View source for Hefei

{{Short description|Capital of Anhui, China}}
{{Distinguish|Hebei}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                            = Hefei
| official_name                   = <!-- Official name in English if different form 'name' -->
| native_name                     = 合肥市
| native_name_lang                = zh
| other_name                      = Hofei
| settlement_type                 = [[Prefecture-level city]]
| image_skyline                   = {{multiple image
| border                    = infobox
| total_width               = 280
| perrow                    = 1/2/2
| caption_align             = center
| image1                    = 天鹅湖.jpg
| caption1                  = Swan Lake CBD
| image2                    = 包公园内的浮莊1.jpg
| caption2                  = Baogong Park
| image3                    = 包拯历史文化园内景色 - panoramio.jpg
| caption3                  = Lord Bao Temple
| image4                    = 巢湖中庙.jpg
| caption4                  = Temple on [[Chao Lake]]
| image5                    = Hua Tuo Hefei.jpg
| caption5                  = [[Hua Tuo]] Statue
}}
| image_seal                      = 
| seal_size                       = 
| image_shield                    = 
| shield_size                     = 
| nickname                        = 
| motto                           = 
| image_map                       = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|type=shape|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|zoom=7|frame-lat=31.70|frame-long=117.28}}
| image_map1                      = Location map of Hefei, Anhui.png
| map_caption1                    = Location of Hefei City jurisdiction in Anhui
| pushpin_map                     = Eastern China topography#China
| pushpin_label_position          = 
| pushpin_mapsize                 = 250
| pushpin_map_caption             = Location in Eastern China
| coor_pinpoint                   = Hefei municipal government
| coordinates                     = {{coord|31.8206|N|117.2273|E|type:adm2nd_region:CN-34_source:Gaode|format=dms|display=it}}
| seat_type                       = Municipal seat
| seat                            = [[Shushan District]]
| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_name                = [[China]]
| subdivision_type1               = [[Provinces of China|Province]]
| subdivision_type2               = [[Administrative divisions of the People's Republic of China#County level|County-level&nbsp;divisions]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[Anhui]]
| subdivision_name2               = 7
| established_title               = 
| established_date                = 
| established_title2              = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
| established_date2               = 
| established_title3              = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
| established_date3               = 
| government_type                 = [[Prefecture-level city]]
| governing_body                  = [[Hefei Municipal People's Congress]]
| government_footnotes            = 
| leader_title                    = [[Chinese Communist Party Committee Secretary|CCP Secretary]]
| leader_name                     = Yu Aihua
| leader_title1                   = [[Hefei Municipal People's Congress|Congress]] Chairman
| leader_name1                    = Wang Weidong
| leader_title2                   = Mayor
| leader_name2                    = Luo Yunfeng
| leader_title3                   = [[Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference|CPPCC]] Chairman
| leader_name3                    = Han Bing
| unit_pref                       = <!--Enter: Imperial, if Imperial (metric) is desired-->
| area_footnotes                  = <!-- ([[List of China administrative regions by area|ranked 29th]]) -->
| area_magnitude                  = 
| area_total_km2                  = 11434.25<!-- ALL fields dealing with a measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion-->
| area_land_km2                   = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on automatic unit conversion-->
| area_water_km2                  = 
| area_water_percent              = 
| area_urban_km2                  = 838.5
| area_metro_km2                  = 7055.6
| elevation_footnotes             = <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags-->
| elevation_m                     = 37
| elevation_ft                    = 123
| population_total                = 9,465,881
| population_as_of                = 2022 census
| population_footnotes            = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://citypopulation.de/en/china/anhui/admin/|title = China: Ānhuī (Prefectures, Cities, Districts and Counties) – Population Statistics, Charts and Map}}</ref>
| population_density_km2          = auto
| population_urban                = 5,118,199
| population_urban_footnotes      = 
| population_density_urban_km2    = auto
| population_metro                = 7,754,481
| population_density_metro_km2    = auto
| population_blank1_title         = <!-- Mun. Density rank -->
| population_blank1               = <!-- ([[List of China administrative regions by population density|4th]]) -->
| population_density_blank1_km2   = 
| population_blank2_title         = Major [[Nationalities of China|nationalities]]
| population_blank2               = <!-- [[Han Chinese|Han]] - 96%<br>[[Manchu]] – 2%<br>[[Hui people|Hui]] – 2%<br>[[Mongol]]ian – 0.3% -->
| population_note                 = 
| postal_code_type                = [[Postal code of China|Postal code]]
| postal_code                     = 230000
| area_code                       = [[Telephone numbers in China|551]]
| iso_code                        = [[ISO 3166-2:CN|CN-AH-01]]
| website                         = {{URL|hefei.gov.cn}}
| footnotes                       = {{center|<big>'''City [[tree]]s'''</big><br> [[Southern magnolia]] (''Magnolia grandiflora L.'') }}
{{center|<big>'''City [[flower]]s'''</big><br/> [[Sweet Osmanthus]] (''Osmanthus fragrans Lour.'') <br/>Blossom of [[pomegranate]] (''Punica granatum L.'')}}
| city_logo                       = 
| citylogo_size                   = 
| image_dot_map                   = 
| dot_mapsize                     = 
| dot_map_caption                 = 
| dot_x                           = 
| dot_y                           = 
| demographics_type2   = GDP<ref>{{Cite web |title=《安徽统计年鉴2022》电子查阅版 |url=http://tjj.ah.gov.cn/oldfiles/tjj/tjjweb/tjnj/2022/index.htm |website=tjj.ah.gov.cn |access-date=2022-10-18 |archive-date=2022-10-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018145816/http://tjj.ah.gov.cn/oldfiles/tjj/tjjweb/tjnj/2022/index.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
| demographics2_title1 = [[Prefecture-level city]]
| demographics2_info1 = [[CN¥]] 1.141 trillion<br />[[US$]] 145.0 billion 
| demographics2_title2 = Per capita
| demographics2_info2 = CN¥ 120,579<br />US$ 18,691
| timezone                        = [[China Standard Time|CST]]
| utc_offset                      = +8
| blank_name                      = [[License Plate (China)|License plate prefixes]]
| blank_info                      = {{lang|zh-hans-CN|皖A}}
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
 | psp      = Hofei
 | c        = {{linktext|lang=zh|合肥}}
 | p        = Héféi
 | w        = Ho<sup>2</sup>-fei<sup>2</sup>
 | mi       = {{IPAc-cmn|h|e|2|.|f|ei|2}}
 | j        = Hap6-fei4
 | y        = Hahp-fèih
 | ci       = {{IPAc-yue|h|ap|6|.|f|ei|4}}
 | wuu      = Gheh<sup>入</sup>-vi<sup>平</sup>
 | poj      = Ha̍p-pûi
 | l        = "Junction of the Fei Rivers"
 | t        = 
 | s        = 
 | altname  = 
}}

