Sanhe Ancient Town

​​Overview​​

Located at the ​​confluence of Feixi, Lujiang, and Shucheng counties​​ (35km from Hefei), ​​Sanhe Ancient Town​​ (三河古镇) is a ​​UNESCO-listed​​ historic gem and ​​Anhui’s first 5A-rated water town​​ (2015). Named after the ​​Fengle, Hangbu, and Xiaonan rivers​​, it spans ​​2.9 km²​​ and preserves ​​Tang to Republican-era​​ streetscapes with ​​96% original architecture​​.

​​Key Highlights​​

1. ​​Cultural & Historical Treasures​​

   • ​​"Eight Ancient" Landmarks​​:
     • Ancient Rivers: Navigable waterways once vital for trade.
     • Ancient Bridges: ​​Sānxiàn Bridge​​ (links three counties) and ​​1,500-year-old Quèzhǔ Corridor Bridge​​.
     • Ancient Residences: ​​Yang Zhenning’s Former Home​​ (Nobel laureate’s childhood abode) and ​​Sun Liren’s故居​​ (anti-Japanese general).
   • ​​Battlefield Legacy​​:
     • ​​Taiping Rebellion HQ​​ (1858) and ​​Ming Dynasty city walls​​.

2. ​​Architectural Splendor​​

   • ​​Hui-Anhui Fusion​​: Whitewashed ​​horse-head walls​​, black-tiled roofs, and ​​"well courtyard"​​ layouts.
   • ​​Notable Sites​​:
     • ​​Liútóngxīng Lóngzhuāng​​: Ming-era pawnshop with intricate woodcarvings.
     • ​​Moon-Viewing Pavilion​​: 37m Tang-style tower showcasing ​​ceramics and stone art​​.

3. ​​Living Traditions​​

   • ​​Cuisine​​: ​​Sanhe米饺​​ (crispy rice dumplings), ​​tea-dried tofu​​, and ​​mǐjiǔ​​ (fermented rice wine).
   • ​​Festivals​​: ​​Dragon Boat Races​​ (May) and ​​Lantern Shows​​ (Spring Festival).

​​Visitor Experience​​

• ​​Activities​​:
  • ​​Boat Tours​​: Glide past ​​Qing-era tea houses​​ and ​​waterfront markets​​ (¥50, 1-hour ride).
  • ​​Walking Trails​​: Explore ​​"One-Person Alley"​​ (50cm-wide lane) and ​​Eternal Stage​​ (opera performances).
• ​​Practical Info​​:
  • ​​Ticket​​: Free entry; paid attractions (¥20-120 for combo passes).
  • ​​Transport​​: ​​1-hour bus​​ from Hefei (¥18) or ​​3-hour drive​​ from Huangshan.
  • ​​Best Time​​: ​​March–May​​ (flowers) or ​​September–November​​ (mild weather).

​​Preservation & Recognition​​

• ​​UNESCO​​: Praised for ​​"intact commercial ecology"​​ (2024).
• ​​Awards​​:
  • ​​China’s Top Historic Town​​ (2007)
  • ​​Global Sustainable Tourism Destination​​ (2022).

Sanhe is ​​more than a relic​​—it’s a ​​vibrant community​​ where ​​3,500 locals​​ keep traditions alive amid cobbled lanes and lotus-dotted canals.