Huainan 3-Day Citywalk Guide: Birthplace of Tofu & Chu-Han Heritage

Huainan — where tofu was born in 164 BC when Prince Liu An of Huainan accidentally created it while pursuing immortality on Bagong Mountain. This is where the legendary Battle of Fei River turned the tide of Chinese history with "every bush and tree looked like an enemy." Three days here take you through a perfectly preserved Song Dynasty city wall at Shouxian, lotus-covered wetlands at Jiaogang Lake, and the best beef soup you will ever taste.

🌤️ Best Time to Visit

Spring (Mar-May): Azaleas blooming on Bagong Mountain, 15-25°C, ideal hiking weather
Summer (Jun-Aug): Lotus season at Jiaogang Lake (July peak), hot but beautiful (30-35°C)
Autumn (Sep-Nov): Clear skies, perfect for ancient city walks, 18-28°C — Recommended!
Winter: Warm up with Huainan beef soup, though outdoor sites are chilly

🚄 Getting There

Arrival

High-Speed Rail: Huainan South/East Station. Hefei→Huainan 40 min (¥35 2nd class), Nanjing→1.5h (¥120), Shanghai→3h (¥280)
Air: Hefei Xinqiao Airport is closest, airport bus to Huainan ~1.5h (¥50)
Driving: G3 Beijing-Taipei Expressway, ~1.5h from Hefei

Local Transport

Bus: ¥1-2, covers major attractions
Taxi: Starting fare ¥6, most rides ¥10-20 within city
Shared E-bikes: ¥2-3/trip, great for short distances

🏨 Where to Stay

Tianjia'an District (City Center): Best food scene, convenient transport, ¥150-300/night
Inside Shouxian Ancient City: Character guesthouses, easy night walks on the wall, ¥120-250/night
Bagong Mountain Base: Farmhouse inns for early mountain hikes, ¥100-200/night

🍜 Must-Eat Food — Tofu Capital + Northern Anhui Flavors

Huainan Beef Soup (¥15-25) — The SOUL of Huainan breakfast! Beef bones simmered 8+ hours, served with glass noodles, soybean cakes, and tofu skin (the "three-mix"). Top with cilantro and chili oil. Try Old Li's or A-Ming's on Tianjia'an Old Street
Bagong Mountain Tofu Feast (¥80-200/person) — Over 100 tofu dishes! Tofu was invented here in 164 BC by Prince Liu An. Don't miss pan-fried tofu, tofu brain, and tofu skin rolls
Shouxian Da Jiujia (¥5-10) — Flaky pastry said to have "saved an emperor's life," crispy outside, soft and sweet inside
Huainan Shaobing (¥3-5) — Fresh-baked sesame flatbread stuffed with beef or braised egg, perfect with beef soup
Jiaogang Lake Salted Duck Eggs (¥2-5 each) — Free-range lake ducks, rich runny yolks, great souvenir
Braised Intestines (¥35-50) — Local pork, rich soy-braised flavor
Steamed Silver Fish (¥30-45) — Jiaogang Lake specialty, delicate and fresh

Food Streets

Tianjia'an Pedestrian Street: Locals' favorite, the beef soup strip
Shouxian Ancient City Snack Street: Da Jiujia, tofu brain, sweet rice cakes
Bagong Mountain Farmhouses: Most authentic tofu feast

📅 3-Day Itinerary

🚶 Day 1: Bagong Mountain Peaks + Shouxian Ancient City

8:00-11:30 | Bagong Mountain Scenic Area (Ticket ¥80) The legendary Battle of Fei River (383 AD) — "every bush and tree looked like an enemy" — happened here. A National Geopark featuring:

Dinosaur fossil beds: Hundreds of millions of years old
Prince Liu An's Palace Ruins: Where tofu was invented
Karst Stone Forest: Dramatic rock formations, great for photos
Tofu Workshop: Try traditional tofu-making (¥20)

💡 Enter from South Gate, hike up ~2 hours. Early morning has fewer crowds. Mountain summit offers Huai River views.