'''Hefei''' is the [[Capital city|capital]] of [[Anhui]] province, China. A [[prefecture-level city]], it is the political, economic, and cultural center of Anhui. Its population was 9,369,881 as of the 2020 census. Its built-up (or ''metro'') area is made up of four urban districts plus Feidong, Feixi and Changfeng counties being urbanized, and was home to 7,754,481 inhabitants.{{clarify|date=May 2024}} Located in the central portion of the province, it borders [[Huainan]] to the north, [[Chuzhou]] to the northeast, [[Wuhu]] to the southeast, [[Tongling]] to the south, [[Anqing]] to the southwest and [[Lu'an]] to the west. A natural hub of communications, Hefei is situated to the north of [[Chao Lake]] and stands on a low saddle crossing the northeastern extension of the [[Dabie Mountains]], which forms the divide between the [[Huai River|Huai]] and [[Yangtze]] rivers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Hefei|title=Hefei {{!}} China|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|access-date=14 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327092350/https://www.britannica.com/place/Hefei|archive-date=27 March 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

The present-day city dates from the [[Song dynasty]]. Before World War II, Hefei remained essentially an administrative centre and the regional market for the fertile plain to the south. It has gone through a growth in infrastructure in recent years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://country.eiu.com/china/anhui/hefei|title=The Economist Intelligence Unit|website=country.eiu.com|access-date=14 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112094521/https://country.eiu.com/china/anhui/hefei|archive-date=12 November 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Hefei is the location of [[Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak]], an experimental [[superconducting]] [[tokamak]] [[magnetic fusion energy]] reactor.

Hefei is a leading world city for scientific research, ranking at [[List of cities by scientific output|12th globally]], 8th in the Asia-Pacific, and 7th in China (behind [[Beijing]], [[Shanghai]], [[Nanjing]], [[Guangzhou]], [[Wuhan]] and [[Hangzhou]]), as tracked by the [[Nature Index]] in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leading 200 science cities {{!}} {{!}} Supplements {{!}} Nature Index |url=https://www.nature.com/nature-index/supplements/nature-index-2025-science-cities/tables/overall |access-date=2025-11-15 |website=www.nature.com}}</ref> The city is represented by [[List of universities and colleges in Anhui|several major universities]], including the [[University of Science and Technology of China]], [[Hefei University of Technology]], [[Anhui University]], [[Anhui Agricultural University]] and [[Anhui Medical University]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=26 October 2021|title=US News Best Global Universities Rankings in Hefei|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/search?city=hefei|access-date=30 October 2021|website=U.S. News & World Report}}</ref> Notably, the [[University of Science and Technology of China]] is one of the top 100 comprehensive [[Public university|public]] [[Research university|research universities]] in the world.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=16 July 2015|title=QS Ranking: University of Science and Technology of China|url=https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/university-science-technology-china|access-date=6 December 2020|website=Top Universities|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Institution outputs {{!}} Nature Index|url=https://www.natureindex.com/institution-outputs/generate/All/global/All/score|access-date=10 October 2020|website=www.natureindex.com}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=17 September 2020|title=University of Science and Technology of China|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/university-science-and-technology-china|access-date=13 October 2020|website=Times Higher Education (THE)|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|title=University of Science and Technology of China|url=http://nturanking.csti.tw/ranking/bySchoolName/University%20of%20Science%20and%20Technology%20of%20China|access-date=13 October 2020|website=NTU Ranking}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|title=World University Rankings – 2020 {{!}} China Universities in Top 1000 universities {{!}} Academic Ranking of World Universities – 2020 {{!}} Shanghai Ranking – 2020|url=http://www.shanghairanking.com/World-University-Rankings-2020/China.html|access-date=6 December 2020|website=www.shanghairanking.com|archive-date=15 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415020645/http://www.shanghairanking.com/World-University-Rankings-2020/China.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:HefeiWallMap.jpg|thumb|Old Hefei Map with wall]]
From the 8th to the 6th centuries BC, Hefei was the site of many small states, later a part of the [[Chu (state)|Chu kingdom]]. Many archaeological finds dating from this period have been made. The name 'Hefei' was first given to the county set up in the area under the [[Han dynasty]] in the 2nd century BC.

In the 3rd century AD, the [[Battle of Xiaoyao Ford]] was fought at [[Xiaoyao Ford]] ({{lang|zh-hant|逍遙津}}) in Hefei. [[Zhang Liao]], a general of the [[Cao Wei|Wei]] state, led 800 picked cavalry to defeat the 200,000-strong army from Wei's rival state [[Eastern Wu|Wu]]. Several decades of warring in Hefei between Wu and Wei followed this battle.

During the 4th to the 6th centuries AD, this crucial border region between [[Northern and Southern dynasties|northern and southern states]] was much fought over; its name and administrative status were consequently often changed. During the [[Sui dynasty|Sui]] (581–618) and [[Tang dynasty|Tang]] (618–907) periods, it became the seat of Lu prefecture—a title it kept until the 15th century, when it became a superior prefecture named Luzhou.

The present city dates from the [[Song dynasty]] (960–1126), the earlier Hefei having been some distance farther north. In the 10th year of [[Emperor Shenzong of Song|Xining]] ({{zh|labels=no|s=熙宁}}, 1077 AD), the taxes collected from the Luchow Prefecture were 50315 Guan, approximately 25 million today's Chinese Yuan, with a ranking of the amount of taxes was the 11th(following Kaifeng, Hangzhou, Qinzhou, Chuzhou, Chengdu, Zizhou, Xingyuan, Mianzhou, Zhenzhou, Suzhou) among all the prefectures of Song Dynasty. During the 10th century, it was for a while the capital of the independent [[Wu (Ten Kingdoms)|Wu kingdom]] (902–938) and was an important center of the [[Southern Tang]] state (937–975).

After 1127 it became a center of the defenses of the [[Southern Song dynasty]] (1126–1279) against the [[Jin dynasty (1115–1234)|Jin]] ([[Jurchens|Jurchen]]) invaders in the [[Jin campaigns against the Song dynasty|Jin–Song wars]], as well as a flourishing center of trade between the two states. When the [[Republic of China (1912–49)|Chinese Republic]] was founded in 1911, the superior prefecture was abolished, and the city took the name of Hefei. The city was known as '''Luchow''' or '''Liu-tcheou'''<ref>''Inter alia'': Mitchell Sr., S.A. ''A New Universal Atlas Containing Maps of the various Empires, Kingdoms, States and Republics Of The World''. "[http://www.geographicus.com/P/AntiqueMap/China-mitchell-1850 China.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629163858/http://www.geographicus.com/P/AntiqueMap/China-mitchell-1850 |date=2012-06-29 }}" Entered 1850, Published 1853.</ref> ({{lang|zh-hans-CN|{{linktext|庐州}}}}, <small>[[pinyin|p]]</small> ''Luzhou'') during the [[Ming dynasty|Ming]] and [[Qing dynasty|Qing]] dynasties (after the 14th century to the 19th century). Hefei was the temporary capital for Anhui from 1853 to 1862. It was renamed as Hefei County in 1912. Following the Chinese victory in the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]] in 1945, Hefei was made the capital of Anhui.

