in the evening. If you plan to stay for the night view or a night boat, arrange your return trip soon after arriving.
Food and spending
Sanhe mijiao, Sanhe-style stir-fry, Sanhe xiahu (虾糊), and Sanhe tea cakes are common local choices. On the main streets, choose places with clearly displayed prices or snack shops with a good local reputation. The core town route is walkable, so the tricycles soliciting passengers at the entrance are not necessary.
Setting expectations
Some parts of the town are highly commercialised, and you will also see rebuilt sections. Bridges, waterways, lanes, and the historical buildings that are open that day are the most useful places to focus on. Zipeng Mountain National Forest Park is about an hour away by car and works better as a separate visit or the next stop on a self-drive itinerary.