合肥市

Why this place

Hefei was a modest provincial town until the 1950s, when it became the capital of Anhui, and it has since grown into a science city — the University of Science and Technology of China is here, along with major research institutes. For a traveller it is a base, not a destination, but the Anhui Museum is excellent and the old Bao Zheng sites are worth an hour.

What to see

• The Anhui Museum, one of the strongest provincial collections outside Beijing
• Lord Bao's Memorial Temple and the Bao Zheng tomb — Bao was the honest official of Chinese legend
• Swan Lake and the new civic district, an example of China's recent urban building

What to eat

• Anhui cuisine — an unsung style; try the stewed and braised dishes
• Hefei is known for its daxiaolong and its freshwater crab

Best time

April–May and September–October