Before [[World War II]], Hefei remained essentially an administrative center and the regional market for the fertile plain to the south. It was a collecting center for grain, beans, cotton, and [[hemp]], as well as a center for handicraft industries manufacturing cloth, leather, bamboo goods, and ironware.

The construction in 1912 of the [[Tianjin–Pukou railway]], farther east, for a while made Hefei a provincial backwater, and much of its importance passed to [[Bengbu]]. In 1932–36, however, a Chinese company built a railway linking Hefei with [[Yuxikou]] (on the [[Yangtze]] opposite [[Wuhu City|Wuhu]]) to the southeast and with the [[Huai River]] at [[Huainan]] to the north. While this railway was built primarily to exploit the rich [[coal]]field in northern Anhui, it also did much to revive the economy of the Hefei area by taking much of its produce to Wuhu and Nanjing.

Although Hefei was a quiet market town of only about 30,000 in the mid-1930s, its population grew more than tenfold in the following 20 years. The city's administrative role was strengthened by the transfer of the provincial government from [[Anqing]] in 1945, but much of its new growth derived from its development as an industrial city.

Hefei was designated the provincial capital in 1952.<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Hu |first=Richard |title=Reinventing the Chinese City |date=2023 |publisher=[[Columbia University Press]] |isbn=978-0-231-21101-7 |location=New York |pages=126}}</ref>{{Rp|page=122}}

A [[cotton mill]] was opened in 1958, and a thermal generating plant, using coal from Huainan, was established in the early 1950s. It also became the seat of an industry producing [[industrial chemicals]] and chemical [[fertilizer]]s. In the late 1950s an iron and steel complex was built. In addition to a machine-tool works and engineering and agricultural machinery factories, the city has developed an aluminum industry and a variety of light industries.

Hefei's development was advanced by the [[Third Front (China)|Third Front construction]].<ref name=":92">{{Cite book |last1=Marquis |first1=Christopher |url= |title=Mao and Markets: The Communist Roots of Chinese Enterprise |last2=Qiao |first2=Kunyuan |date=2022 |publisher=[[Yale University Press]] |isbn=978-0-300-26883-6 |location=New Haven |doi=10.2307/j.ctv3006z6k |jstor=j.ctv3006z6k |oclc=1348572572 |author-link=Christopher Marquis |s2cid=253067190}}</ref>{{Rp|page=185}} In 1970, the [[University of Science and Technology of China]] relocated to Hefei.<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|pages=125–126}} It is one of the best technological universities in the country.<ref name=":92" />{{Rp|page=185}}

In 1978, the [[Chinese Academy of Sciences]] opened a Hefei branch.<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|page=126}} Several electronics institutes were moved from Beijing to Hefei in the early 1980s.<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|page=126}} The establishment of these educational and research and development institutions in Hefei were a foundations for its subsequent growth in innovation.<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|page=126}}

In 1991, Hefei was one of the first Chinese cities to establish a High-Tech Industrial Zone.<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|page=129}}

A period of rapid growth began in 2005, when Hefei party secretary [[Sun Jinlong]] initiated a strategy of industry-based city building.<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|page=127}} Sun prioritized the automobile, electric appliance, and equipment manufacturing sectors of the city's economy.<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|page=127}} The city government established a department for attracting investment and sent teams around the country to recruit businesses to Hefei.<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|page=127}} Sun also launched a construction program of neighborhood redevelopment, road system improvement, rail system, and a new international airport.<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|page=127}} Hefei's GDP grew at the highest rate of any Chinese provincial capital during Sun's tenure.<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|pages=127–128}}

Since the 2010s, Hefei has developed high-tech industries and an innovation-driven economy,<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|page=129}} including semi-conductors and alternative energy economic sectors.<ref name=":92" />{{Rp|page=185}}

==Geography==
{{expand section|date=May 2013}}
Hefei is located {{convert|130|km|0}} west of [[Nanjing]] in south-central Anhui. [[Chao Lake]], a lake {{convert|15|km|0|abbr=on}} southeast of the city, is one of the largest [[fresh water]] lakes in China. Though the lake has unfortunately been polluted with [[nitrogen]] and [[phosphorus]] in recent decades,<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Wang|first1=Yan-Ping|last2=Xu|first2=Wei-Wei|last3=Han|first3=Chao|last4=Hu|first4=Wei-Ping|date=8 February 2021|title=[Distribution of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Lake Chaohu Sediments and Pollution Evaluation]|journal=Huan Jing Ke Xue = Huanjing Kexue|volume=42|issue=2|pages=699–711|doi=10.13227/j.hjkx.202006216|issn=0250-3301|pmid=33742864}}</ref> the situation is improving due to efforts by both the government and the people.

==Climate==
Hefei features a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Cfa'') with four distinct seasons. Hefei's annual average temperature is {{convert|16.6|°C|1}}. Its annual [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] is just slightly over {{convert|1000|mm|0}}, being heavier from May through August. Winters are damp and cold, with January lows dipping just below freezing and January averaging {{convert|2.8|°C|1}}. The city sees irregular snowfalls that rarely turn significant. Occasional cold spells from Siberia that usually happen during winter months such as December, January, February. Sometimes November and March which can bring snow and heavier snowfall. (Springs are generally relatively pleasant if somewhat erratic. Summers are hot and humid, with a July average of {{convert|28.6|°C|1}}. In the months of June, July, August, and often September, daily temperatures can reach or surpass {{convert|37|°C|0}} with high humidity levels being the norm. Autumn in Hefei sees a gradual cooling and drying. With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 35 percent in March to 50 percent in August, the city receives 1,868 hours of bright sunshine annually. Extremes since 1951 have ranged from {{convert|−20.6|°C|0}} on 6 January 1955, to {{convert|41.1|°C|0}} on 27 July 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cdc.cma.gov.cn/dataSetLogger.do?changeFlag%3DdataLogger |title=无标题文档 |access-date=1 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130318113757/http://cdc.cma.gov.cn/dataSetLogger.do?changeFlag=dataLogger |archive-date=18 March 2013 }}</ref>