12:00-13:00 | Lunch at Mountain Base Must-try tofu feast! Braised chicken with tofu, stir-fried wild fern with cured meat, pan-fried tofu.

14:00-17:30 | Shouxian Ancient City (Wall free, joint ticket ¥60) One of China's seven best-preserved ancient city walls, built during the Song Dynasty, 7,147 meters in circumference:

South Gate Barbican: Climb the wall for Huai River views — sunset is magical
Confucian Temple: Yuan Dynasty architecture, ancient cypress trees
Bao'en Temple: Thousand-year-old temple with a Song Dynasty iron pagoda
Chu Culture Museum (Free): Bronze vessels, Han Dynasty stone carvings

💡 Walking the full wall takes ~2 hours. Evening golden hour on the wall is incredibly photogenic.

18:00-19:30 | Ancient City Night Walk + Dinner Lantern festival lights (Apr-Oct), sample Shouxian street snacks.

🚶 Day 2: Jiaogang Lake Lotus + Huai River + Museum

8:30-12:00 | Jiaogang Lake Wetland Park (Ticket ¥60 with boat) One of East China's largest lotus wetlands:

Thousand-acre Lotus Field (peak Jul-Aug): Boat through lotus corridors
Bird-watching Boardwalk: Dozens of water bird species during migration
Wetland Science Center: Lake ecosystem exhibits

💡 Rent an electric boat (¥60/hour) for deep lotus exploration. Morning dew = best photos.

12:30-14:00 | Huai River Fishing Village Lunch Steamed silver fish, Huai River crab roe tofu, lotus leaf sticky rice chicken.

15:00-17:30 | Huainan Museum (Free, reservation required) Shaped like a "spreading phoenix":

Chu Charm Gallery: Warring States bronze tripods, jade bi discs
Prince Liu An Exhibition: Story of tofu's invention
Immersive Digital Hall: "Time-travel" to Han Dynasty Shouchun City
Intangible Heritage Workshop: Paper cutting, straw lantern making

💡 Plan at least 2 hours.

18:00-20:00 | Tianjia'an Pedestrian Street Beef soup strip dinner — the longest queue = most authentic. Add shaobing with braised egg.

🚶 Day 3: Cao'an Ancient Town + Longhu Park + Departure

8:30-11:30 | Cao'an Ancient Town (Free, ~40 min drive) Best-preserved old market town, flagstone streets + century-old houses:

Century-old Teahouse: Covered-bowl tea and old street stories
Straw Lantern Workshop: Heritage craft, make your own
Handmade Pickle Shop: Traditional fermentation, great souvenirs
Weekend Farmers' Market (1st Saturday/month): Local organic produce

12:00-13:00 | Lunch in Ancient Town Xiaoqiao Renjia: braised intestines, sauce melon stir-fry, lotus leaf sticky rice chicken.

14:00-16:00 | Longhu Park Lakeside stroll, rent a bike (¥10/hour) for the greenway. Huainan's backyard — open lake, perfect for relaxation.

16:00+ | Departure Head to the high-speed rail station.

💰 Budget Reference (3 days/person)

Item	Budget	Comfort
Accommodation	¥300-450	¥600-900
Food	¥200-300	¥400-600
Tickets	¥200	¥200
Transport	¥100-200	¥200-400
Total	¥800-1,150	¥1,400-2,100

💡 Practical Tips

Tofu Making: Bagong Mountain offers traditional tofu workshops (¥20)
Sunset on the Wall: Shouxian South Gate is the best spot, 17:00-18:00
Lotus Peak Season: Mid-July to early August at Jiaogang Lake
Beef Soup Pro Tip: The "three-mix" (glass noodles + soybean cakes + tofu skin) + chili oil = authentic
Souvenirs: Salted duck eggs, dried tofu, handmade pickles
Driving Tip: Attractions are spread out, driving is best. Car hire ¥300-400/day

Sources: Trip.com, Sohu Travel, Anhui Tourism Bureau, Mafengwo