Hefei: the scientific gateway to the Yellow Mountains

The Temple of Memory of Bao Zheng, dedicated to the famous incorruptible magistrate of the Song dynasty, remains a pilgrimage site for those seeking justice in Chinese popular culture.

A few steps away, the Museum of Anhui, with its facade inspired by traditional Huizhou houses, displays archaeological finds of the province dating back to the Neolithic.

Continuing toward Lake Chao, the fifth largest freshwater lake in China, panoramic cruises and birdwatching of aquatic birds are organized.

Toward evening, those continuing south can reach the Yellow Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its gnarled pines and seas of clouds.

Bao Zheng, a magistrate who actually existed during the Song dynasty, became in Chinese folklore the quintessential symbol of incorruptible justice, still appearing today as the protagonist of theatrical productions and television series.

Hefei has invested massively in scientific research in recent decades, becoming home to important quantum physics laboratories and earning itself the emerging nickname of 'Silicon Valley's Chinese counterpart'.