{{Weather box
| width = auto
| location = Hefei, elevation {{convert|50|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1951–present)
| metric first = Y
| single line = Y
| Jan record high C = 22.1
| Feb record high C = 27.5
| Mar record high C = 33.7
| Apr record high C = 34.7
| May record high C = 36.4
| Jun record high C = 38.0
| Jul record high C = 41.1
| Aug record high C = 41.0
| Sep record high C = 38.6
| Oct record high C = 39.9
| Nov record high C = 30.1
| Dec record high C = 24.0
| Jan high C = 7.2
| Feb high C = 10.2
| Mar high C = 15.5
| Apr high C = 21.9
| May high C = 27.1
| Jun high C = 29.7
| Jul high C = 32.6
| Aug high C = 32.1
| Sep high C = 28.2
| Oct high C = 22.9
| Nov high C = 16.4
| Dec high C = 9.9
| Jan mean C = 3.1
| Feb mean C = 5.7
| Mar mean C = 10.6
| Apr mean C = 16.8
| May mean C = 22.2
| Jun mean C = 25.6
| Jul mean C = 28.6
| Aug mean C = 27.9
| Sep mean C = 23.6
| Oct mean C = 17.9
| Nov mean C = 11.4
| Dec mean C = 5.3
| year mean C = 
| Jan low C = -0.1
| Feb low C = 2.2
| Mar low C = 6.6
| Apr low C = 12.4
| May low C = 17.8
| Jun low C = 21.9
| Jul low C = 25.4
| Aug low C = 24.7
| Sep low C = 20.1
| Oct low C = 13.9
| Nov low C = 7.4
| Dec low C = 1.7
| Jan record low C = −20.6
| Feb record low C = −14.1
| Mar record low C = −7.3
| Apr record low C = −0.4
| May record low C = 6.2
| Jun record low C = 12.2
| Jul record low C = 17.9
| Aug record low C = 15.8
| Sep record low C = 10.8
| Oct record low C = 1.5
| Nov record low C = −5.1
| Dec record low C = −13.5
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 47.4
| Feb precipitation mm = 52.8
| Mar precipitation mm = 76.3
| Apr precipitation mm = 83.7
| May precipitation mm = 90.1
| Jun precipitation mm = 158.5
| Jul precipitation mm = 185.1
| Aug precipitation mm = 138.7
| Sep precipitation mm = 70.3
| Oct precipitation mm = 51.6
| Nov precipitation mm = 54.6
| Dec precipitation mm = 33.7
| Jan humidity = 75
| Feb humidity = 74
| Mar humidity = 71
| Apr humidity = 70
| May humidity = 71
| Jun humidity = 77
| Jul humidity = 80
| Aug humidity = 81
| Sep humidity = 77
| Oct humidity = 74
| Nov humidity = 75
| Dec humidity = 73
| unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 9.0
| Feb precipitation days = 8.8
| Mar precipitation days = 10.3
| Apr precipitation days = 9.8
| May precipitation days = 10.4
| Jun precipitation days = 10.5
| Jul precipitation days = 11.8
| Aug precipitation days = 11.9
| Sep precipitation days = 8.1
| Oct precipitation days = 8.3
| Nov precipitation days = 8.2
| Dec precipitation days = 6.8
| year precipitation days = 
| Jan sun = 109.2
| Feb sun = 113.7
| Mar sun = 143.2
| Apr sun = 173.9
| May sun = 182.9
| Jun sun = 155.9
| Jul sun = 186.2
| Aug sun = 176.8
| Sep sun = 150.0
| Oct sun = 151.3
| Nov sun = 140.4
| Dec sun = 126.9
| year sun = 
| Jan percentsun = 34
| Feb percentsun = 36
| Mar percentsun = 38
| Apr percentsun = 45
| May percentsun = 43
| Jun percentsun = 37
| Jul percentsun = 43
| Aug percentsun = 43
| Sep percentsun = 41
| Oct percentsun = 43
| Nov percentsun = 45
| Dec percentsun = 41
| year percentsun = 
| Jan snow days = 4.3
| Feb snow days = 2.6
| Mar snow days = 1.1
| Apr snow days = 0
| May snow days = 0
| Jun snow days = 0
| Jul snow days = 0
| Aug snow days = 0
| Sep snow days = 0
| Oct snow days = 0
| Nov snow days = 0.5
| Dec snow days = 1.5
| year snow days = 
| source 1 = China Meteorological Administration<ref name="cma graphical">{{cite web|url=http://data.cma.cn/data/weatherBk.html |script-title=zh:中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data |publisher=[[China Meteorological Administration]] |language = zh-cn |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="CMA old">
{{cite web|url=http://old-cdc.cma.gov.cn/shuju/search1.jsp?dsid=SURF_CLI_CHN_MUL_MMON_19712000_CES&tpcat=SURF&type=table&pageid=3 |script-title=zh:中国地面国际交换站气候标准值月值数据集（1971－2000年）|publisher=[[China Meteorological Administration]] |access-date=25 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055035/http://old-cdc.cma.gov.cn/shuju/search1.jsp?dsid=SURF_CLI_CHN_MUL_MMON_19712000_CES&tpcat=SURF&type=table&pageid=3 |archive-date=21 September 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=https://experience.arcgis.com/template/e724038fda394e9d9b7921f10fd1aa55/page/%E7%BA%AF%E8%A1%A8%E6%A0%BC%E7%BB%9F%E8%AE%A1-(%E5%AF%B9%E6%AF%948110%E5%8F%98%E5%8C%96)/?org=UQmaps
|script-title = zh:CMA台站气候标准值(1991-2020)
|publisher =  [[China Meteorological Administration]]
 | language = zh | access-date = 12 September 2023
|title = Experience Template
}}</ref>extremes<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.roostweather.com/worldclimate/graphs.php?code=CHM00058321
|title= Hefei Climate: 1991–2020
|publisher=Starlings Roost Weather
|access-date= 8 October 2025
}}</ref>
| source = 
}}

===Air pollution===
{{See also|2013 Eastern China smog}}
Air quality typically diminishes in May and June when the city is blanketed by smog caused by the smoke generated as farmers outside the city burn their fields in preparation for planting the next crop.

==Administrative divisions and demographics==

===Demographics===

{{Historical population
| source = [[Census in China]]<ref>{{cite journal |title=China County Map with 2000-201o Population Census Data |url=https://dataverse.harvard.edu/dataset.xhtml?persistentId=doi:10.7910/DVN/VKGEBX |website=dataverse.harvard.edu | date=2020 | doi=10.7910/DVN/VKGEBX |access-date=6 January 2024 | author1=Spatial Data Lab }}</ref>
|[[1953 Chinese census|1953]] | 183570
|[[1964 Chinese census|1964]] | 431490
|[[1982 Chinese census|1982]] | 535681
|[[1990 Chinese census|1990]] | 714242
|[[2000 Chinese census|2000]] | 1549476
|[[2010 Chinese census|2010]] | 3098727
|[[2020 Chinese census|2020]] | 5055978
|align = right
}}

The majority of the population in Hefei are [[Han Chinese]].  There are a comparatively small number of [[Hui Chinese]] living in the city, for whom a few mosques have been constructed.  Of the more than five million people in the city, some are migrant workers from other parts of Anhui.

===Administration===
The [[prefecture-level city]] of Hefei administers 9 [[Administrative divisions of the People's Republic of China#County level|county-level divisions]], including 4 [[District of China|districts]], 1 [[County-level city|county-city]] and 4 [[County (People's Republic of China)|counties]].
{{Clear}}

Hefei subdivisions area (km<sup>2</sup>), population (According to [[2010 Chinese census|2010 Census]]) and population density (per km<sup>2</sup>).<ref>{{in lang|zh}} Compilation by LianXin website. [http://www.luqyu.cn/tongjishow.asp?tid=1010 Data from the Sixth National Population Census of the People's Republic of China] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325041053/http://www.luqyu.cn/tongjishow.asp?tid=1010 |date=25 March 2012 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" align="center" style="width:70%; font-size:smaller" border="1"
! colspan="13"| Map
|-
| colspan=13 align="center" style="font-size:larger" | 
<div style="position: relative" class="center">
{{Image label begin|image=Administrative Division Hefei.png|width=414}} 
{{Image label|x=1100|y=1680|scale=414/1800|text=''[[Chao Lake]]''}}
{{Image label|x=875|y=1010|scale=414/1800|text=[[Yaohai District|'''Yaohai''']]}}
{{Image label|x=650|y=1010|scale=414/1800|text=[[Luyang District|<span style="font-size:smaller">'''Luyang'''</span>]]}}
{{Image label|x=450|y=1130|scale=414/1800|text=[[Shushan District|'''Shushan''']]}}
{{Image label|x=860|y=1270|scale=414/1800|text=[[Baohe District|'''Baohe''']]}}
{{Image label|x=600|y=540|scale=414/1800|text=[[Changfeng County|'''Changfeng<br>County''']]}}
{{Image label|x=1180|y=900|scale=414/1800|text=[[Feidong County|'''Feidong<br>County''']]}}
{{Image label|x=350|y=1380|scale=414/1800|text=[[Feixi County|'''Feixi<br>County''']]}}
{{Image label|x=820|y=2100|scale=414/1800|text=[[Lujiang County|'''Lujiang<br>County''']]}}
{{Image label|x=1460|y=1320|scale=414/1800|text=[[Chaohu|'''Chaohu<br>{{small|(city)}}''']]}}
{{Image label end}}
</div>
|-
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 | [[Administrative division codes of the People's Republic of China|Division code]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjbz/cxfldm/2011/index.html |script-title=zh:国家统计局统计用区划代码 |publisher=[[National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China]] |date=2011 |language=zh-cn |access-date=2 January 2018 |archive-date=5 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405092331/http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjbz/cxfldm/2011/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 | English
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 | [[Chinese language|Chinese]]
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 | [[Pinyin]]
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Area in km2<ref>{{lang|zh-hans|《合肥统计年鉴2011》}}</ref>
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Seat
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Postal code
!! scope="col" colspan=6 | Subdivisions<ref>{{lang|zh-hans|《中国民政统计年鉴2011》}}</ref>
|-
!! scope="col" width="45" | [[Subdistrict (China)|Subdistricts]]
!! scope="col" width="45" | [[Town (China)|Towns]]
!! scope="col" width="45" | [[Townships of the People's Republic of China|Townships]]
!! scope="col" width="45" | [[Ethnic township]]s
!! scope="col" width="45" | Residential communities
!! scope="col" width="45" | Villages
|-align="center" style="font-weight:bold"
! 340100 !! Hefei 
| {{nobold|{{lang|zh-hans|合肥市}}}} || {{transliteration|zh|Héféi Shì}} || 11434.25 || [[Shushan District]] || 230000 || 45 || 65 || 19 || 1 || 736 || 1102
|-align="center"
! 340102 !! [[Yaohai District]] 
| {{lang|zh-hans|瑶海区}} || {{transliteration|zh|Yáohǎi Qū}} || 142.90 || [[Mingguang Road Subdistrict]] ({{lang|zh-hans|明光路街道}}) || 230000 || 13 || 2 || 1 ||  || 118 || 18
|-align="center"
! 340103 !! [[Luyang District]] 
| {{lang|zh-hans|庐阳区}} || {{transliteration|zh|Lúyáng Qū}} || 139.32 || [[Bozhou Road Subdistrict]] ({{lang|zh-hans|亳州路街道}}) || 230000 || 11 || 1 ||  ||  || 84 || 14
|-align="center"
! 340104 !! [[Shushan District]] 
| {{lang|zh-hans|蜀山区}} || {{transliteration|zh|Shǔshān Qū}} || 261.36 || [[Sanli'an Subdistrict]] ({{lang|zh-hans|三里庵街道}}) || 230000 || 8 || 2 ||  ||  || 92 || 17
|-align="center"
! 340111 !! [[Baohe District]] 
| {{lang|zh-hans|包河区}} || {{transliteration|zh|Bāohé Qū}} || 294.94 || [[Luogang Subdistrict, Hefei|Luogang Subdistrict]] ({{lang|zh-hans|骆岗街道}}) || 230000 || 7 || 2 ||  ||  || 77 || 38
|-align="center"
! 340121 !! [[Changfeng County]] 
| {{lang|zh-hans|长丰县}} || {{transliteration|zh|Chángfēng Xiàn}} || 1928.45 || [[Shuihu (town)|Shuihu]] ({{lang|zh-hans|水湖镇}}) || 231100 ||  || 8 || 6 ||  || 80 || 193
|-align="center"
! 340122 !! [[Feidong County]] 
| {{lang|zh-hans|肥东县}} || {{transliteration|zh|Féidōng Xiàn}} || 2205.92 || [[Dianbu, Anhui|Dianbu]] ({{lang|zh-hans|店埠镇}}) || 231600 ||  || 10 || 4 ||  || 95 || 249
|-align="center"
! 340123 !! [[Feixi County]] 
| {{lang|zh-hans|肥西县}} || {{transliteration|zh|Féixī Xiàn}} || 2082.66 || [[Shangpai]] ({{lang|zh-hans|上派镇}}) || 231200 ||  || 12 || 6 || 1 || 90 || 241
|-align="center"
! 340124 !! [[Lujiang County]] 
| {{lang|zh-hans|庐江县}} || {{transliteration|zh|Lújiāng Xiàn}} || 2347.48 || [[Lucheng, Lujiang County|Lucheng]] ({{lang|zh-hans|庐城镇}}) || 231500 ||  || 17 ||  ||  || 38 || 194
|-align="center"
! 340181 !! [[Chaohu]] 
| {{lang|zh|巢湖市}} || {{transliteration|zh|Cháohú Shì}} || 2031.22 || [[Woniushan Subdistrict]] ({{lang|zh-hans|卧牛山街道}}) || 238000 || 6 || 11 || 1 ||  || 62 || 138
|}

==Economy==
[[File:Skylines of Hefei at Tianehu.jpg|thumb|Swan Lake CBD area]]
As of 2021, the GDP of Hefei is CN¥1,141.28 billion. The GDP per capita of the city is ¥121,187 (US$18,784), ranking within the top 20 of cities in China.<ref>National Bureau of Statistics of China</ref>

As of 2023, the GDP of Hefei is CN¥1,267.38 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-04 |title=2023年全市经济运行情况 |url=https://tjj.hefei.gov.cn/tjyw/tjgb/15094341.html }}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

=== Investments and state-owned enterprises ===
Hefei's city government is highly engaged in business, both through [[State-owned enterprises of China|state-owned enterprises]] and investment.<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|page=128}} This approach has helped drive economic growth and re-structure the cities economic base.<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|page=128}}

In 2008, the local government spent US$3.5 billion for a controlling ownership stake in [[BOE Technology]] (Jingdongfang).<ref name=":92" />{{Rp|page=185}} BOE Technology subsequently grew to be one of the world's leading manufacturers of semiconductor products for telecommunications.<ref name=":92" />{{Rp|page=185}} It is also the world's largest manufacturer of liquid crystal displays, organic light-emitting diodes, and flexible displays.<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|page=128}} As of at least 2024, BOE has three production lines in Hefei, and its presence has helped Hefei attract further business in the electronics supply chain and contributed to Hefei's development as one of the main centers for the optoelectronic industry in China.<ref name=":62">{{Cite book |last=Lan |first=Xiaohuan |title=How China Works: An Introduction to China's State-led Economic Development |publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]] |year=2024 |isbn=978-981-97-0079-0 |translator-last=Topp |translator-first=Gary |doi=10.1007/978-981-97-0080-6}}</ref>{{Rp|page=121}}

In 2008, Hefei invested heavily in [[iFlytek]], a voice-recognition technology firm spun off from [[University of Science and Technology of China|USTC]].<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|page=128}}

The local government invested heavily in [[Nio Inc.|NIO]] in order to integrate it with Hefei Changan Automobile, a legacy enterprise from the Third Front construction.<ref name=":92" />{{Rp|page=185}} NIO was on the brink of bankruptcy in 2020 when Hefei obtained a 25% stake in the company in exchange for RMB 7 billion.<ref name=":024">{{Cite book |last=Jin |first=Keyu |title=The New China Playbook: Beyond Socialism and Capitalism |date=2023 |publisher=Viking |isbn=978-1-9848-7828-1 |location=New York |author-link=Keyu Jin}}</ref>{{Rp|page=101}} NIO moved its headquarters to Hefei, where the government helped it obtain loans from local banks to expand its supply chains.<ref name=":024" />{{Rp|page=101}} As of 2022, NIO is China's most successful electric vehicle manufacturer.<ref name=":92" />{{Rp|page=184}}

=== Analysis of growth ===
Hefei has been identified by the [[Economist Intelligence Unit]] in the November 2010 Access China White Paper as a member of the [[CHAMPS (China)|CHAMPS]] ([[Chongqing|'''C'''hongqing]], '''H'''efei, [[Anshan, Liaoning|'''A'''nshan]], [[Ma'anshan|'''M'''a'anshan]], [[Pingdingshan|'''P'''ingdingshan]] and [[Shenyang|'''S'''henyang]]), an economic profile of the top 20 emerging cities in China.<ref>{{cite web |title=THE RISE OF THE 'CHAMPS' – NEW REPORT MAPS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY IN CHINA'S FASTEST GROWING CITIES |url=http://www.sourcewire.com/releases/rel_display.php?relid=60590 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406135228/http://www.sourcewire.com/releases/rel_display.php?relid=60590 |archive-date=6 April 2012 |access-date=5 January 2018}}</ref>

Hefei was identified by ''[[The Economist]]'' in December 2012 as the world's No.1 fastest growing metropolitan economy.<ref>{{cite news |date=4 December 2012 |title=Metro economies |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2012/12/04/metro-economies |url-status=live |access-date=5 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925044945/http://www.economist.com/node/21567579 |archive-date=25 September 2017}}</ref>

Hefei has supported the growth of the chip industry in the city and has become one of the biggest sites for the manufacture of memory chips (DRAM).<ref name=":62" />{{Rp|pages=141-142}}

==Transportation==
[[File:Hefei South Railway Station.jpg|thumb|Hefei South Railway Station]]Hefei has been the provincial capital since 1945 (before it was Lihuang, which is today's [[Jinzhai]]) and is a natural center of [[transportation]], being situated to the north of [[Chao Lake]] and standing on a low saddle crossing the northeastern extension of the [[Dabie Mountains]], which form the divide between the [[Huai River|Huai]] and [[Yangtze river]]s. From Hefei there is easy [[water transport]] via the lake to the Yangtze River opposite [[Wuhu City|Wuhu]].

===Rail===
There are two main train stations in Hefei. The newest one is [[Hefei South railway station]] (Hefeinan station, 合肥火车南站) where most high-speed trains pass through. The alternative station is [[Hefei railway station]] ({{lang|zh|合肥火车站}}) which is smaller and older.

There are some small stations such as Feidong Station ({{lang|zh|肥东火车站}}), Feixi Station ({{lang|zh|肥西火车站}}), Shuijiahu Station ({{lang|zh|水家湖火车站}}), Chaohu Station ({{lang|zh|巢湖火车站}}), [[Chaohu East railway station]] (Chaohudong station; 巢湖火车东站), Hefeibeicheng Station (Hefei Northtown Station 合肥北城火车站), Lujiang Station ({{lang|zh|庐江火车站}}) and so on. These stations are mostly located in small towns and connect commuters with the main city.

===Air===
[[Hefei Xinqiao International Airport]] replaced the old [[Hefei Luogang International Airport]] and started its operation on 30 May 2013, 00:00. This new domestic aviation hub is located in Gaoliu Village situated in the northwestern part of Hefei City. The first arriving flight was [[China Eastern Airlines]] flight MU5172 from [[Beijing Capital International Airport]]. The first departing flight was [[China Eastern Airlines]] MU5468 to [[Shanghai Pudong International Airport]].
[[Hefei Xinqiao International Airport]] provides scheduled passenger service to major airports in China and other international cities. Destinations include Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, Taipei (Taoyuan, Songshan), Kaohsiung, Taichung, Seoul, Cheongju, Yangyang, Jeju, Osaka, Nagoya, Shizuoka, Okayama, Boracay Island, Bali Island, Frankfurt, Siem Reap, Bangkok, Phuket Island and Krabi Island.

===Subway===
{{Main|Hefei Metro}}
[[File:Entrance A2 of Hefei South Railway South Square Station.jpg|thumb|Entrance to Hefei South Railway South Square Station]]
Hefei Metro is a rapid transit rail network under construction that will eventually serve both urban and rural areas of Hefei. As planned, [[Line 1 (Hefei Metro)|Line 1]] covers a total distance of {{convert|24|km|0|abbr=off}} starting from Hefei Railway Station. It was inaugurated in December 2016.

In February 2013, Metro [[Line 2 (Hefei Metro)|Line 2]] also began its construction. It is being built alongside the Changjiang Dong Road, Changjiang Zhong Road and Changjiang Xi Road, which is a major passenger corridor in the east–west direction. It will pass through the city center area and connect to a transit point where passengers will be able to take the shuttle bus to Hefei Xinqiao International Airport. The Line 2 was opened on 26 December 2017.

In November 2015, Metro [[Line 3 (Hefei Metro)|Line 3]] construction began. Line 3 was opened on 26 December 2019. Line 3 connects the New Station Exploitative-experimental Zone and the Economic Technology Development District, from the vocational education town to the university town. In 2016, Metro [[Line 4 (Hefei Metro)|Line 4]] construction began and was subsequently opened on 26 December 2021. Line 4 connects the New Station Exploitative-experimental Zone and the High Technology Development District. In 2017, Metro [[Line 5 (Hefei Metro)|Line 5]] construction began. The south part of Line 5 was opened on 26 December 2020. Line 5 connects Binhu New District and the Beicheng (North city) New District. The north part of Line 5 is expected to open at the end of 2022.

Alongside Line 1, Line 2, Line 3, Line 4 and Line 5, Hefei is also planning to build other 12 metro lines, 4 lines of intra-metropolitan rail transit (to Lu'an, Huainan, Lujiang and Chaohu) and 3 lines of tram and hopefully accomplish the project by 2030.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

===Bus===
There is an extensive [[public bus]] system in the city, including eight [[bus rapid transit]] lines. There are several commuter lines which only run at designated time or having a large interval.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hfbus.cn/Welcome/Specialbus.aspx?NewsClassID=37&page=2 |script-title=zh:合肥公交集团有限公司 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922100214/http://www.hfbus.cn/Welcome/Specialbus.aspx?NewsClassID=37&page=2 |archive-date=22 September 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Universities and research==
[[File:USTC.jpg|thumb|An older (c.2007) view of [[University of Science and Technology of China]], including the Teaching Building II and the old library (now an administrative building)]]Hefei is a leading world city for scientific research, ranking at [[List of cities by scientific output|12th globally]], 8th in the Asia-Pacific, and 7th in China (behind [[Beijing]], [[Shanghai]], [[Nanjing]], [[Guangzhou]], [[Wuhan]] and [[Hangzhou]]), as tracked by the [[Nature Index]] in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leading 200 science cities {{!}} {{!}} Supplements {{!}} Nature Index |url=https://www.nature.com/nature-index/supplements/nature-index-2025-science-cities/tables/overall |access-date=2025-11-15 |website=www.nature.com}}</ref> Hefei was one of the four national science centers identified in China's [[Fourteenth five-year plan (China)|14th Five-Year Plan]].<ref name=":02" />

Hefei plays an important role in scientific research in China. It has seven national laboratories, second only to Beijing: The National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory ({{zh|s=国家同步辐射实验室|hp=Guójiā tóngbù fúshè shíyàn shì|links=no}}), the Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale ({{zh|s=微尺度物质科学国家实验室|hp=Wēi chǐdù wùzhí kēxué guójiā shíyàn shì|links=no}}), both of which are under the [[University of Science and Technology of China]]. It also has the [[Institute of Solid State Physics (China)|Institute of Solid State Physics]], Institute of Plasma Physics, Institute of Intelligent Machines, High Magnetic Field Laboratory (founded in 2008), Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, all of which are under the [[Hefei Institutes of Physical Science]] which belongs to the [[Chinese Academy of Sciences]]. Hefei is the location of [[Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak]], an experimental [[superconducting]] [[tokamak]] [[magnetic fusion energy]] reactor. The No. 105 Hospital of the People's Liberation Army, located in Hefei, is reportedly the site of the first human trials using [[CRISPR]] [[genome editing]], doing so in 2015.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rana |first1=Preetika |last2=Marcus |first2=Amy Dockser |last3=Fan |first3=Wenxin |date=21 January 2018 |title=China, Unhampered by Rules, Races Ahead in Gene-Editing Trials |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-unhampered-by-rules-races-ahead-in-gene-editing-trials-1516562360 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407012214/https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-unhampered-by-rules-races-ahead-in-gene-editing-trials-1516562360 |archive-date=7 April 2018 |access-date=11 April 2018 |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |quote=Later in 2016, news reports said a Chinese hospital had begun the world’s first Crispr trial. In fact, it wasn’t first—No. 105 Hospital of the People’s Liberation Army in Hefei began testing Crispr on patients in 2015, says Liu Bo, who leads that trial.}}</ref>

As of 2017, Hefei had 60 universities and more than 564 research institutes.<ref name=":02" /> The city is represented by [[List of universities and colleges in Anhui|several major universities]], including the [[University of Science and Technology of China]], [[Hefei University of Technology]], [[Anhui University]], [[Anhui Agricultural University]] and [[Anhui Medical University]].<ref name=":2" /> Notably, the [[University of Science and Technology of China]] is one of the top 100th comprehensive [[Public university|public]] [[Research university|research universities]] in the world.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" />
*[[University of Science and Technology of China]] (USTC)
*[[Hefei University of Technology]] (HFUT)
*[[Anhui University]] (AHU)
*[[Anhui Agricultural University]] (AHAU)
*[[Anhui Medical University]] (AHMU)
*[[Anhui University of Chinese Medicine]] (AUCM)
*[[Anhui Jianzhu University]] (AHJU)
*[[Hefei Normal University]] (HNU)
*[[Hefei University]] (HU)
*[[Beihang University]] (BUAA) – Hefei Campus
*[[National University of Defense Technology]] (NUDT) – Hefei Campus
*[[Beijing Foreign Studies University]] (BFSU) – Hefei Campus
*[[Tianjin University]] (TJU) – Hefei Graduate School
*[[Peking University]] (PKU) – Hefei Graduate School
*[[Tsinghua University]] (THU) – Hefei Institute of Public Safety Research

==Yicheng Prison==
Yicheng Prison is located within the city. It was built during the 1983 "Strike Hard" campaign and was formerly Hefei Zhenxing Machine Parts Factory. On 15 June 1984, the Prov. Justice Dept. decided to change the name of the Machine Parts Factory's Internal Dept. to the Prov. Independent LRC. On 17 March 1986, the city's Party Committee and government agreed to the change. On 26 April more than 400 inmates were transferred to Hefei Shangzhangwei Farm and Baihu Farm. In February 1992 a secondary country level prison was created at the Shangzhangwei Farm. In August 1992 the Hefei City LRD level was upgraded by the government. In June 1996 the prison was changed to its present name. It is currently controlled by Hefei city. It mainly houses prisoners with sentences of less than 5 years and houses up to 1000 prisoners a year. In the past 20 years, nearly 20,000 inmates have completed their sentences here. The prison mainly cultivates vegetables and rice but also cooperates with the Zhejiang Rongguang Group and produces soccer training shoes, soccer balls, tourism products, and other products.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laogai.it/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/laogai-handbook.pdf |title=Laogai Handbook 2007–2008 |publisher=Laogao.it |access-date=18 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228232013/http://www.laogai.it/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/laogai-handbook.pdf |archive-date=28 February 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Sport==
Hefei had its own football team called [[Anhui Jiufang]], who in the 2007–08 season were promoted from the [[Chinese Football Association Yi League]] to the [[Chinese Football Association Jia League]] which is the second highest tier of Chinese football. It was acquired by [[Shenyang Zhongze F.C.|Tianjin Runyulong]] in 2011.

==Sites of interest==
[[File:Former Residence of Li Hongzhang.jpg|thumb|Former Residence of Li Hongzhang]]
[[File:Hefei Olympic Sports Center Stadium.jpg|thumb|[[Hefei Olympic Sports Center Stadium]]]]
[[File:Hefei Grand Theatre3.jpg|thumb|Hefei Grand Theatre]]
*[[Chao Lake]], is the largest lake in Anhui and one of the five major freshwater lakes in China.
*[[Sanhe, Feixi County|Sanhe Town]], ancient town which has a history of more than 2,500 years.
*[[Xiaoyaojin Park]], a public park sitting on the ancient site of the [[Battle of Xiaoyao Ford]].
*Temple of [[Bao Zheng|Lord Bao]], built in 1066 near the tomb of Lord Bao.
* [[Li Hongzhang]]'s Former Residence ({{zh|s=李鸿章故居|hp=Lǐhóngzhāng gùjū|links=no}}), built in the late 19th century and fully restored by the 1990s.
*Hui Garden ({{zh|s=徽园|hp=Huī yuán|links=no}}) (Opened to the public in September 2001)
*Children's Welfare Institute (a.k.a. "Social Welfare Institute"), children's orphanage
*[[Anhui Laomingguang Stadium]], the home ground of [[Anhui Jiufang]], but also used for other public sporting events.
*[[Hefei Olympic Sports Center Stadium]], football stadium with a capacity of 60,000 people
*Hefei Grand Theatre, opera house

==Notable people==
*[[Bao Zheng]] (999–1062), [[Northern Song dynasty]] bureaucrat and judge whose name has become synonymous with judicial wisdom and uprightness.
*[[Li Hongzhang]] (1823–1901), prominent late [[Qing dynasty]] bureaucrat and diplomat.
*[[Liu Mingchuan]] (1836–1896), statesman during the late Qing dynasty, first [[Grand coordinator and provincial governor|governor of Taiwan]].
*[[Duan Qirui]] (1865–1936), the [[President of the Republic of China|Provisional Chief Executive of Republic of China]] (in Beijing) from 24 November 1924, to 20 April 1926.
*[[Susan Wu Rathbone]] (1921–2019), community leader in [[Queens|Queens, New York]].
*[[Yang Chen-Ning]], (1922–2025), 1957 [[Nobel Physics Prize]] laureate, for their work on parity nonconservation of weak interaction. One of the two earliest Chinese to receive the prize.
*[[Wu Bangguo]] (b. 1941), Chinese politician.
*[[Li Keqiang]] (1955–2023), Premier of China 2013–2023.
*[[Yang Yuanqing]] (b. 1964), Chairman of Board of [[Lenovo]].
*[[Han Qizhi]], (b. 1970), first person to climb the [[Jin Mao Tower]], then the tallest building in China.<ref>[https://telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1559172/Prison-for-scaling-Chinas-tallest-skyscraper.html "Prison for Scaling China's Tallest Skyscraper"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713130000/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1559172/Prison-for-scaling-Chinas-tallest-skyscraper.html |date=13 July 2015 }} 1 August 2007.</ref>
*[[Jin Jing]] (b. 1981), Paralympic fencer.
*[[Xu Song (singer)|Xu Song]] (b. 1986), Chinese singer.
*[[Chen Xiao]] (b. 1987), actor.
*[[Yang Yang (actor)|Yang Yang]] (b. 1991), actor.
*[[Hu Bingqing]] (b. 1992), actress.

==Sister cities ==
*{{flagdeco|JPN}} [[Kurume, Fukuoka]], Japan (1980)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.city.kurume.fukuoka.jp/1080shisei/2010shoukai/3020profile/exchange_friendship.html |script-title=ja:友好都市 |publisher=Kurume city |access-date=24 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224071122/http://www.city.kurume.fukuoka.jp/1080shisei/2010shoukai/3020profile/exchange_friendship.html |archive-date=24 February 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*{{flagdeco|Sierra Leone}} [[Freetown]], Sierra Leone (1984)
*{{flagdeco|Burundi}} [[Bujumbura]], Burundi (1986)
*{{flagdeco|United States}} [[Columbus, Ohio]], United States (1988)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://columbussistercities.com/hefei/|title=Hefei, China – Columbus Sister Cities|website=columbussistercities.com|access-date=24 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705003132/http://columbussistercities.com/hefei/|archive-date=5 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{flagdeco|Denmark}} [[Aalborg]], Denmark (1989)
*{{flagdeco|Spain}} [[Lleida]], [[Catalonia]], Spain (1998)
*{{flagdeco|South Korea}} [[Wonju]], [[Gwandong]], South Korea (2002)
*{{flagdeco|Australia}} [[City of Darebin|Darebin]], Victoria, Australia (2003)
*{{flagdeco|CAN}} [[Edmonton]], [[Alberta]], Canada (2004)
*{{flagdeco|UK}} [[Belfast]], Northern Ireland, United Kingdom  (2005)
*{{flagdeco|Germany}} [[Osnabrück]], [[Lower Saxony]], Germany (2006)
*{{flagdeco|Russia}} [[Ufa]], [[Bashkortostan]], Russia (2016)<ref>
{{cite web|url=http://hfwqb.hefei.gov.cn/yhwl/5762/5763/201701/t20170113_2153711.html|script-title=zh:合肥市缔结友好城市关系情况一览表|website=hfwqb.hefei.gov.cn|access-date=3 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201042720/http://hfwqb.hefei.gov.cn/yhwl/5762/5763/201701/t20170113_2153711.html|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=dead}}
</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of twin towns and sister cities in China]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Wiktionary}}
{{Commons category|Hefei}}
*{{wikivoyage inline|Hefei}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090215203625/http://hefei.gov.cn/ Hefei Online Government]

{{Anhui topics}}
{{Anhui}}
{{Metropolitan cities of the People's Republic of China}}
{{Provincial capitals of China}}
{{Prefectural-level divisions of the People's Republic of China}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hefei| ]]
[[Category:Provincial capitals in China]]
[[Category:National Civilized City]]